Finding Unique Children's Clothing In Northern California

By Clinton Arnhold


As many people have discovered, the quality of common market children's clothing in Northern California has become rather disappointing. They tend to be cheaply made and either shrink with the first washing, fade, or bleed colors over other items in the same laundry load. The seams are poorly constructed and come apart easily enough to make a parent wary of every purchasing those brands again.

Thankfully, there are responsible companies in the region who are producing quality products worth consideration. Some of the qualities that make them so great are:

- The hand-loomed and hand-block printed high quality cotton is a hit with the kids. Adults are drawn to the fact that the clothes are made by artisans in an ethical environment and only natural dyes.

- Stylish but casual children's clothing wears well and lasts a long time, and can become cherished hand-me-downs for younger children

- They are designed with original prints, available in either muted or vibrant hues.

- Heritage textiles that have naturally hypoallergenic qualities are used for these handmade apparel items. Natural cottons, fine silks, and top wool, worked by skilled artisans, are some of the materials utilized in their construction.

Kalamkari is an exceptionally wonderful heritage textile that is painstakingly decorated with a pen known as a kalam. It has 17 unique steps in the complicated fabric decorating process. It originated in 13th century India, and is still manufactured in the Southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, where the traditional craft has been passed through generations of artisans and weavers.

The all natural dyes used in these clothes are created using plant stems, flowers, bark, leaves, minerals and choice metals. Each article of apparel is washed as many as 20 times after dying, before the fabric is deemed steadfast and ready for sale.

- Much of the apparel is decorated using the more than 250 year old Indian tradition of hand-block printing. Wooden blocks with an imprinted relief design are loaded with the desired color and then pressed firmly against the taut cloth. This is a painstaking, labor intensive and slow process that generates some amazingly artistic unique patterns.

- What could be nicer than t-shirts that are 100% fair trade and certified organic? Organic cotton uses no pesticides or synthetic fertilizer while it is grown, and GMO (genetically modified seeds) are ever used. All weeds are removed by hand during the growing process, and a fine balance between insects and their natural predators is maintained by using only healthy soil.

Fair trade, as defined by The World Trade Organization, is a partnership that has its basis in transparency, dialog, and respect, that aims to create more equality in international trading practices. The buyers agree to pay an acceptable price that provides the cotton producers and artisans a sustainable livelihood. Consumers who purchase these products get fine quality while doing their part to support social change.

Quality clothes for children are readily available.




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