From the Pencil to the Person

I have been taking stock (figuratively and literally) of what my business values are and I know that, at my core, I do not want to make money from exploiting people or the planet. March has been jam packed with marches for such important, pressing issues, from Brexit to Global Warming.

Our daughter, pictured on the School Strike 4 Climate is just getting involved in the big topics such as Climate Change and the politics of global poverty (albeit from a 9 year old standpoint.) Greta Thunberg is our hero. How can I vocally support her whilst making unethical choices in my business? The answer is- I can’t! And I won’t.

Here are some of the changes I’ve made over the course of the last year:

• All of my cards, envelopes and prints use recycled or, at the very least FSC mix card/paper. Once all my existing card range has sold, I will be exclusively using recycled materials, including my business cards and stickers.

• I don’t have any plastic packaging. All orders are packed in fully recyclable materials.

• On the rare occasion I use cellophane bags, I only use fully compostable ones, made from cornstarch, which biodegrade naturally. Otherwise, all my cards are sent out NAKED.

And now for the really exciting bit. As of today, I am launching new merchandise made by Teemill with my designs- t-shirts, jumpers and bags for adults and children, which are all 100% organic, produced in modern, high welfare, wind powered factories, paying a guaranteed wage. The cotton production doesn’t involve toxic chemicals- instead a secret ingredient in preservation is… cow poo. Yes. My t-shirts are a bit s**t. And I couldn’t be happier.

They are printed with low energy guzzling inks and are packaged without plastic. Because every garment is cotton, it is designed to be sent back to Teemill once it has worn out. They make new products from the waste materials they recover. Their UK factory is based on the Isle of Wight- where I used to live and they have helped over 40 young Isle Of Wighters get into full time employment- no mean feat!

Read about the journey from seed- to stitch- to store

I have created new, fresh designs for this merch, drawing on many influences including the environment, gender politics and my love of tea and toast. I really REALLY hope you like the new stuff. Please give me your feedback and let me know if there are any of my existing illustrations you’d like to see on a tee!

Thanks peeps.

xx

R