H&M – Organic Cotton News for Moms! October 1, 2010

Hello Ladies! So, you may have heard European retailer H&M has made a push into the organic cotton world. Of course, it’s always great to hear organic cotton being used instead of that icky chemical filled stuff! Here are some details:

H&M has confirmed that by 2020, it will source only ‘sustainable’ cotton, most of it as part of the company’s involvement in the Better Cotton Initiative, writes Tone Skårdal Tobiasson in Copenhagen.

Addressing more than 150 delegates at the recent NICE (Nordic Initiative Clean & Ethical) Fashion’s fall conference in Copenhagen, Catarina Midby, Head of Fashion Communications, H&M, updated delegates on the company’s development of its ‘restricted chemicals list’ and its five-year organic cotton-plan which she confirmed was ahead of schedule; with an original pledge to source 15,000 tons of organic cotton by 2013, the company hit the 8,500 tons mark by the end of  2009.

Organic cotton production does not simply mean replacing synthetic fertilizers and pesticides with organic ones. Organic cultivation methods are based more on knowledge of agronomic processes than input-based conventional production is. This process takes time because farms need to complete a two-year conversion period to change their production system from conventional to organic. An essential element of organic production is the careful selection of varieties adapted to local conditions in terms of climate, soil and robustness to pests and diseases.

Welcome to the fabulous world of organic cotton H&M! 🙂

To shop our line of organic baby and children’s clothing visit: www.samababy.com

Balance, Serenity, Fashion, SAMA

Family Groove: MOM ON THE STREET, Shivani Gupta! September 1, 2010

MOM ON THE STREET

Our very own Shivani Gupta, Sama CEO, was featured on The Family Groove’s Mom On The Street series! Here is what she and a few other moms had to say!

Welcome to “Mom on the Street” (ya know, like “Man on the Street”) by Family Groove. Each month, we’ll be asking moms just like you for a slice of their sage advice, insider tips or tried-and-true wisdom in the hopes that their unique brand of mothering inspires, assuages, calms, strengthens and even amuses you.

This month’s question:

What are you looking forward to this fall?

Blakeley Smart is the founder of Bronzed Envy (www.bronzedenvy.com), a mobile airbrush tanning franchise. Here’s what this Round Rock, Texas, mother of two has to say: “Fall is such a great time of the year for my family. School starts again, [there are] new teachers, kids have a schedule, and Mom gets some much-needed work done. My youngest will be starting kindergarten this year, so I’m really looking forward to the excitement that comes with that, but it’s topped with a bit of sadness knowing my last little chickadee is leaving the nest. So for me, this fall brings about a new chapter of my life. After a hot, chaotic yet fun summer, come fall, it’s an exciting time for me as well to set new goals with my business and take it to an all-new level!”

Laurie Penix is the creator and co-founder of Zomm (www.zomm.com), a keychain-sized wireless leash with call notification and personal safety features for Bluetooth-enabled phones. Here is what this Tulsa, Okla., mother of three has to say: “Most people are surprised to hear that I love the outdoors. The warmer months are great, for obvious reasons, but I also love watching the seasons change to the fall. I spend a lot of time at the lake enjoying the sun, fishing and relaxing. The best part has to be the fall sunsets; they are so beautiful.”

Shivani Gupta is the co-owner of Sama Baby (www.samababy.com), makers of luxury organic cotton clothing for babies and toddlers. Here’s what this Houston, Texas, mom-to-be has to say: “I am looking forward to creating a wonderful eco-nursery for the newest addition to my family. For us, we have learned that airing out products when you get them is very important—in order to make sure all the chemicals are released and not trapped in the nursery, which could be harmful for your baby. For us, we really believe that going green is an easy choice, and there are so many products out there. We have looked at many other products, from organic mattresses to wonderful wooden toys, and are able to find them at great prices, and in wonderful designs. We are even looking into no-VOC paint as well as recycled wood for the crib—as we think about the environment in every aspect. Going green is so easy in today’s age—and there are so many great ideas and sites on how to be a better environmentalist while thinking about your child! At Sama Baby, we have been very excited in creating organic cotton clothing for little ones—and this fall we are featuring our latest product: our organic cotton denim line, which is super stylish, comfortable and affordable. For us, fall is a great season to stay warm, happy and enjoy the beautiful colored leaves. We love the new season and what it brings for everyone.”

TO SHOP FOR SAMA PRODUCTS VISIT www.samababy.com

Balance, Serenity, Fashion, SAMA

Organic Eggs: Worth the Cost? July 14, 2010

As an office of vegetarians, we need to know the truth about our eggs! A recent Time magazine article got it wrong when it proclaimed organic eggs are no healthier than factory-farmed eggs, and here’s why. (source http://www.rodale.com)

Don’t be mislead: There are good reasons to choose organic eggs.

Organic eggs are no healthier than factory-farmed eggs and are thus not worth the extra costs, concludes an article recently run in Time magazine. But the article’s author is missing some major benefits of organic eggs—such as the fact that they’re higher in omega-3 fatty acids, are free of antibiotic residues, and contain no arsenic, which is added to factory-farmed chicken-feed to prevent infections and spur growth.

The article was based on a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study finding that different production methods—factory-farmed, cage-free, and free-roaming—all met the same quality standards.

Yet, the author’s conclusions that organic eggs are no healthier than conventional, and that the way they’re raised is dangerous and not worth the added cost, run far afield of the research, misinterpreting the study’s primary finding.

#1: The test used in the USDA study is a measure of egg quality, not nutrition. The study used something called the Haugh unit, a scale between 0 to 110 that basically lets producers know whether or not the egg is stale (the lower the number, the lower the quality).  The Time article made the assumption that Haugh unit is somehow indicative of nutritional value, when in fact, the USDA’s definition of Haugh unit mentions nothing about an egg’s nutritional content.

#2: “Free-roaming” and “cage-free” aren’t the same as “organic.” The USDA study didn’t specify organic as one of the production methods they studied, but the author continually refers to “organic” eggs as though the authors had. Unlike “USDA Organic,” “free-range” and “cage-free” are unsubstantiated claims that aren’t verified by independent third parties—any producer can slap those labels on a carton of eggs without any evidence that his or her chickens roam free or live outside cages.

#3: Shell color doesn’t matter. On this one point, the author is right. “Another mistake some health-conscious consumers make…is believing that the color of an egg makes a difference and that brown shells are somehow better than white ones. They’re not. Color is determined entirely by the breed of chicken laying it,” he writes. And that’s true. But store-bought eggs generally come from one type of chicken, while organically raised eggs you might find at a farmer’s market come from different heritage breeds.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Look for the USDA Organic seal, and find a local farmer who can attest to healthy living conditions for his poultry.

These are just some of the mail points found in the article @Rodale.com. TO read the entire article CLICK HERE

Balance, Serenity, Fashion, SAMA

Study: ADHD linked to pesticide exposure May 20, 2010

Amazing how everyone is catching on to what we have been aware of for years now! Yet another reason to GO GREEN…. GO ORGANIC!

Detectable levels of pesticides are present in a large number of fruits and vegetables sold in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(Health.com) — Children exposed to higher levels of a type of pesticide found in trace amounts on commercially grown fruit and vegetables are more likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder than children with less exposure, a nationwide study suggests.

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Researchers measured the levels of pesticide byproducts in the urine of 1,139 children from across the United States. Children with above-average levels of one common byproduct had roughly twice the odds of getting a diagnosis of ADHD, according to the study, which appears in the journal Pediatrics.

Exposure to the pesticides, known as organophosphates, has been linked to behavioral and cognitive problems in children in the past, but previous studies have focused on communities of farm workers and other high-risk populations. This study is the first to examine the effects of exposure in the population at large.

Organophosphates are “designed” to have toxic effects on the nervous system, says the lead author of the study, Maryse Bouchard, Ph.D., a researcher in the department of environmental and occupational health at the University of Montreal. “That’s how they kill pests.”

The pesticides act on a set of brain chemicals closely related to those involved in ADHD, Bouchard explains, “so it seems plausible that exposure to organophosphates could be associated with ADHD-like symptoms.”

Environmental Protection Agency regulations have eliminated most residential uses for the pesticides (including lawn care and termite extermination), so the largest source of exposure for children is believed to be food, especially commercially grown produce.

Although kids should not stop eating fruits and vegetables, buying organic or local produce whenever possible is a good idea, says Bouchard.

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To read the entire article or for more information on ADHD like the link between drugs and ADHD and What if my child begins showing ADHD symptoms? Click HERE (source CNN.com)

Balance, Serenity, ORGANIC fashion, SAMA

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TreeHugger.com knows their stuff! April 5, 2010

Sama Loves TreeHugger.com!!! Check out why:

TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Partial to a modern aesthetic, they strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information. At TreeHugger they know that variety is the spice of life, so you can find all you need to go green in their up to the minute blog, weekly and daily newsletters, weekly video segments, weekly radio show and their user-generated blog, Hugg. They also extend their expertise to companies looking for a little green guidance. Past clients include Domino, Sundance Channel and House & Garden.

Why is TreeHugger Doing This?

Our environment is currently facing huge obstacles that have the potential to seriously disrupt our future and the future of all our fellow flora and fauna friends. Keeping that in mind, TreeHugger also sympathizes with the fact that most people aren’t willing to compromise their current lifestyle in order to improve our shared environment, so they have created a place where you can discover how to maintain or improve your quality of life while reducing your harmful impact on the earth.

TreeHugger.com has some excellent resources on organic cotton and why it is SO important.  Click here to read more! Also check out the feature they did on Sama Baby Organics here: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/sama-baby-organics.php

Balance, Serenity, Fashion, SAMA

Recent Facts about Organic Cotton- from the OTA March 22, 2010

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy. OTA envisions organic products becoming a significant part of everyday life, enhancing people’s lives and the environment.

OTA represents businesses across the organic supply chain and addresses all things organic, including food, fiber/textiles, personal care products, and new sectors as they develop. Over sixty percent of OTA trade members are small businesses, like Sama Baby Organics. OTA is a leader in advocating and protecting organic standards so that consumers can have confidence in certified organic production.

Sama Baby has great respect for the OTA, check out these recent facts about our organic product of choice, organic cotton.

According to the fourth annual Organic Exchange Farm and Fiber Report 2009, organic cotton production grew an impressive 20 percent over 2007/08 to 175,113 metric tons (802,599 bales) grown on 625,000 acres (253,000 hectares). Organic cotton now represents 0.76 percent of global cotton production, wow!

Organic cotton was grown in 22 countries worldwide with the Top Ten producer countries being led by India, where Sama clothing is made,  and including (in order of rank) Turkey, Syria, Tanzania, China, United States, Uganda, Peru, Egypt and Burkina Faso.  Approximately 220,000 farmers grew the fiber.

Apparel companies are developing programs that either use 100 percent organically grown cotton, like Sama does,  or blend small percentages of organic cotton with conventional cotton in their products. There are a number of companies driving the expanded use of domestic and international organic cotton. For a current list of OTA members with fiber products, visit The Organic Pages Online™ at http://www.ota.com/.

As a result of consumer interest, organic cotton fiber is used in everything from personal care items (sanitary products, make-up removal pads, cotton puffs and ear swabs), to home furnishings (towels, bathrobes, sheets, blankets, bedding), children’s products 🙂 (toys, diapers), clothes of all kinds and styles (whether for lounging, sports or the workplace), and even stationery and note cards. In addition, organic cottonseed is used for animal feed, and organic cottonseed oil is used in a variety of food products, including cookies and chips!

Organics cotton is a fast growing industry that is beneficial to the sustainability of our environment. Sama is a proud advocate of doing what it takes to keep our environment clean, and looking fashionable while we do it 🙂 Check out www.SamaBaby.com to dress your little ones in products that you can feel great about, including these denim jeans, available in April.

Balance, Serenity, Fashion, SAMA 

Healthy Child, Healthy World. Are you awake? March 8, 2010

With parenthood comes a most spectacular wake-up call.  Are you awake?

I recently learned that on average babies are being born with over 200 chemicals in their systems, a discovery made by studying the cord blood of newborns. This is not meant to scare you, although it may. This bit of information is meant to get you to be proactive at any stage of parenthood. Whether you are deciding to conceive or are recently pregnant, about to give birth or have young children already, it is not too late to be proactive, to educate yourself and make different choices.

For example, I am often told that eating small amounts of tuna during ones pregnancy is safe. Well, The Environmental Working Group recommends that women of child bearing age and young children under five do not eat any albacore tuna at all. Most albacore has very high levels of mercury. My doctor often asks me “if I were to hand you a class half full of poison and a glass full of poison, which would you drink?” My response is always a resolute, “neither.” So why chance it with albacore tuna fish when you have a vulnerable developing baby growing inside you?  Avoid albacore intake and opt for safer seafood choices.

Another study recently revealed that some infant formula has the ingredient perchlorate found in rocket fuel.  Again, the point is not to terrify you but to remind us that we are indeed living in a toxic world and it is up to each and everyone one of us to do our research and seek out reliable sources to help us decipher the toxic from the healthy.  Eat organic food whenever possible, get rid of beauty products and household cleaners filled with chemicals and begin to take care of the temple that your body is.  We will pass our good health onto our children. Remember, woman’s bodies are the first environment babies have. (Credit for this excerpt goes to Healthy Child Healthy world )

Read more: http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/protecting_the_first_environment/%29,

But its time to really shake things up, by waking parents up. Please help us send a universal wake-up call to inform parents about the dangers of toxic chemicals in our world, and get a movement of parents activated to do something about it in 2010!

Few of us can afford to be full-time activists. But Sama and  Healthy Child Healthy World share this little mantra: “No one can do everything but everyone can do something.

Here’s what you can do: spread the word and wake-up another parent.Watch and  Share this video with your co-workers, send it to your child’s school community, post it on Facebook and Tweet it to your network.

Balance, Serenity, Fashion, SAMA

Read more: http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/parents_are_you_awake/#ixzz0f98baQyp

Food – What Inspires You? November 5, 2009

Food inspires me. It inspires how I design. How I feel, think, act, and much more!

 

Food – as a home-made chef who loves to cook for anyone around them – I absolutely love food. I’d call myself a foodie, and in Houston I am known as  Houchie – Houston Chowhound.  Everytime I cook something – I am inspired by the fragrance, the colors, and the tastes. All my senses are heightened. I was recently at dinner with a friend of mine who only eats meat and bread. He watched in wonder while I combined my lettuce, with a little bit of rice, a nice little touch of salsa, and a slice of avocado.  Watching me eat, was almost artistic for him, and all he could say was “what an extensive taste pallete!” Experiment more with food – if you don’t like it, give it to someone else.

 

Cooking at an Early Age!

I Love Veggies!

Sama Baby at Houston’s First Green Community Festival! November 3, 2009

 

Wrap Up about Houston’s First Green Scene Community Festival!

Sama Baby had a great fashion show and event coverage – by Yolanda Grene’s WB Channel 39 – Going Green show! It was on this past weekend!

What: Community Green Festival

Where: Last Organic Outpost, 711 North Emile Street, Houston, Texas

Why: This event will focus on Green Living and include educational activities for children of all ages, food, vendor booths, workshops, demonstrations, and entertainment.

Who: All things green in Houston: businesses, organizations and individuals will showcase their products, services and talents!

Baby Fashion Show featuring organic baby clothing presented by Sama Baby

How to build a Composting Bin demonstration by Brittani Flowers of NotTrash.Houston

How to make your own Natural, non-toxic cleaning products demonstration by Mona Metzger of Urban Green Clean

Electric Car Showcase by Houston Electric Cars

Silent Auction and Raffle featuring local, green products and services sponsored by Houston Green Scene

Environmental Art Workshop by Artist Charles Washington

Balloon animals for kids with bio-degradable balloons by The Bug Man

Featuring Garden Art by Recycle Artist Phil Waldrop

Recycled Structures proudly constructed by Green Construction Company, Bright Side Construction

Special performance by poet, performance artist and author of Haiku2u:101 select poems on love, trial, triumph and trust Jerome Vielman

Special Appearance by Recycled Home Builder Dan Phillips

Interactive garden games provided by United Wellness Center and Last Organic Outpost

Casserole Cook-off Contest made with local ingredients from the garden by local celebrity chefs and area restaurants

Remember to pick-up your Holiday Green Guide featuring farm fresh recipes from the Last Organic Outpost compliments of Houston Green Scene

Family activities and Kids Corner provided by Last Organic Outpost

Top Models in Sama Baby

BIRTH FAIR Houston – Wrap Up! October 30, 2009

BIRTH Fair took place at United Way from 11am-4pm in Houston, Texas. The event was focused on BIRTH, and all the opportunities and ways you can get involved in Houston – with midwives, doulas, and birth centers. It was amazing to meet so many other female business owners in Houston – who were focused on children, natural approaches to birth, and organic.  We had a wonderful little fashion show featuring 15 models in Sama Baby. It was daunting, but being the MC was quite a bit of fun – I spoke about each outfit, as well as each child’s favorite activity! One kid’s favorite food was tofu and broccoli. Sounds like my kind of kid!

BIRTH FAIR

Many moms purchased Sama Baby outfits, and were so excited to see such young entrepreneurs focused on all natural, and organic products for children. It was also wonderful to build a partnership with Bay Area Birth Center – the same area I grew up in when I was a young child in Houston.  They will be putting postcards in each of their birth bags, and leave our postcards at the front with discount codes for moms in the area! We love parterning, and if you are a midwife, doula, birth center, boutique, wellness center, we would love to cross-promote and partner together!  We even built some relationships with West U Wellness and are going to talk about doing a fun little Bollywood Green Chai Chat for their center – since I have grown up in West U for such a long time!

BIRTH Fair was a wonderful way to connect with other moms, and other hospitals, mom groups, and much more!