OUR STORY ...
The Studio
We will be spending 2013 building an Urban Fiber Farm for Gaia Conceptions. This is a big step in making our process as holistic and sustainable as possible. Incorporating rainwater catchment systems, solar and wind energy, and closed loop waste management systems into our production cycle is a natural next step.
Our Process:
All Gaia Conceptions clothing is designed by founder Andrea who uses only certified organic cotton, wool, and hemp. Her passion for sustainable design has inspired simple yet multifunctional pieces rooted in ethical production from start to finish.
Each garment is custom made for you based on your size, fabric, and color choice at the Gaia House Studio in beautiful North Carolina.
1st we CUT - each garment is cut by hand based on your size choice or measurements. Small tweaks can be made during this process for a more custom (not tailored) fit. Cutting is done by Andrea, Lisa, and Gillian
2nd we SEW - we serge and straight stitch all our garments together for super strong and durable seams. All sewing is completed by Andrea, Kate, and Nancy
3rd we DYE - each garment is hand dyed by Andrea either with natural plant dyes or eco friendly fiber reactive dyes depending on your color choice
Because all pieces are hand cut, sewn, and dyed please expect variations in each garment. These subtle differences should be celebrated as the mark of a hand made piece created especially for you!
It usually takes us 2-4 weeks from time of purchase to create your unique Gaia Conceptions Creation.
History
Gaia Conceptions was founded by clothing designer Andrea Crouse in 2003. Her focus was hand sewing and hand dyeing clothing made with organic fabrics, earth friendly dyes, and simple designs. She was still completing her degree so Gaia Conceptions remained small and festival based. She spent 2006 experimenting with natural dyes in Hyderabad, India and studying environmental policy and sustainable design in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She returned to North Carolina with a renewed focus on local organic materials and a head full of nomadic designs. Launching an ETSY shop in 2007 helped Gaia Conceptions designs reach the world and has catapulted the company to where it is today. They are now a team of 8, and thanks to you, are sure to grow a little more each year.
2007 - 2012
Team Gaia has spent the last 6 years nurturing and refining their ethos as they grow. Andrea has created an extensive collection of designs that are rooted in comfort, nomadic style, and multifunctional utilitarianism. Staying true to the handmade foundation of their start, each Gaia garment is still hand sewn and hand dyed at the studio in Greensboro, NC.
Many friendships where made with fellow natural dye artisans during Andrea's studies and travel throughout India in 2006. Returning to India in the summer of 2011, she teamed up with a Master Natural Dye Artisan to design a collection of hand blockprinted fabrics.
Growing and harvesting the first North Carolina Organic Cotton crop was another amazing next step to localizing one of their materials. Bringing more green jobs to their home state and sourcing their organic materials within a 30 mile radius is a key step in making Gaia Conceptions as sustainable as possible.
2013
Building an Organic Fiber Farm - Incorporating rainwater catchment systems, solar and wind energy, and green waste management systems into the production cycle is a natural next step. Team Gaia will be building a new studio that incorporates all these elements in 2013. They will also begin growing some of their natural dyes and organic cotton material on site.
A continued collaboration with the Natural Dye Blockprinting team in India is sure to bring new and beautiful designs each year.
The Team
Kate - sewer (mother of 4...enough said)
Nancy - sewer (home interiors designer)
Cynthia - sewer
Gillian - cutter and sewer
Lisa - cutter
Anne and Barry - Designers of this awesome web page
David - Head Photographer, Natural Dye Garden, and the everything else man