This weeks Greenwala giveaway features a beautiful handmade scarf from a company called Beau Monde Organics. The founder of Beau Monde, Stephanie Gale is also the owner, designer and artist of the brand. How does she do it all? Passion, a love of beauty and an amazing eye for high-quality design. Learn all about Stephanie and how she was inspired to pursue her passion to create stunning handmade scarves that are 100% organic...down to the thread.
Meet Stephanie Gale:
Elena: What does your logo and company name symbolize?
Stephanie: Beau Monde Organics: (‘bow mond') The term beau monde in French literally means ‘beautiful world' or ‘good world'. But it also an expression which refers to lifestyle; ‘the world of fashionable society'. The word ‘organics' is included to highlight that I use only organically grown fabrics and no oil-based products or fibers, keeping more toxic chemicals from going into the earth, reducing oil-dependence and helping create . . . a beautiful world.
Elena: Tell me about your personal journey to green.
Stephanie: For me, it's a path I've been on pretty much all my life. My parents & I are from New York City, but moved to Connecticut, always going back and forth between the 2 places, so I grew up with that urban/rural contrast. I grew up recycling , as we were part of the original environmental protection and whole foods movement of the 60's & 70's, but we were just called, ‘tree-huggers', and ‘health nuts' back then. I was involved in environmental and social activism causes of my own choosing since my pre-teen years.
But if I had to pick a moment when things solidified for me, in regard to the environment, it would be an incident in a small Connecticut town years ago: a beloved restaurant, The White Turkey Inn, was closing; it was a quintessentially New England place, with bucolic acres of land and a restaurant inside a historic 250 year old building. It featured a beautiful swan pond and a dramatic maple tree that was older than the building. Amidst much controversy for the small town, The Inn was razed, the tree was cut down, and the first large shopping center in town was built.
I remember being so very angry about it. I vowed to myself never to set foot in the store on that site. And became resolute in my desire to protect the environment. I was about 13 years old at the time.
Elena: In this new market of green fashion, what makes your products and your company unique?
Stephanie: Even if we weren't eco-fashion, Beau Monde Organics scarves still are unique. All designs are my original artwork, specially created for each scarf, so there are never any generic prints. The collections reflect different styles and trends, and come in 3 different sizes, so there's a choice to make everyone happy. They are reversible, having a versatile print/solid feature that creates a distinctive look for each wearer.
A convenient tagless label makes the naturally silky-soft organic scarf even more comfortable. We are pretty extraordinary at being ‘green' too! Exceeding GOTS (Global Organic Trade Standards), by being 100 % certified organic cotton, sewn with 100% certified organic cotton thread. (GOTS allows oil-based polyester & synthetic threads to sew apparel and accessories) Printed with non-toxic earth-safe inks, but our print process uses 70% less waste water than even than other eco processes, such as reactive dye.
Production is entirely in the United States, by adult tradespeople (no child labor, ever!). We choose to pay fair wages ( no minimum wage workers!) In fact, we have a highly skilled team, and each does their part to create a scarf for you to treasure for many years.
Elena: What are your some of your "green" personal and business practices?
Stephanie: Personally, I've always recycled, as I said, and I reuse and re-purpose things to the bitter end. In my business, I'd say I do even more. I'm lucky I was able to start from the ground up to devise everything to be as ‘green' as possible. Guided by my company mission, we find the most eco-friendly option and find a way to make it work. Some examples are our choice of company stock paper, which is 100% FSC Certified 100% PCW (post-consumer waste) recycled paper. We use that to make our product hangtags, printed with aqueous, earth-safe inks.
We ship our product with no plastic, using only a singl
e sheet of 100% PCW recycled content tissue. The ribbon that ties the hangtag to the scarf is 100% USA-certified un-dyed organic cotton. We also support organizations and causes that are in alignment with our mission of social, ethical and environmental change, done in a peaceful and positive manner. We are a ‘transparent' business because we have nothing to hide. I just live green every day, and in building this company, have become more committed than ever.
Elena: Why is this important to you personally?
Stephanie: I really couldn't imagine operating a business and not being green and ethical. This is an opportunity to do what I've dreamt of - to make the choices I believe in, to make positive changes, to do no harm, and possibly help heal damage already done to the earth. Having been inspired by such leaders as the late original Fair-Trade businesswoman Anita Roddick, and eco-process pioneers as Patagonia, I hope to realize the same and more with Beau Monde Organics.
Elena: What are you future plans?
Stephanie: We have plans for expansion, but for now, we will be listening to our customers and finding out what they most would like to see in future.
Elena: What would your friends/other people be surprised to learn about you?
Stephanie: Not too much, I think. I'm extroverted, and pretty much an open book, so there's not much my friends don't know about me. Although others tend to seem a bit surprised as they start to learn of the very wide range of interests and passions I have.
Elena: What organic beauty/fashion products do you use & recommend?
Stephanie: Over the years I've liked organic products from Aveda and L'Occitane. In the past few years, I've been seeking smaller businesses that create 100% percent organic products. So far I've tried and liked products from Pangea Organics, Erbaviva and Bee Gorgeous.
In eco-fashion; latest I've tried and liked was B Green Apparel, a California company that makes organic cotton active-wear, and Revenge Is, also from California, with a mission to make fabulously fashionable casual wear by recycling plastic bottles and to bring attention special causes, such as endangered species. But my hunt for anything made 100% organic continues!
Elena: Who designs the line and what is the inspiration for the designs?
Stephanie: I am the owner and currently, also the sole designer of the entire line and all aspects of the manufacturing production. My design inspiration reflects my love of both urban and natural worlds, bringing collections that range from urban chic and fun, on-trend designs to elegant contemporary and nature-inspired prints and patterns. It's a way for me to share the many things I'm passionate about with others.
Elena: Do you have an eco-fashion or beauty tip that you would like to share?
Stephanie: With scarves, people often get stuck by wearing their scarf always in the same way. Try experimenting with different ways to tie your scarf, even using it as a wrap or a belt. Get dramatic effect by coordinating the colors of your scarf with your outfit or with your jewelry, purse or shoes. It creates your own personal style and pulls your whole look together in an instant!
Elena: Where to buy your products?
Currently, our online shop is the best, with fullest selection, free domestic shipping and international shipping available.
Final Note from Stephanie: I'm very proud of creating a product and a company that's not only beautiful and creative artistically, but does so as an ethically, socially and environmentally responsible company. Engendering positive change in a peaceful way, I hope to educate and inspire people to making their own best personal changes. And whether that means I get someone to stop buying Styrofoam cups or have someone feel great about themselves because my scarf enhanced their sense of personal style, it's all good. I'm grateful to be part of something that, even if it's in the smallest way, helps to change the world for the better.
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