July/August 1997 Issue

Clothing Arguments: Reviews & Resources

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I N P I C T U R E S

In “Hemp for Victory,” a World War II era propaganda film, the virtues of the “natural” fiber are extolled by none other than the U.S. Government. Recently dragged into the age of technology by Free Speech TV, the film is a little outdated for educational value, but it’s an entertaining cultural history lesson. Laden with cartoonish xylophone riffs and heart warming Americana images, how can it lose?

Of course, it only works with RealPlayer or VDO Live. You’ll also have to listen to an angsty intro blurb about Free Speech TV and Psych@ctive — a weekly feature covering the marijuana legalization front — but it’s only 40 seconds or so. Then the fun starts. 

A R O U N D T H E N E T

ORGANIC COTTON
Patagonia’s “Tale of Two T-Shirts” is fairly riveting as it compares the cultivation, from start to finish, of conventional, chemical intensive cotton t-shirt with that of organic cotton.

ECOTEX NATURAL FABRICS
Ecotex was one of the pioneers of the eco-friendly fabric Tencel, and it’s Web site isn’t shy about telling you how smart a move that was. Self-praise aside, the FAQ page does shed some light on the tree-based fiber.

ECOLUTION — CYBERHEMP
Hemp enthusiasts will feel right at home at the Ecolution site. You can find out more about hemp products, hemp conspiracy theories and hemp news — one article explains how Mercedes-Benz is trying to use cannabis in the structure of its vehicles. Now that would be the ultimate driving machine…

FAIR TRADE FOUNDATION
This Connecticut-based organization makes the point that being socially conscious when buying clothes is just as important as being environmentally conscious. That’s why it’s trying to develop a label for clothes that says “sweat shop free.”

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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