Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, all of the base fiber is grown and certified organic. The certifiers vary by location. US fibers are certified by the Texas Department of Agriculture to the USDA Organic standards and our organic fabrics from India are certified organic by Control Union or OneCert. All of our current wide-width fabrics (110" or 90") are fully 3rd party certified to GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards). At the moment all of our domestic production conforms to GOTS. To read more about the difference between conventional and organic please click here.
Additional, as of July 2009, some our fabrics produced in India, the fiber is Fair Trade Certified, and the fabric is always produced in a GOTS certified facility. We will continue to source fair trade organic cotton whenever we are able to. We are very proud of the progress we are making.
Additional, as of July 2009, some our fabrics produced in India, the fiber is Fair Trade Certified, and the fabric is always produced in a GOTS certified facility. We will continue to source fair trade organic cotton whenever we are able to. We are very proud of the progress we are making.
Our dyes and pigments are synthetic. They have been screened to prevent hazardous inputs from being used. All input must meet stringent toxicity screening and biodegradability/eliminability standards as well. Water based dyes and pigments are used. To read more about the differences click here. You can also read more of the chemistry details at the GOTS web site.
You can purchase individual swatches or a complete swatch set from Organic Cotton Plus.
Yes. You can thank/blame my parents for that one.
No, they are not and never have been "hippies".
No, they are not and never have been "hippies".
Absolutely. We have fabulous online distrubutors that can help you. Click the ordering link above to select the appropriate location.
Wholesale orders start with a 50 yard roll (of the same fabric). Roll sizes often vary by a few yards in either direction. We always recommend that you purchase sample yardage to test and make sure the fabric will work for your needs before investing in wholesale yardage. The best way to receive swatches and sample yardage is through one of our online distributors which can be found by clicking the Ordering link above. You can purchase a swatch set from Organic Cotton Plus which contains all of our fabrics.
We also offer junior wholesale B2B yardage pricing with lower minimums. Email [email protected] for details.
We also offer junior wholesale B2B yardage pricing with lower minimums. Email [email protected] for details.
Out of respect for our retail distributors we do not post our wholesale prices. If you are serious about ordering wholesale, you can fill out our online application. Once we receive your completed and "signed" application, we will send you our wholesale price list. If you are based in the European Union please email [email protected].
To place an order and get more details on our junior wholesale B2B (business to business) program (including pricing), please email [email protected]. We welcome your feedback.
To place an order and get more details on our junior wholesale B2B (business to business) program (including pricing), please email [email protected]. We welcome your feedback.
Swatches of our fabrics may be purchased through our retailers.
Note: you can purchase a complete swatch set from Organic Cotton Plus.
Note: you can purchase a complete swatch set from Organic Cotton Plus.
We only keep full rolls in stock and therefore can not ship individual yardage. We highly recommend purchasing sample yardage from one of our awesome retailers (linked to under Ordering above) to make sure the fabric will work for your purposes before ordering wholesale rolls. We also have a junior wholesale B2B program which you can email us for details about.
No. Our goal is to increase the availability of organic cotton.
Any company that is using Harmony Art fabrics is eligible for listing. Just send us an email and let us know. We do reserve the right to remove any listing without warning....though to date we have not had to.
For wholesale purchases within the US, you will need to complete our wholesale application prior to placing an order. Fist orders require payment in advance of shipping the fabric. A retail sales number is required for purchases in California.
Fabrics that are in stock typically are released 1-5 days from the time the order is placed (and payment received for first orders). Full roll orders are typically shipped using UPS ground. We are happy to use your UPS account for the shipping or if you don't already have an account, we can use our UPS account and bill you for the shipping separately. There is a small fee for using our shipping account. Note the fabric currently ships from our warehouse in Connecticut.
As long as a print is selling we plan to keep it in stock. We will be re-printing designs as needed and adding new designs as often as we can.
In order for the solid colors to exactly match the prints we run them at the same time which means we may temporarily be without inventory of a solid while we are waiting for a print to be re-run.
We are doing our best to keep the fabrics in stock at all times but as demand is difficult to predict and production lead times are long, we do anticipate there will be times (months) when we are temporarily out of wholesale yardage. There is a good chance that the color will shift slightly with each new run. Communicating your needs well in advance is the best way to ensure we have fabric in stock at the time you need it.
We do reserve the right to discontinue a fabric at any time. Please feel free to contact us with your needs. Communication is key to having what you need when you need it.
In order for the solid colors to exactly match the prints we run them at the same time which means we may temporarily be without inventory of a solid while we are waiting for a print to be re-run.
We are doing our best to keep the fabrics in stock at all times but as demand is difficult to predict and production lead times are long, we do anticipate there will be times (months) when we are temporarily out of wholesale yardage. There is a good chance that the color will shift slightly with each new run. Communicating your needs well in advance is the best way to ensure we have fabric in stock at the time you need it.
We do reserve the right to discontinue a fabric at any time. Please feel free to contact us with your needs. Communication is key to having what you need when you need it.
All fabrics will shrink some. They range from .1% to 10% max. shrinkage. Most fabrics shrink more in the length than the width. We HIGHLY recommend you test all the fabrics you plan to use before cutting and sewing for production to make sure they will work for your needs.
All printed/dyed fabrics will fade (organic or conventional)...the darker the fabric the more noticeable this will be. We HIGHLY recommend you test all the fabrics you plan to use before cutting and sewing for production to make sure they will work for your needs.
All sales are final. Organic fabric has been treated differently than conventional fabrics. For instance, since the weaving and knitting runs are smaller, there may be more imperfections in the fabric. Also, due to low-impact scouring agents and finishing techniques used to support eco-friendly processing, some stains or surface problems may exist in the fabric. We are working hard to improve quality while maintaining the integrity of the organic product. Please keep these points in mind when ordering the organic fabric. We highly recommend inspecting the fabric thoroughly before cutting. No refunds or credits can be applied once the fabric has been cut. If for some reason you are unhappy with the fabric, please contact us immediately and we make every effort to rectify the situation. No rejections, returns or allowances made after goods are cut, processed or converted in any manner.
We recommend that all of our fabrics be washed in cold water using an eco-friendly detergent. For environmental reasons we suggest hanging dry. The fabrics may also be dried in a regular dryer.
Yes. We happily ship to most countries. We work with Pure Fabricz in the EU to make distribution to these countries easier for everyone.
YES! We love to help you bring your own vision to life. We have a library of existing designs you can choose from or we can design to your specifications. Minimum exclusive orders range from 50 yards to 2,000 yards based on several factors. Please email or call for more details and to get access to our design library of available prints.
We love the feel of bamboo, however, due to the toxic processing to which bamboo is subject in the transition from plant to fiber, we have decided to hold off on that fiber for the time being. We hope that a better/cleaner process is discovered soon. If you hear about one please let us know. We would love to be using it if there were....until then we will be sticking to organic cotton.
If you want to read a great blog on the debate, check out Victoria Everman's post: "How Green is Bamboo Fabric". If you want an in depth analysis visit Lotus Organics' Blog titled "Bamboo: Facts Behind the Fiber" or "Bamboo Sprouting Green Myths". Another great article on the bamboo debate is, "How Green Are Bamboo Clothes?".
For those of you that are interested, here's an easy to understand explanation of the bamboo/fiber process as explained by eco-interior designer Kirsten Flynn: "...rayon and bamboo are very similar. Both are made by dissolving Cellulose, or plant fiber in a bunch of chemicals so it forms a material that can be extruded through spinarettes (think a long stream of very thin garlic coming out of a garlic press, or one of those old Play Doh squeezers that made the stuff that looked like Play Doh spaghetti.) The long fibers that have been formed in this way then are dipped in a bath to harden them, (in some processes this bath contains acetone) and then woven into threads that are in turn woven into fabric or cord. I still like bamboo fabric, it feels great, and bamboo is more rapidly renewable that trees, which is where conventional rayon gets it's cellulose. I just worry about the chemical useage, and whether the plants are careful to capture any chemical effluent to the air or water."
UPDATE: On July 15th, 2008, the Federal Trade Commission held a workshop in DC titled "eco in the market: green building & textiles". There was a lot discussed but what I took away from the transcripts was a more concrete aversion to bamboo fabric. Basically there is no solid evidence for most of the anti-microbial claims and in fact technically all bamboo (chemically processed that is) is a rayon product and should be labeled as "rayon from bamboo". To call something 100% bamboo it must be mechanically processed and then it would have the feel of linen not the soft flowing stuff that everyone is touting as bamboo. So, beware of misleading and mislabeling bamboo claims.
If you want to read a great blog on the debate, check out Victoria Everman's post: "How Green is Bamboo Fabric". If you want an in depth analysis visit Lotus Organics' Blog titled "Bamboo: Facts Behind the Fiber" or "Bamboo Sprouting Green Myths". Another great article on the bamboo debate is, "How Green Are Bamboo Clothes?".
For those of you that are interested, here's an easy to understand explanation of the bamboo/fiber process as explained by eco-interior designer Kirsten Flynn: "...rayon and bamboo are very similar. Both are made by dissolving Cellulose, or plant fiber in a bunch of chemicals so it forms a material that can be extruded through spinarettes (think a long stream of very thin garlic coming out of a garlic press, or one of those old Play Doh squeezers that made the stuff that looked like Play Doh spaghetti.) The long fibers that have been formed in this way then are dipped in a bath to harden them, (in some processes this bath contains acetone) and then woven into threads that are in turn woven into fabric or cord. I still like bamboo fabric, it feels great, and bamboo is more rapidly renewable that trees, which is where conventional rayon gets it's cellulose. I just worry about the chemical useage, and whether the plants are careful to capture any chemical effluent to the air or water."
UPDATE: On July 15th, 2008, the Federal Trade Commission held a workshop in DC titled "eco in the market: green building & textiles". There was a lot discussed but what I took away from the transcripts was a more concrete aversion to bamboo fabric. Basically there is no solid evidence for most of the anti-microbial claims and in fact technically all bamboo (chemically processed that is) is a rayon product and should be labeled as "rayon from bamboo". To call something 100% bamboo it must be mechanically processed and then it would have the feel of linen not the soft flowing stuff that everyone is touting as bamboo. So, beware of misleading and mislabeling bamboo claims.
We believe in hemp and hope to someday add it to our line. Conventionally grown and manufactured cotton is the most widely used fiber and also the most environmentally destructive. In an effort to make the biggest impact, we made the decision to begin our journey with organic cotton which we see as a part of the solution. Stay tuned... the journey is still young...
Our fabrics are very versatile. If you are not familiar with fabrics you may want to purchase swatches to see and feel them yourself before making a purchase of yardage. Here is a quick guide to help you understand the different fabric types we offer:
WOVENS:
SATEEN (think high-end sheeting weight and feel) Lovely drape. Great for sheets, apparel like summer dresses or shirts, light-weight curtains, re-usable fabric shopping bags, quilts, napkins, and much, much more. Our most versatile fabric.
MUSLIN Slightly thinner than the sateen. Good light-weight fabric perfect for summer wear, light curtains, etc.
TWILL Nice drape but heavier weight than the sateen. Good for residential upholstery, table cloths, apparel - jacket or bottom weights, aprons, bags, throw pillows, baby carriers and much more.
DENIM Heavier than our twill. Again, good for heavier use residential upholstery, apparel - jacket or bottom weights, tote bags, purses, diaper bags, and more!
LIGHT WEIGHT FLANNEL Cozy soft fabric. Good for baby blankets, light-weight pajamas, and much more.
HEAVY WEIGHT FLANNEL Great for crafts. A substantial fabric good for blankets, quilt backings, loungewear, etc.
KNITS:
JERSEY (think light-weight t-shirt material) Nice drape. Some stretch. Good for apparel, t-shirts, dresses, pajamas, soft baby hats, swaddling blankets, and much more.
INTERLOCK (think heavier-weight t-shirt) Soft with some natural stretch. Good for apparel, loungewear, night shirts, fitted cloth diapers, baby blankets, fingerless gloves, stuffed animals, etc.
RIB (think the cuffs on t-shirts) Soft and supple. Lots of natural stretch. Good for apparel and trims, waistbands, cuffs and more.
WOVENS:
SATEEN (think high-end sheeting weight and feel) Lovely drape. Great for sheets, apparel like summer dresses or shirts, light-weight curtains, re-usable fabric shopping bags, quilts, napkins, and much, much more. Our most versatile fabric.
MUSLIN Slightly thinner than the sateen. Good light-weight fabric perfect for summer wear, light curtains, etc.
TWILL Nice drape but heavier weight than the sateen. Good for residential upholstery, table cloths, apparel - jacket or bottom weights, aprons, bags, throw pillows, baby carriers and much more.
DENIM Heavier than our twill. Again, good for heavier use residential upholstery, apparel - jacket or bottom weights, tote bags, purses, diaper bags, and more!
LIGHT WEIGHT FLANNEL Cozy soft fabric. Good for baby blankets, light-weight pajamas, and much more.
HEAVY WEIGHT FLANNEL Great for crafts. A substantial fabric good for blankets, quilt backings, loungewear, etc.
KNITS:
JERSEY (think light-weight t-shirt material) Nice drape. Some stretch. Good for apparel, t-shirts, dresses, pajamas, soft baby hats, swaddling blankets, and much more.
INTERLOCK (think heavier-weight t-shirt) Soft with some natural stretch. Good for apparel, loungewear, night shirts, fitted cloth diapers, baby blankets, fingerless gloves, stuffed animals, etc.
RIB (think the cuffs on t-shirts) Soft and supple. Lots of natural stretch. Good for apparel and trims, waistbands, cuffs and more.
We would LOVE to source and manufacture all of our fabrics here in the USA. However, this is not possible at this point in time for several reasons. First of all, the organic long staple cotton needed for fine fabrics such as sateen are not grown in large enough quantities here in the USA. Most of the USA organic cotton is short staple or Upland cotton.
Our first run of wide-width fabrics were printed in South Carolina, unfortunately the quality control was not up to our standards and the pigment printing was not ideal either. We have yet to be able to find a domestic, fiber-reative, wide-width printer. Eventually we may get to the quantities necessary for the few that do exist still in the USA but for now our only viable option for wide-width printing is overseas. We have had 60" sateen specially woven for us so that we can print these domestically.
Textiles are an international business. It might surprise you to find out that "Made in the USA" organic (or non) cotton may (and sometimes does) contain cotton fiber that comes from overseas. Although technically the where woven determines the "where made", we plan to always disclose where our fiber is grown. If you really want to know where your cotton comes from, be sure to ask.
India cotton farmers are committing suicide at alarming rates, one every 8 hours. When I learned this, I was moved to create an environmental art piece titled 2,300. The farmers are forces into constant debt by chemical and seed companies. Organic agriculture offers hope. We feel good that the international business/production that we are involved in supports positive change for the people it impacts directly and indirectly. 54% of all pesticides sprayed in India is put on cotton! We believe this is not a sustainable system and our organic cotton orders helps push the balance in a new direction.
The fact that our cotton and processing is 3rd party certified by the well known and respected OneCert makes the decision to import from India one we can feel good about. GOTS certification by OneCert also addresses fair trade issues so that we can rest assured that the people and the planet are being treated with respect.
Our first run of wide-width fabrics were printed in South Carolina, unfortunately the quality control was not up to our standards and the pigment printing was not ideal either. We have yet to be able to find a domestic, fiber-reative, wide-width printer. Eventually we may get to the quantities necessary for the few that do exist still in the USA but for now our only viable option for wide-width printing is overseas. We have had 60" sateen specially woven for us so that we can print these domestically.
Textiles are an international business. It might surprise you to find out that "Made in the USA" organic (or non) cotton may (and sometimes does) contain cotton fiber that comes from overseas. Although technically the where woven determines the "where made", we plan to always disclose where our fiber is grown. If you really want to know where your cotton comes from, be sure to ask.
India cotton farmers are committing suicide at alarming rates, one every 8 hours. When I learned this, I was moved to create an environmental art piece titled 2,300. The farmers are forces into constant debt by chemical and seed companies. Organic agriculture offers hope. We feel good that the international business/production that we are involved in supports positive change for the people it impacts directly and indirectly. 54% of all pesticides sprayed in India is put on cotton! We believe this is not a sustainable system and our organic cotton orders helps push the balance in a new direction.
The fact that our cotton and processing is 3rd party certified by the well known and respected OneCert makes the decision to import from India one we can feel good about. GOTS certification by OneCert also addresses fair trade issues so that we can rest assured that the people and the planet are being treated with respect.
Yes, Harmony is committed to educating people about the importance of organic cotton. Since 2006 Harmony Susalla has given a number of different lectures around the country to various groups, guilds and schools. You can visit the speaking page for more details on past presentations. She is happy to work with you to tailor a talk to fit your needs.
Is your natural or white cotton sateen prepared for printing or dyeing (PfP/PFD)?
Our sateen can be printed or dyed on but it’s not considered PFP/PFD. We've done finishing processes so the fabric is ready for cut and sew as is (i.e. sanforizing). This is generally done after printing/dyeing, and are not on PFP/PFD goods. The printer/dyer should always test the goods beforehand to make sure their process has no issue with the fabric - so sending sample yardage is highly recommended.
How should i label my products that use your fabrics?
In order to use the GOTS logo or the word GOTS in your products YOU as the producing company must be GOTS certified. The use of the term "organic" may not be used in the title unless you are independently certified. However, you can use the term organic as a content. Please read these two help Organic Trade Association documents: BEST LABELING PRACTICES FOR TEXTILES & WHAT ARE ORGANIC FIBER PRODUCTS AND HOW CAN YOU LABEL THEM? for more clarity and details.
