Mothers of the revolution
When Alanna Mallon and Kate Browning decided to launch Toby + Rei, a line of eco-friendly baby clothing and accessories, they wanted people to pick it up because the design is great, not just because it's green. But eco-sensitivity was the overriding goal. The two moms - Mallon, 37, lives in Cambridge, while Browning, 40, is in Marblehead - had years of experience in the clothing industry and knew they wanted to use organic cottons and formaldehyde-free dyes. They also wanted a unique look. Inspired by naive, childlike drawings, Toby + Rei offers super-soft T-shirts, onesies, even lunch bags printed with robots, elephants, sharks, and flowers, as well as cotton/bamboo fleece baby blankets and accessories to cradle tiny new additions. Looking for a little softness yourself? They now offer robes for adults, too. We spoke with Mallon and Browning about going green and how to get started.
How did you decide to go into the organic baby clothes biz?
Mallon: We had been talking a long time about how the organic movement in food was really important to us, and the next big move was into clothes for kids. We were working for a conglomerate that makes clothes, and we'd seen how detrimental for the environment conventionally grown cotton is. It takes around half-a-pound of pesticides to make one cotton T-shirt. Ultimately the pesticides never wash out of your clothes.
Browning: I'd been in fashion for 20 some years; I went to school in New York at Parsons. With my knowledge, I just wanted to do something to make an impact in a small way. I was into organic food, and we started reading about bamboo as a fabric, and that opened some doors, and we started doing a lot of research. Also being a mom and wanting the best for my child.
What's the biggest environmental issue facing us now?
Mallon: I don't know if I can answer that. The gas crisis. The food crisis. Global warming. It's such a multitiered problem. You know, what Kate and I thought was, what can we do to make a difference? And what we do is design clothes. Really, the main crisis facing us right now is that people aren't willing to change little small things.
Browning: I'm really into the food thing right now - I think that's a huge issue for our kids. The foods we give to our kids at school . . . and then we wonder why they have ADD. These corporations are feeding us junk. At school, I mean, I can't believe they still give our kids white bread. I'm appalled by it.
What are some of the little things you can do to go green?
Mallon: Compact fluorescent light bulbs. Eating locally and in season. No more plastic bags. Eco-friendly household cleaners. Reducing packaging. Buy things that don't come in plastic, like milk jugs. Inflate your tires - it helps with fuel economy. One of the best things I've found is GreenDimes.com: you sign up, and every day when I get a catalog I don't want, I log on and in two months it won't come anymore. Walk. Ride a bike.
Browning: Recycle. Recycle everything. We're such a wasteful society. Everything plastic, paper - I try to reuse everything, even stuff Rei uses for crafts. And not using any harsh chemical in my house, just using vinegar and baking soda. I make sure I turn everything off. I don't even go in the middle aisles of the supermarket. I try to stay on the perimeter, where all the fresh stuff is. I'm optimistic that this environmental thing is really taking off. People ask more questions than our parents did.
If someone wants to become more environmentally aware, how should she start?
Mallon: There's a lot of resources online. For example, if you're a mom, there are a lot of eco-friendly mom blogs out there. Or if you're not a mom, there are so many resources that can make you more aware of what you're doing that may be harmful. It's the power of the Internet.
Browning: I found a few books, and there's tons of websites. You can Google anything that you want to know about. Everywhere you look it's all about being green. You really can't avoid it. Just pick your spot. Give your kids organic milk or eggs. Or buy green cleaning supplies. Pick your spot.
Toby + Rei is available at tobyandrei.com, as well as Hip Baby Gear in Marblehead, Hatched in Jamaica Plain, Tadpole in the South End, Greenward in Cambridge, and several other boutiques.
