Lauren Holland Of Tiny Revival Clothing Co: Five Strategies Our Company Is Using To Tackle Climate Change & Become More Sustainable
An Interview With Martita Mestey
Limit their use of single-use plastics — with my kiddos we are always using our reusable metal or glass water bottles instead of the throw away ones or even the plastic kid’s cups.
As part of our series about how companies are becoming more sustainable, we had the pleasure of interviewing Lauren Holland.
Lauren is the owner and designer of Tiny Revival Clothing Co., an ethically sourced and sustainable clothing brand based in North Carolina. Following her time studying fashion design at FIDM in Los Angeles, she worked in India with women and children who had been rescued from human trafficking and in Nepal starting an ethical garment manufacturing company that employed men and women out of human trafficking or at risk. Now that her family is settled in North Carolina, Lauren is passionate about providing quality clothes that are made ethically and supporting sustainable practices.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
From a young age I had an innate interest in fashion, regularly customizing my Barbie’s clothes with homemade improvements. As I grew, I realized that this creative spark could become more meaningful — it became a source of purpose. After exploring fashion from an academic perspective in school, my eyes were opened to the planet-wide implications of the industry; this knowledge pushed me closer toward a career centered around being a voice for the voiceless and promoting sustainability within the fashion industry.
What is the mission of your company? What problems are you aiming to solve?
Tiny Revival truly offers an opportunity like no other — the chance to help impact the life of one person through your purchase! With beautiful, high quality garments that are intentionally created using materials that are not just safe for children and the environment, but ethically made in the USA too, you can be sure that your wardrobe is on trend and guilt free. Tiny Revival is so much more than a fashion label; it’s a platform to help fight against human trafficking, providing both funding and a platform to raise awareness. We cannot end this global issue alone — we need to come together with determination and passion to finally see slavery come to an end!
Can you tell our readers about the initiatives that you or your company are taking to address climate change or sustainability? Can you give an example for each?
When we first started our business, we were primarily using bamboo viscose fabric for our products. But following my investigations into the often unsustainable production process and its impact on the environment, I knew that we needed to change. Not only were there mass amounts of chemical waste being dumped in rivers or elsewhere, but this fabric was actually losing its antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, and other properties during the manufacturing process itself.
We chose Tencel™ Modal because it respects the environment, the people that work with it and its natural origin. Its “closed loop” system ensures that no waste is polluting our environment when producing the fabric, while its forestry certification guarantees that replanting is happening to ensure materials can be replenished in a sustainable manner. Not only does this fabric last for long periods of time, but once it’s come to the end of its life, even then it has minimal effect on nature as it is biodegradable and compostable so there is no increased pollution from disposing of it. We are extremely committed to using sustainable fabrics to create ethical fashion that doesn’t hurt workers or nature.
Our commitment to protecting the environment doesn’t end with our fabrics — it extends to all aspects of our business. We are proud that we have made a conscious effort to eliminate plastic from our packaging and only use biodegradable and compostable materials for both our garment bags and mailers. Taking it one step further, our hang tag paper is actually made from seed paper so you can plant it right in your garden and watch it grow into a wildflower patch!
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
It’s often hard to resist the temptation of taking the easy way out and sacrificing sustainability or ethical behavior for a quick profit. Sure, it may seem like the best solution at the moment, but over time a company’s reputation can be irreparably damaged. Sustainable and ethical business practices don’t just provide companies with more opportunities — they also allow them to stand out from competitors who are simply trying to make a buck without considering how their actions impact peoples’ lives or the environment. Instead of selling products, I’m creating an entire story and experience around Tiny Revival Clothing Co. This shows my customers that I care deeply about people and our planet. This commitment has paid off in ways that simply cannot compare with any other approach — I now have an army of loyal customers who are willing to go above and beyond to support me both financially and emotionally. In short, investing in being sustainable and ethical isn’t expensive — it is fiscally responsible.
The youth led climate strikes of September 2019 showed an impressive degree of activism and initiative by young people on behalf of climate change. This was great, and there is still plenty that needs to be done. In your opinion what are a few things parents should do to inspire the next generation to become engaged in sustainability and the environmental movement? Please give a story or an example for each.
Parents should strive to role-model ecologically responsible behavior.
1 . Limit their use of single-use plastics — with my kiddos we are always using our reusable metal or glass water bottles instead of the throw away ones or even the plastic kid’s cups.
2 . Involve their children in eco-friendly activities such as gardening or visiting a local nature preserve — that’s one of the things I love about our plantable hang tags is being able to go out into the garden and plant them with my kids, allowing them to be active in reusing it.
3 . Research and discuss sustainable topics with their children and find ways they can become involved in local green initiatives like volunteering at a beach clean-up or taking part in an environmental awareness campaign.
4 . Showing documentaries or videos that illustrate the effects of climate change can be an effective way for parents to engage younger generations with sustainability topics
5 . Introducing them to issues related to equality and justice — it wasn’t until I saw for myself and was educated on the injustice in the world that I truly started standing up for sustainable and ethical practices.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
Over the past few years, I have experienced all kinds of failures and setbacks that would have deterred many people. However, these experiences have only made me stronger and motivated me more to understand on a deeper level the mission and story behind this brand I created and what it stands for. Had I been aware of these things prior to starting my journey, would I still be in the same place today? Hard to say, but one thing is certain — by facing adversity head on and allowing it to strengthen my resolve rather than letting it defeat me, I can truly be proud of what I’ve created. I will say this though — find your purpose because if you’re just in this to make money you won’t get very far. Find what drives you, stick to it and don’t stop.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My dad has been a huge help in my business journey. His many years of experience and wisdom have proven invaluable to me on this journey and I’m forever grateful for his guidance, but I attribute my current situation and status to God. He’s opened many doors for me and has put me on a path that is truly unprecedented. Everything that I have achieved has been made possible because of His generous grace. Every moment of success I experience is another reminder that God is going before me every step of the way. Without Him nothing would be possible, so I offer Him all the praise.
You are a person of great influence and doing some great things for the world! If you could inspire a movement that would bring the greatest amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I believe that our purchases have immense power to shape the world we live in. To me, our purchases are an outward representation of how we want the world to look: do you choose to support brands that undervalue their workers or ones that positively impact the lives of those involved in production? Do you purchase items from companies with values and objectives that align with your own or do you not take a moment to think about who is affected throughout the entire manufacturing process? If I can help people realize the deep meaning behind what they purchase and the lasting impact it can have both on people and on the environment, then I know real change is possible. This is why my heart beats for education, so people can be empowered by their own buying decisions, making sure their purchases are contributing to a better future and breaking away from consumerism culture.
Do you have a favorite life lesson quote? Can you tell us how that was relevant to you in your own life? “
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
Growing up, I was a generally confident person who believed in my own strength and capabilities. Over the years, however, I have come to understand that this sense of confidence comes not from myself but from God. He is the source of true strength and resiliency, not only for me but for all aspects of my life. When it comes to running my business, no matter how much I may want to take credit for my success, I realize that it is ultimately because of Him that any success is given. If it was up to me, I would likely accomplish things with prideful ambition and manipulation. But with God’s guidance leading the way, there is little room for any of that as this is His business, not mine.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
I’m always on our Instagram — instagram.com/tinyrevivalco or if you want to join our community we have a Facebook VIP — https://www.facebook.com/groups/tinyroots. Thank you so much for letting me share my heart and mission with your readers!
This was so inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
