BLUE CANOE's first home was a small cottage with a steep roof that sat in a small redwood grove in Northern California. The space burst with the energy of four industrious women all starting their own clothing businesses.
The main room was dominated by a large work table. The walls were lined with industrial sewing machines and shelves overflowing with fabrics. We stacked colorful cones of thread on top of the low ceiling beams and somehow found space to display and sell our goods. Two talented seamstresses cut and sewed one day a week for each of us.
It was a noisy, friendly place where the four of us brainstormed ideas, traded resources and information, helped walk-in customers and hammered out ways to build our businesses.
My first purchase was a $200 roll of undyed cotton/lycra fabric. I did all the designing and patternmaking, some of the sewing, and all of the bookkeeping, garment dyeing and purchasing. Marketing meant going to craft fairs. I divided my time between growing my business, waitressing and building an organic, off-grid homestead with my husband and two sons.
My first design was a two-piece swimsuit styled for comfort and movement. I wasn't much of a sunbather and needed a suit that would stay put when I played volleyball or body surfed. In 1990, only a couple of companies, catering to Olympic swimmers, created action-oriented suits, and everything was synthetic in neon colors! I sold tops and bottoms seperately for perfect fit and hand-dyed them in earth tones.
My suits were instantly popular here in Humboldt County. Women began buying the tops to wear as bras because they were cotton and comfortable. I gradually expanded the line and kept a close eye on the availabliltiy of organically-grown cotton knit with lycra, which was necessary for my body-fitting designs.
The breakthrough came in 1994, the year when I was able to convert entirely to organically-grown cotton fabric. I found a natural niche of wholesale prospects gleaned from the Co-op America Green Pages.
I moved to a building beside the Benbow Lake and, inspired by a handmade wooden blue canoe I noticed standing out among the familiar green fiberglass models, I named my company Blue Canoe.
Back then, there were only a couple other apparel companies using organic cotton exclusively. They're not in business now, which makes Blue Canoe the longest-running, successful organic cotton clothing company around.
From the beginning, we were known for our "un-granola" styles and fabrics. We were called "the pioneer of stylish organic clothing." Fourteen years later we maintain not only our committment to organic cotton and manufacturing in the USA, but also to providing truly stylish, beautifully fitting and functional clothing.
Our line has expanded from a few bras and panties to a full line of European-quality lingerie and loungewear, active apparel and fluid bamboo travel/casual wear.
Our main office still sits under the redwood trees, beside the lake, but our lifestyle looks are at home in hip urban San Francisco where all our clothes are made.
Fifteen years ago, I followed my dream. Thousands of customers later, I can see that was the right thing to do. I hope you'll love wearing Blue Canoe as much as I love creating it!
Laurie Dunlap
Blue Canoe Founder & CEO

Fact Sheet

BLUE CANOE YOGA APPAREL & BODYWEAR

LOCATION

PO Box 543, Garberville, CA 95542 Phone: (707) 923-4111 Toll-free: (888) 923-1373 Fax: (707) 923-1374 Web site: http://www.bluecanoe.com E-mail: info@bluecanoe.com

WHO

Blue Canoe began manufacturing organic yoga apparel & intimate wear in 1993. The company has a solid reputation for high quality clothes and a clean approach to manufacturing, specializing in organic apparel using handpicked, certified organic cotton. We do not use sweatshop labor in our manufacturing.

WHAT

Stylish, soft, comfortable and functional women's apparel for yoga & other activities. Collections include both fitted and relaxed fit styles. Items are stylish enough to be worn from the yoga studio to the office to a night on the town. The line includes tops such as camisoles, tanks, sports bras and T's, along with bottoms including stretch pants, capris, cropped pants, bootcut pants and leggings. Apparel is made from organic cotton with spandex for stretch and shape retention and come in a variety of flattering colors (made with low impact dyes that are easy on the environment). The company also offers a complete intimate collection of bras and briefs, constructed from 100% organic cotton.

HISTORY

When the company formed in 1993 there was virtually no organically made yoga apparel/bodywear on the market, especially a line that was functional and fashionable. "We are very conscious of our mission - to create apparel that is environmentally friendly - yet at the same time, we realize women like to wear flattering colors and styles, so we definitely strive to achieve that in our line as well," explained company president Laurie Dunlap.

MARKET

The activewear is appropriate for women of all ages participating in everything from yoga and Pilates to walking, hiking, aerobics, kickboxing, and more. The intimate apparel appeals to women looking for a soft and natural alternative in bras and panties.

PRODUCTS

·  Activewear features fitted tops and bottoms made from 90% organic cotton and 10% spandex including, tanks, tees, leggings, comfort bra tops, camisoles and more. ·  The Sheer Organics™ line is made from super soft organic cotton. This ultra light line includes lingerie and sleek fitted tops with bra liners. ·  The Just Cotton group includes panties and a light support bra all made with 100% organic cotton baby rib knit. ·  The Studio Collection is our newest line featuring garments made in our soft, flowing Bamboo and organic cotton/spandex fabric.

DISTRIBUTION

Blue Canoe yoga apparel and bodywear is distributed throughout the U.S. in yoga studios, spas and retail catalogs. Consumers can also order directly from the Blue Canoe catalog or web site.

KEY EXECUTIVE

Laurie Dunlap, president