Stylish Fashion, and yet Eco-Friendly

What matters to you most: fashion and design or nature-friendly products? Most of the time, in order to help save the nature, artistry and intricate details of a garment are put aside. So should consumers be left without any options as to how they wanted to be dressed?

Other times, garment companies will try, as much as they can, to use organic products to contribute to the saving of the world. The artistry and intricate details are not compromised, but their products are way too expensive. Wouldn't it be nice if a company can come up with organically produced products that comes with artistry and intricate details and yet at a reasonable price?

Hmm..what then is a reasonable price?!

Oxford Dictionary describes reasonable as "as much as is appropriate or fair". And for me, I believe, that companies can come up with concepts that are fairly appropriate both in the areas of artistry & design and in marking their prices. And I have found such a company...Have you heard of GeboMana?

Well, if truth be said, I wouldn't have heard of this company had the owner not sought me at oDesk. It was through this that I get to "look in" on the company's website and 'lo and behold! what I found was indeed a treasure.

GeboMana is a company that specializes in hand-crafted T-shirts. The concept was to bring Bali Indonesia's great culture into artistic exposure through the shirts. The artists themselves are international award winning designers. And guess where the shirts are made...in Bali of course! Before I get ahead of myself, let me introduce the company and key people within.

The 3 key players in this company are Scott Foster, Mike Boorn, and Ruby Reyes. None of them are artist by profession, but all of them play a distinct role in leading the company to where it is today. Scott and Ruby deals with international relations with Ruby creating an international supply chain and overseeing the production in Bali, while Scott handles the international operation and cultural difficulties with an international market. And Mike handles the marketing and advertising.

These 3 people came together and started a unique outlet due to an overwhelming desire to change the world. "Have they?", you might ask.

Well, you see, unless you've visited the site or have purchased, or been given, a shirt from GeboMana, you'll never understand why they exist.

GeboMana, as I have gathered from their website, exists not just for profit, but for service and something else. I said service..hmmm...what do I mean by that? Remember my earlier "wishful thinking" about a company that can come up with organically produced products and yet with artistry and intricate details at a reasonable price? Well, GeboMana uses 100% organic cotton, which means eco-friendly; GeboMana never compromises the designs, all of their shirt are of Limited Editions; and they are not pricey, if you know what I mean. A shirt costs $49. "Whoa!" you might say. Indeed, for 3rd world countries that's too much, but wait 'till you see what you get. Each T-shirt is gift-wrapped and boxed (with GeboMana's unique wrappers), and is shipped via express courier worldwide, and you can have it personalized by having your message printed on a high grade paper and placed in a hand-embossed luxury envelope. Wouldn't it be a romantic gift for a sweetheart?!

"What about that 'something else'?" Remember the "overwhelming desire to change the world"? Well, GeboMana has established a foundation called Gebo Foundation. This foundation has helped other non-profit foundations in their endeavor to "change the world". Whenever you buy a shirt from GeboMana, you start educating another child from a developing nation in sustainable practices.

GeboMana might seem like another company with a foundation and a desire to help poor nations. But for me, putting such a desire together with such a great product is a company worth my vote. Will I be purchasing a shirt from this company? Well, not at the moment maybe, but I'm greatly considering about it. And once I did, I will surely post it here and let you guys see!

These are the designs that caught my attention and if they'll still be available when I have the money to purchase them, I would surely buy these:

The New Jarvis

This guy is amazing! Upon arriving here at Gen San, he had adjusted quite well! There was no mention of Manila nor Zamboanga (which was very different from the time we've left Zambo!) There was no wish of "Mommy, I wish we can go back to Manila (or Zamboanga)" or "Mommy, I want to leave". Instead, there was just pure peace in him.

Even when we first went to his school! Yes, there was this hesitation in meeting his Principal, Teachers and classmates. But on the 1st day at his school, he found friends! He played, sing and run around with these friends that he has found. And his friends are really concern about him too!

One morning, after dropping him off at his school, two of his friends approached me and said that Jarvis is slow in copying what the teacher had asked them to copy. They were concerned that if Jarvis were to graduate from Kinder 2 and start Grade 1, he might not be able to catch up! Amazing isn't it! Well, of course being a Mom, I carried the concern over to his teacher, and his teacher assured me that he can and will catch up.

Going to school (and adjusting very quickly) was the first encounter Jarvis had when we arrived here. The second, as I believe most of you have noticed, was his clean-shaven head. He had not have that kind of cut for almost 3 years already. He has been begging me to have his hair shaved for the past 2years to which I adamantly said 'No'. But on his first hair cut here, I've decided to give him what he has been asking for...and voila!

He didn't like it, that's for sure! When we entered the Barber's Shop, he was filled with confidence with his decision. But the moment the barber shaved a portion of his head, his face changed! And I can see regret in his eyes, but I told him that no matter what other people has to say about his hair cut, he has to still has to accept of what he has decided upon. This was a hard lesson for him..but a lesson that he needs to learn.

The third encounter is his need to wear glasses. He's only 5 years old, but he already have astigmatism and grade. This came about 2 weeks ago, when I noticed that he kept on blinking his eyes, particularly the one on the right. Joshua noticed that he had a hard time reading and often commits mistake with the letters. And last Tuesday, Oct 12, we've decided to have his eyes checked. The Doctor said that if Jarvis can still go on without much complain, then the glasses are not needed. But that night, his eyes kept on blinking and therefore, Josh and I have decided that it's time to have his glasses made. This third adjustment was not a problem either. I was expecting him to complain of dizziness or unwillingness to wear the glasses, but amazingly he wore it with much anticipation! He has stopped blinking, so I assume that the glasses are helping.

Jarvis is truly an amazing guy! I'm praying that he will grow up in this hard and brutal world with love and understanding for all, especially us, his parents. I don't know why, but God has blessed us with a truly great son. I just hope that, as his parents, we will be able to fulfil and give him the love, training and discipline he needs in order to live righteously in this unrighteous world.