Rubypearl Clothing

Name: Sunny Haralson
Shop Name:Rubypearl Clothing
Shop Link: www.rubypearl.etsy.com
Location:Austin, Texas
Ships To:anywhere

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? I use recycled slips and scarves, old evening dresses and beads from the 1920's and 30's. I also use environmentally low-impact dyes and everything is hand made by me--so there is no sweatshop labor and it's 100% made in America!

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? Every "new" product that one would buy at a retail store has so much impact on the environment. A cotton shirt takes pounds of pesticides to grow the cotton, nutrients out of the soil and water that could be used to grow food. Then it uses energy to process the new cotton, gas to ship it to the manufacturer( probably all the way to China) At that point, it is sewn by someone. We don't know anything about their working conditions, if they are paid enough or if they are underage--it's a big mystery that most of us don't think about when we look at a simple cotton shirt hanging for sale at a store. Having tried my hand years ago at manufacturing, I know that child labor and sweatshops are the dirty little secret of almost every clothing manufacturer in this country.It is then shipped back( more fuel) to a giant warehouse, then to store around the country. So this cotton that is grown in the field for this shirt has likely been around the world and back just to get here--so that I can buy it for 9.99.


I see all of those processes when I look at new clothing on the rack at the mall. There is so much amazing fabric and wonderful vintage pieces flowing through thrift stores that can be made into pieces of art with extremely low environmental impact. When someone buys something I have made, they are directly supporting my family. I then buy as much as I can locally, further lowering my impact. We also donate a portion of our profits every year to heifer.org, a non profit that helps mothers throughout third world countries learn sustainable ways to feed their children. It's an amazing organization that really helps people. So I try to complete the circle and use my business to help the environment, and help mothers and children as well as take care of my own child. If someone buys something from me they are helping me do that.

What inspires you? My daughter is two, her name is Ruby Pearl, and I want to do something in the world that she will be proud of. I hope that I can at least say that my business does not contribute to the problems she will inherit.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? about a year


Is this a job for you or a hobby? It's a job, I've been running this company for almost eight years, way back before anyone even really understood what we were doing. It's been really heartening to see the explosion of artists making their living through sites like etsy. I believe we are in the midst of a backlash against mass produced goods. people are yearning for one of a kind craftmanship, for knowing the story behind the product, and the power that the internet has given to select goods that repesent their unique personalities. There are as many viable niche markets out there as there are artists and customers to fall in love with their work. The internet has made this possible, and I hope it will only continue to cut deeply into the profits of companies like Wal-Mart until they change their business practices. Artists can make the World a more human place. We are the original revolutionaries after all.

How did you get into your craft? I went to art school, and when I got out I was determined to make a living doing something creative. They don't teach you anything about business in most fine art schools, which is a shame. I see a lot of grads end up not using their art skills they worked so hard to learn just because they don't know about marketing and PR, or simple sales skills. I worked really hard to learn those skills, I'm still learning them.


Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Refresh, refresh refresh. Twice a day. It's 20 cents and the best advertising money you can spend.
Also, Take really good pictures. Once I started taking beautiful pictures my work began to sell like crazy. I have to hire someone actually, because I am a terrible photographer.

Anything else you would like to add? I love etsy. I love my customers for thinking outside the box and taking a risk on something they haven't seen in person. I love it that we are all out there connecting with one another and trying to make everything better and just more beautiful.