Bhalo: Hand Created, Ethical Prints to Excite and Amuse
The confetti dress, with fabric made in Rajshahi, and sewn by Folk Bangladesh.
Bhalo‘s prints, as you can see, are fabulous, and for a print-junkie like me, this is heaven (and these are all more interesting alternatives to the checks/stripes/polka dots). All of their (very well-priced—check out the sale section!) travel-inspired clothes are made from only ethically hand woven and naturally dyed cottons and silks.
Bhalo travel to rural villages in Bangladesh, for both sampling and production, where we work with a collective of local fair trade producers. As well as being focused on ethical working conditions and community development, Bhalo’s production has a green focus also. The cotton is not only AZO chemical free, but also hand loomed and hand embroidered. Silks are hand printed and all of the sewing is mostly done by foot powered pedal sewing machines, giving opportunities to people who would have otherwise been left behind by the mechanisation of the garment industry.
The paper daisy skirt, made in Bangladesh from azo chemical-free, hand loomed cotton.
The tailfeather jacket, made in Bangladesh from naturally dyed, Azo chemical-free, hand loomed cotton. Supplier Thanapara Swallows is a Fair Trade organisation that provides work for over 200 women in rural Bangladesh, and profits help cover the costs of the village school for 300 children.
The secretary dress, hand painted wax print silk dress made in Bangladesh from azo chemical-free, hand loomed silk.
Starre Vartan
Starre Vartan is founder and editor-in-chief of Eco-Chick.com and the author of the Eco-Chick Guide to Life. She's also a freelance science and environment writer who has published in National Geographic, CNN, Scientific American, Mental Floss, Pacific Standard, the NRDC, and many more. She lives on an island in Puget Sound with her partner and black cat. She was a geologist in her first career, and still picks up rocks wherever she goes.
