kyle
Barley & birch was created to give back to the planet and the people living on it.
Having lived and worked in countries ranging from Haiti to El Salvador to New Zealand, Kyle, barley & birch’s founder, found herself wanting to continue to help the many organizations that she had worked with, all of which were working hard to improve their communities. After earning her degree in environmental science, Kyle then also found herself wishing that the “organic” clothing that she was purchasing for the children of friends and family was a little cuter and a lot more environmentally and socially responsible. The solution soon became obvious: Kyle needed to create her own line, holding it to the highest social and environmental standards, and give the profits to organizations working to improve the lives of people all over the world.
jodie
Along the way, Kyle realized that the designs needed to be different, not the average “green” kids wear. That’s where Jodie’s degree in fashion design came in. Jodie’s ability to mix her urban roots with her childlike intrigue in animals and nature catches the attention of greenies and hipsters alike. Her designs both delight children and interest adults. Jodie has made endangered animals look fun and nature look chic, not an easy feat.
Environmentally, we decided to make every single facet of the line carbon neutral. Not only do we offset any emissions created by production and shipping, but we work with manufacturers and suppliers that are largely powered by solar energy. We chose only certified organic cotton and water-based inks, so we do not pollute the air and water with chemicals. We are made in the United States, so we do not emit the massive amount of carbon associated with trans-ocean shipping. We are largely paper-free and any paper involved with the line is 100% post-consumer recycled. Essentially, we chose to go beyond the level of convenience to be fair to our planet and to our customers.
Socially, we donate at least 10% of our profits to a variety of organizations working all over the world to improve the lives of others. We support everything from educating rural farmers on sustainable agriculture to providing shelter to victims of abuse. We are proud to aid in the growth of justice and equality throughout the world.
We hope you enjoy our clothing and work as much as we do, and we are proud to finally offer you clothing that you can feel good about.