The majority of products now found in the local hardware stores are made overseas just to save some change on the price of the product. How many of you know of a company that have outsourced jobs and  manufacturing to save some dough?  

“To these ruthless buyers, it is all about the money. Rarely are product quality, the political system, human rights, animal rights and environmental costs to the planet considered, not to mention the cost to our society of exporting not only jobs, but an entire factory!”

In 2007, his company manufactured back in the US because they weren’t happy about the quality of their products. They have gone on to be the most “efficient tool and mold making operation in the world”. The company is well known for their car mats and molds.  Everything from their CNC mills are made in Oxnard, CA; thermoforming machinery is made in Illinois, aluminum billets and raw steel are from Fontana, CA; and the all-weather floor mats, mud flaps, floor liners, cargo liners are from Ohio, Texas, Kansas and Tennessee.  

To prove their point more they are “proactive in controlling waste and recycling all of the unused raw materials from the manufacture of our tooling…”  The jobs linked by the machinery, parts, services, etc. includes a family of over “300,000 million people from all over America.”  

I am glad to hear of companies and magazines in other industries writing about the importance of keeping things local, especially during America’s economic recession. Can you think of a better solution that would help bring back jobs, our strength in the economy and abroad as well as help the environment than making things in America?

With our June Store this past month we found people to be incredibly price conscious because people were out of work or were scared of losing work. The days of impulse buying are over. People are taking longer to think about what purchases they really need.

It is in this economy that it is very important that we each do our part to teach one another how much better it is to buy something that might cost a little bit more because it goes back into our communities in America and is probably the actual price and cost of  how much these items are worth.

People forget that the reason a shirt can cost $50 bucks is because we are trying to pay a local person at least minimum wages/hour that it took to make the shirt and the true cost of materials. Take that calculated cost and double it if you want to make a profit for the person selling it and who made it.

I can tell you I will be looking into buying from this company because of this article. I hope to hear about more and more companies that are keeping things made in America and local. 

If you know of any articles or companies I would love to hear from you.

Thanks!

To Read the full article click Here!

Our events are Free and open to the public, so come on by with friends and enjoy drinks, appetizers and a show! 

10% of proceeds go to support Sweet Can Productions in their future endeavours with wonderful nights of acrobatics, juggling, trapeze, music, dance, and theater! Learn more about what their up to, join the email list and see how amazingly talented these individuals are.

JUNE 21st is our Last Day Open! Come by before we close until December. We have even added more items to the store to keep things lively and new. So even if you came by last week we still have more goodies for you to see.  Closing night we will have DJ’s Danger Deluxxe and Joey Mousepad playing great beats for you to enjoy while shopping the store, meeting the local individuals that make the store happen! Most important, we will have 10% off most everything in the store!

Store Hours: Wednesday - Friday 3-7pm (Friday open ’til 9pm for Sweet Can Productions)

Saturday: 11am-6pm

Sunday 11am-6pm (with closing party until 9pm with DJ’s Danger Deluxxe and Friends)

Remember 10% of purchases go to support Liss Fain. So have fun, meet some great people and learn what this city has to offer!!

To see more about Liss Fain’s Works go to their site at Liss Fain Dance.

Location: 143 Fillmore Street (cross street Waller)

Come join us for our June Temporary Store Opening. See what new artists and designers we have selected to participate this Summer. Check out what Dance Companies we’re holding benefits for in our space.

10% of purchase go to support the featured company!

Come mingle with the Designers and Artists, drink Sangria and support local DIY (Do It Yourself) Artists.

Where: Located at 143 Fillmore Street (cross street Waller).

When: Store Hours are Tuesday - Friday 3pm-7pm Saturday/Sunday 11am-6pm with events following.

If unable to attend check out our new line of products by Miranda Caroligne and Daka Bag on the website.

Be Sure to stay tuned for the next 2 weeks of events. To find out more about the June Store and to click to the featured artists websites, click on the page listed on the right titled ” June Temporary Store“.

Next week June 12th Liss Fain Dance Company Benefit 6pm-9pm and June 19th Sweet Can Productions Benefit.

Subscribe to our blog and stay in touch with news and events that matter most by hitting subscribe by email!

Shop New Products! Click OUR WEBSITE.

Preview of Folawole’s 1st Home Season-

Taking on the role of artistic director and principle dancer in his 1st home season”Exposition of the Heart”  a performance filled with eclectic artists who go through deep yet common experiences that are universal and personally individual. Illuminating the varied aspects of human consciousness through the journey of the heart. Meticulously crafted choreography will be interwoven with intent driven improvisation. Come and see what 2009 CHIME participant has been up to.

Suggested donation $5 to $95

June 5th  8pm to 9pm at the Margaret Jenkins Dance Lad

301 - 8th Street, 2nd Floor, Studio 200 San Francisco, CA 94103

Information and reservation call (951) 275-6855 4lawole@gmail.com

The de Young Museum has done an event called Discarded to Divine in early April that turns in donated clothing that is stained or torn from St. Vincent de Paul Society and has professional clothing designers turn them into something fantastic. Their donations doubled in 2007 when they first did the event.

From this exposure a friend Miranda Caroligne was emailed from Anthropologie. The woman stated that she loved her clothing and wanted to schedule an ”inspirational meeting” with her creative team.  Someone starting out might find this flattering, but it is also insulting. Think about what she is offering. A free meeting to get ideas from a local artist to use for their mass productions. I can see how this would be flattering to a student just graduating and trying to make it in the retail/design world but, there is no offer that their work would be recognized.

The woman did not offer to pay her for the ideas, or offer Miranda a job. Nor, did she schedule an inspirational meeting with their team that discusses what makes each one of them inspired vs. finding it from a local designer. I understand it can be difficult to find inspiration within themselves but I do not believe it is okay to have a meeting with their creative team to “borrow” ideas from a local designer without giving her any credit.

This isn’t the first time I have heard of Anthropologie trying to copy other smaller designers’ work. So here is a cheers to Miranda for having such awesome ideas and refusing politely. 

To see work by Miranda click link. It is on page 15 on the flickr photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/discardedtodivine/page15

Saturday, I unfortunately missed the fashion show for Opel but made it by Chillin’ Productions at 111 Minna and bought a great 20’s style hat from Behida D.

Sunday came and I was unable to attend Diwang Pinay for their 7th Annual Pinay Showcase, “an annual performance and silent auction showcasing Filipina/Filipina-American performers, writers, and artists” do to a splitting headache.  So much stuff so little time! This was only a handful of things going on the first of the Month.

This city that we live in is so amazing.  It really does make our lives richer when we step outside our comfort zone and do something out of the ordinary. I hope you all are able to take advantage!

Hope you enjoy the links. Sorry no photos this time :  (

Thanks go out to the clothing designers for letting us borrow the beautiful articles of clothing, the models Aziza Bahati and Natalia Wierzba for their time and Gregory Bartning for his amazing photo skills.

Here are a few pictures from the day. Which photo do you think will be picked for the Summer Temporary Store?

Clothes modeled are from Miranda Caroligne, Miss Velvet Cream, and Sea Pony.

Started in Columbia by Miguel Cabellero, his company offers “specialized personal protection solutions through innovative products” that “minimize the risks and preserve the life.” His line received the N.I.J.01.04. certification by the National Institute of Justice and has been publicized not just on the news but the History Channel.

You can select several clothing options, from jean/leather/suede jackets, vests, even button-up white-collared shirts with different degrees of bullet resistance ranging from Low-Medium-High.

Other countries that have jumped  on the bandwagon: Mexico, Peru, Guatamala, Spain, Italy, U.K. Ukrain, Austria, Syria, India, China, and South Africa.

You can watch a live video of people getting shot point blank wearing his clothing as testament. Should the tag line be Never live in Fear! Bullet Proof Fashion is Here?  Only if you have thousands of dollars to spend. So if you are rich no worries! The rest of you will just have to buy a gun and pray. 

It’s sad to me that countries are resorting to this type of solution instead of gun control. Does anyone find it wrong that pretty much anyone can get  ahold of a gun these days??? Why not find a solution for gun control versus having a closet full of bullet-proof armor? Even then your head is still exposed. What next, bullet-proof masks? I guess it is a good solution for the immediate future, but is it postponing the real problems we face with violence?

What I found fascinating as well is seeing video prodution on how his clothes are made.

CLICK THE LINK TO WATCH

http://www.miguelcaballero.com/repvideo.swf

Your comments are eagerly sought.