THE SHIFT…

My husband and I took a much-needed trip together this summer. We had the opportunity to visit the Hoover Dam and as beautiful and amazing it was to see this marvelous wonder, I left with feelings of sadness at how much we impact our environment and it confirmed why we need to make a change, even if it is a small one, as a family and as a business.

Can you see the difference in the water level, from where it was to where it is now... (July2021)

For the past 7 years I did not pay any attention to the effect that I would have on the environment by starting and making a clothing business. At the beginning of this year I reached a point where I felt like enough is enough... I found myself trying to keep up with the fashion industry, comparing myself and my business to others and losing sight of my purpose…My Why!

As I started to create our patch blankets, I realized that no matter how much fabric I am trying to reuse , I am still wasting too much. So, what happens to that fabric.... I told my husband my thoughts about changing my fabric and he said... “So what, you like stop what you’re doing and start one recycle center?”  Okay, so obviously that was not what God was trying to tell me... But it eventually led me to the documentary called “The True Cost.” At that moment…it was like “ding” a lightbulb  went off in my head!

It’s time to stop trying to have a new collection come out every month or every season. It’s time to challenge myself and pay attention to the materials that I use and do the hard work in finding the best eco-friendly products available. It is crazy to think I was so oblivious to the impact the fashion industry has on our environment....

For the past 6 months I have been doing a lot of research on different types of fabric that are healthy for ourselves and the environment. Also, this meant finding the best way to print our fabric that uses much less water...We still have some fabric left and will use as much of it as we can to create garments and patch blankets...but, we will soon be transitioning our business model and shifting to have all our products made out of eco-friendly and sustainable material...

For those of you who are knowledgeable about living an eco-friendly lifestyle, I am open to hearing your thoughts and ideas because I have done the research for my business and the products that I should use, but am still learning how to incorporate it into my family’s lifestyle as well.. 

I realized Hawai’i makes it hard to recycle . What I learned is there are 7 different types of plastic and not all plastic can be recycled. In Hawai’i, only 1 & 2 type plastics are accepted, besides the HI5 items... Trust me, I am nowhere near perfect in living this lifestyle but we as a family are committed to slowly making small changes, one recycled item at a time.

I can’t wait to start this new journey with all of you...it’s a new journey, but the hands that are creating the products are the same. This challenge (I am a former athlete and everything is a competition) of wanting to create pieces that are timeless and eco-friendly has lit a new fire inside of me…to continue on this journey with you, but being more conscious in how what I do, even though on a small scale, can affect those around me on a larger scale. I will be better; WE will be better together... 

P.S. The new fabric and designs that we want to incorporate and introduce to you all are AMAZING, and if you are lucky enough, you may get a sneak peek! 

And I thought I’d end with this, the Bible tells us in the Book of Psalms 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let’s commit to making small changes to treat earth like it belongs to God, recycling one thing at a time. The Shift cannot always be seen, but after generations of neglect, it is felt by many. We realign and adjust our path and set out to continue to become who God made us to be, in our fullest potential, starting with the person you look at while brushing your teeth.

From my heart to yours, thank you! WE at Kamea Designs cannot do it without your love and support.