Why Organic Cotton?

I grew up and live in beautiful Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. We love our warm humid temperatures. So, cotton is the fabric of choice here because it’s breathable and light.

Conventional cotton is everywhere. In our bath towels, beach towels, table clothes, bedding, t-towels, general clothing,T-shirts, underwear and more. I was horrified to find that a fabric so loved and desired, because it’s a “natural” fiber, could be so devastating to the planet and directly effect our health.

Conventional cotton is chemically dependent, hooked on pesticides and

fertilizers to grow and accounts for 10% of all agricultural chemicals, and 25% of all

pesticides used worldwide every year.

One T-shirt = 0.4 kg of cotton which draws on 2000 litres of water.

One T-shirt can have 150 gms or 1/3 of a pound of pesticides in it.

Communities that grow cotton throughout the world experience extreme 

health problems, with 220,000 people dying from farming cotton and 

over 1 million more becoming ill from the pesticides.

This is why we passionately choose Certified Organic Cotton.

Certified Organic Cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment.

Less water is used to grow organic cotton but it is a thirsty crop.

The most environmentally and economically sustainable cotton is a

rain-fed crop grown in sub-tropical countries with good rain fall.

Areas of India, Peru, Tanzania, and USA, and Australia, are just a few, out of

24 countries world wide, who now grow Organic Cotton.

The production systems of organic cotton:

are labour intense with a hands on approach to pest control

replacing the need for toxic pesticides;

they minimise the use of fertilizers and replenish & maintain soil fertility.

All of this means: 

no harm to the earth, no harmful chemicals, no harm to the growers, no toxic water waste, no harm to the millers, no harm to the manufacturers, no harm to all of us who wear organic cotton.

It's a moral fiber!

I would love to know your favourite cotton item and why you love them?

x Louise

Seamless.

Seamless is an independently organised event aiming to showcase emerging and sustainable fashion designers and their wares.

 The first of many evenings was last Friday night, the second of March. 

I was honoured to be one of six designers who presented their work and talked about sustainable creations. The event showcased designs from customized eyewear and luxurious underwear ranges to innovative female fashion styles. This evening provided a chance to meet with others, learn, question and feel the impact of new sustanable methods. 

Sponsored by The Rabit Hole/Ideation Cafe the collaborative working space/ coffee shop was vibrant with live music, yummy cupcakes and organic wine.

It was so nice to be with like minded people and celebrate the beauty of sustainablity. 

Seamless @ The Rabit Hole, West End, Brisbane

A Pot of Tea Under a Tree

Holloway

Nico Under Wear

What is Sustainable Fashion?

I'm really excited about tonight. I've been asked to be the guest speaker for Undress 101: Sustainable Fashion Network Night. It's such an honour to be asked to speak about something I'm so passionate about.
I'm excited that fashion is moving in this direction as we all become more knowledgable about what sustainable fashion actually is.
 Sustainable Fashion is: 

“ fashion that is designed to be environmentally and ethically friendly.” 

The United Nations defines sustainable as meeting the needs of the present generation with out compromising or sacrificing the ability of the future generations.

There are a lot of terms and words to describe sustainable fashion: green, eco, eco-luxe, organic, sustainable, slow, ethical and the list goes on. 

So what makes clothing environmentally and ethically sound?

I like to simply refer to the 3R’s

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Reduce by consciously choosing to wear products that are made using 
environmentally friendly production practices and by selecting materials which 
do not negatively impact the planet at any stage of the process.

Tip: Look for clothing made out of Certified Organic Cotton, 
Hemp, Yak Wool, PET fibers and more. 

A Pot of Tea Under a Tree uses only the best of the stated fabrics.

Reuse by choosing to wear clothing items that are not bought NEW. 

Tip: Attending a clothes swap is a wonderful way to reuse clothing. 

We hold a six monthly clothes swap called Under a Tree Clothing Exchange. 

Recycle by making garments from previously existing objects. 

The Recycled Soda items in our collection are made out of PET woven with Hemp. 

PET is basically plastic bottles recycled down to a beautiful light -weight fiber.

Tip: make a tote bag from an old pair of jeans. 

I loved to know any other tips you might have for reusing and recycling clothing?

x Louise

2011 suited me to a tea

Happy New Year!!! 

What a truly blessed year 2011 has been.

It's been full of wonderful opportunites and celebrations.

April 2nd 2011 - Louise Falzon and Thomas Cotterill got Married

12th March & 9th July Under a Tree Clothing Exchange.
We drank tea, listened to live music and swapped gorgeous clothing and all the
while raised enough funds that is the equivalent of freeing 8 little Cambodian girls from prositution. 

November - Our online shop opened - www.underatree.com.au

A big heart felt Thank you to the gorgeous lovely ladies who helped make
A Pot of Tea Under a Tree vision happen this year.
Anne-Maree, Elizabeth, Marianne, Michelle, Miriam, Ruth & my supportive family and friends.

I'm thrilled to see what 2012 will bring!!!!!

Exciting Anncouncement!!!

A Pot of Tea Under a Tree's Online Shop is NOW open.

I've been so enjoying wearing this summer collection over the last few weeks and now I get to share them with you. 

Each piece of clothing is made to order using only the finest, eco luxe fabrics available. 

Take your time looking through the shop, if you have any questions, please ask by emailing me at info@underatree.com.au Oh and leave your comment down below, I love to hear from you. 

xx Louise

Retro Stripe Dress

Organic Navy basic T with hand crafted organic cotton brooch - Recycled goodness button up shorts 

Organic Cotton - Ballet Blue Singlet with painted flowers wrap skirt

Mission Statement

“I see women and girls connected with their own unique feminine beauty, honour and dignity!

Ladies of all ages, social stages and royal awareness, dressed in fine textures that elevate the environment.

These women are strong powerful females putting on their armour to take on the world.

Every piece of clothing is worn experiencing a feeling of being sacred & promotes a sense of celebration,

to move, to dance, to play, to sing and to confidently take the risk to love.

Everything important needs to be celebrated!

 Women and girls are a powerful force on the earth, mighty warriors clothed with strength and dignity.”