Hot and Cool

By Patty Mintz

Panda bears aren’t the only ones with a taste for bamboo. Consumers are discovering the plant can be turned into cool fashions and accessories that don’t harm the planet.

At newly-opened Hatt & Kul on Main Street, Wolfville, t-shirts and tank tops made from spun bamboo are turning people’s heads.

“It’s way softer than cotton. Someone compared it to cashmere,” says co-owner Jocelyn Hatt.

As one of the world’s more renewable natural resources, bamboo – actually a giant grass - is immensely versatile. These days, it’s turned into sturdy building materials or processed into ultra-comfy clothing and bedding. According to the American Bamboo Society website, bamboo canes are ultra-fast growing and can reach heights of 80 feet in one growing season, which can be as short as two months.

“It’s good for the eco-system because it doesn’t require pesticides or fertilizer,” says Michelle Kulyk, the other half of Hatt & Kul. “It’s hypo-allergenic and totally organic.”

Bamboo grows mainly in Asia and since neither Hatt nor Kulyk have personally visited the bamboo groves that provide materials for the garments they sell, there is trust involved in their relationship with their suppliers.

“We had to ask a lot of questions. Ultimately we are going on good faith, but you have to develop those relations with companies and have some faith,” says Kulyk.

That being said, both women say visiting those Asian bamboo groves to verify their sources is definitely part of their future game plan.

The shop’s bamboo garments are novel enough to cause quite a buzz, but it’s jeans that hold the fort.

“The core of the line is denim, and then we wanted pieces that work with that; basics that would appeal to everyone,” says Kulyk.

For now, as the business finds a footing, both women continue with their other jobs. Hatt, a server at Wolfville’s Tempest Restaurant, and Kulyk, who has spent the past eight years with Burnt Out Solutions in New Minas, take turns in the shop and have hired two part-time employees.

Friends for years, the two have much in common, including a love for extraordinary clothes.

Kulyk says her work in the candle-making plant had an impact on her current direction.

“Over the years, I’ve been exposed to a lot of environmentally-friendly manufacturing and more conscious of products that are more sustainable.”

Even though clothes made from hemp, belts made with recycled bicycle tire inner-tubes, lead-free pewter jewelry and an anti-Nike line of sneakers put out by Adbusters are all part of the landscape, the original store plan was more about fashion than ethics.

“When we started we thought we might do a really good fashion line with Canadian designers, but we couldn’t help ourselves going this way because we both live this way now in our day-to-day lives,” says Kulyk, an avid recycler.

“When we realized there were a lot of fashions available that were moving toward more environmentally friendly and ethically sourced, we thought why not go this way.”

“Plus, in Wolfville, things seem to be moving that way,” adds Hatt.

In fact, Wolfville’s status as Canada’s first Fair Trade town could prove rosy for retailers that cater to what they call “mindful shoppers.”

Still, how does selling more stuff to consumers help save the earth, even if those are organic jeans on the shelf?

“Instead of buying so many disposable things, we’re trying to encourage people to buy better, but buy less.”

In other words, opt for the $198 pair of organic cotton jean that will last for years and forego the dollar store junk made in sweatshops overseas.

“What we’re trying to do is practice mindful buying so it’s easier for the customer to make those choices. If all we have is ethically purchased selections, they can feel good about walking in and making a purchase,” says Kulyk.

Items that aren’t actually ‘green’ are ethically sourced, says Hatt, as she slips into a hand-constructed jacket by Apartment. The line is made in Medellin, Colombia by a design collective comprised of people from all walks of life.

“Their focus,” says Kulyk, “was providing an outlet and also employment that wasn’t linked to the drug trade.”

Jocelyn and Michelle chose a suit line of organic fabrics and natural stone buttons by Earth Speaks. The company obtains its materials from sources that employ eco-friendly farming methods and renewable resources such as hemp, and donates a percentage of its profits to organizations that promote peace, the environment and human rights.

Another line made in Toronto is based on deconstructing used clothing and reconstructing them creatively into one-of-a-kind fashions under the label Pre-Loved. The Vancouver-based Fidelity Jeans company is a well-known supporter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Jack and Marjorie, another Toronto line, uses Italian army surplus to create one-only purses. Kulyk, whose background includes garment manufacturing, points to a handbag made from a military blanket. The strap once served as an old rifle sling, putting one in mind of the ‘60s anti-war slogan, “make love, not war”.

These are lines that are not being carried elsewhere in the Valley, or for that matter in most of the Maritimes.

“People like the interesting designs,” says Hatt, who has a background in graphic arts. “They’ll say, ‘oh, that’s such a good idea!’ We’re getting a really positive reaction to the styles we’re carrying.”

Staff member Megan Hanks says customers tell her Wolfville needs new blood. “I think they like the idea of organic and sweat-shop free.”

“A lot said there has been a hole to fill since Seekers,” says Hatt.

Whatever the lure, the store is busy with browsers pouring through racks, stacks, and jewelry and accessories displays, and it’s only Monday.

The owners say they look forward to the day when the shop is their sole source of income.

“That’s the plan. This is our career change,” says Hatt, who groans when she acknowledges “I’ve been in the service industry for 10 years.”

“We want to secure a better future for ourselves; something that’s challenging, more interesting. For me, being my own boss is important to me,” says Kulyk. Besides, she adds, “I see growth in this. This is a trend that’s going to be sweeping across North America. And growth would be nice,” especially since the two are already planning to develop a hot product line of their own.

Hatt & Kul is located at the corner of Main Street and Gaspereau Avenue. Phone: 542-4365.