I see my approach in textile and fabric adornment to be a form of “Sankofa Artistry“. Learning from the earth, our children, our elders, our communities, and our Ancestors. Throughout history Fashion and Textile making has always been a source of education through means of History, Culture, Economic Development, Earth Science, Physics, Art, Math, Music, and Medicine. In the tradition of the many earthworkers around the world, I make many of my own brushes, paint bases, dyes and stamps from various natural substances deriving directly from nature.
Each piece is made with a deep reverence for the ancestors whom have left us with such a vast arsenal of sacred imagery, symbols, knowledge and wisdom on how to live our best lives. To this day… many artists and designers around the world are able to sustain their lives on the ancient symbols and knowledge accredited not to an individual or institution… but rather to greater understanding of God.
Conscious Clothing has been quite the challenge through out history, in considering that cotton plant has been the source of slavery and land abuse over the centuries. Even now, many of our brothers and sisters around the globe have found themselves slaves to the cotton industry. Right now, in India, many farmers have literally ended their own lives around the impossible demands and inhumane processes thrust upon them by the cotton industry. As a descendant of Enslaved Africans, it is preeminent that I remain cognizant of these types of realities and do my best to not contribute and perpetuate these practices. As one of my favorite [MLK] quotes states:
“An injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice Everywhere.”
The extractive process of Capitalism and bad business, has made it quite difficult to do anything within clothing industry without having some level of blood on your hands. Being that I am a Grassroots Level Entrepreneur and don’t have an abundance of resources and capital, I have chosen to start where I can, within my means, while making conscious and humane choices around the companies and individuals I choose to work with. While my aim is to be 100% Green, I realize this is going to be a process. I don’t believe that one should just give up on being a green company because they cannot meet all of the “green requirements” from the beginning. We all have to start somewhere. Start with a sound mind and a healthy heart.
In response and in contribution to Better Business, I have slowly built out a small company called I S H O N G O which seeks to make conscious clothing infused with conscious messages and designs to empower and synergize the DNA of the onlooker. Currently I S H O N G O is 83% green according to the Benefit Corporation (B Corp) assessment, with the goal of becoming 100% green.
Anänka Shony 