Brought up in a family of businessmen and women, Lulu Suresh was inspired by her father – a businessman who did so much for his community through designing products for small-scale farmers.
Motivated to do good for communities in need and the Earth, Lulu started La Tierra (which is Spanish for “the Earth”) a retail social enterprise that creates a product line that is all about nature.
We chatted to Lulu to find out more about La Tierra, how to make an impact by running a business, and what dyes we should look out for.
Each person has a social mission to conserve nature and preserve it
– Lulu Suresh
In this interview, we speak to Lulu about:
> What’s the significance of natural and synthetic dyes in our lives
> The importance of community
> Myth-busting the retail industry
Impact of synthetic dyes in our lives
Food prepared with natural ingredients are known to not only taste different but have a different effect on your body. The same goes for clothing. Synthetic dyes are pollutive to the environment. Creating these dyes result in the release of high densities of lead and mercury into water bodies that are sources of drinking water for communities, and hence is extremely harmful. Working with natural dyes prevents this problem. For example, the colour yellow in the La Tierra collection is not made from chemicals but derived from the natural pigments from turmeric. La Tierra is bringing textile dyeing back to nature (hurrah!).
The importance of community
La Tierra places a great focus on community involvement. Besides donating profits to Child at Street 11, and also women who were abused or in need, she aims to not only create awareness of marginalized communities but also empower them. They are currently working with four communities in India, one highly skilled in lacework, one creating natural dyes and one on the clothing range. Getting the last group to work on the range was certainly not easy as they were very apprehensive and worried. But with Lulu’s trust, they are now empowered with the confidence to design.
Myth-busting the retail industry
Clothing labels aren’t always telling the truth about their materials – what says “100% Silk” may not always be. Sometimes, it can be a mixture of synthetic fabric and very little natural fabric, and you’re putting this on your body. We need to be aware of the authenticity of what we are buying. That is why La Tierra prioritises transparency in their supply chain.
#LittleGreenSteps to buying more consciously
- Always ask questions about what you’re buying. Like you read a label on food packaging, check what materials are being used on your clothes. Ask your stores, educate yourself.
- Recycle your items and upcycle them! Get creative.
- Use more biodegradable products to reduce your waste production
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