Ecoleeko, an interview with Sue Lappan
10.29.09
1. What drew you to sustainable fabrics?
I originally became interested in sustainable fabrics when I was in college. After trying art school, I ended up at Philadelphia College of Textiles & Sciences with a more science base curriculum, where I majored in Textiles. It was there I learned everything about textiles, how they are made, the science behind weaves, knits, yarn, what materials are used and how they are processed, etc. and became interested in hemp, which at the time was really the only major sustainable fiber talked about, besides Fox Fiber cotton. I did my thesis on hemp and learned about the wonderful properties and applications for it. I graduated in 97 and from there I continued my interest in sustainable textiles until today. Today there is an amazing amount of sustainable fabrics out there and available to the public. It’s pretty crazy to compare it to when I was in school. It’s really a great thing for the textile industry.
2. A lot of people are using organic fabrics now, why did you take the extra step and go as far as using organic cotton thread?
It really all is inspired from a talk I attended in college. A hemp company came to speak at the school and I was very excited. The talk was great and very pro environment and then he started to talk about the items their company made. As he held up a bag and talked about it’s material and how great it was for the environment, I noticed the straps on the bag were made of polyester webbing. After the talk, I approached him and asked him about the use of the webbing, and why he hadn’t used hemp webbing, which at the time, his company actually produced and sold to consumers. He said it was too expensive and quickly moved on to someone else’s question. I was shocked and disappointed.
At that time, I was creating hemp bags for sale at flea markets, etc and had purchased hemp webbing and used it for my bags. I was thinking if I, a small crafts person could use and afford it, why his company, who made it, couldn’t? It was at that point I realized not all companies are as translucent as you would think. Consumers really don’t know all the materials going into a product because manufacturers don’t say or list them. I then made up my mind to try and use natural materials for all components of my items and sourced organic cotton thread from a small company in the U.S.
People read on a label of a product hemp or organic cotton, but what the manufacturer doesn’t tell you is that they filled it with plastic based Polyfil and sewed it with polyester thread. It really doesn’t make sense to me. It’s all about education and learning how we can choose better products as consumers and manufacturers. I am still trying to research different ways to color my fabrics. It’s on going and never ending process for me. It’s important as consumers that we know what we are buying and what companies we are supporting.
3. Where do you get the ideas for your animal designs?
From everywhere! Some are just from playing. First it’s sitting down with a sketchbook and just drawing and having fun. I will sometimes reference a Dover book that has loads of animal pictures. I’ll just leaf through and browse the animal kingdom, getting more ideas and doodling more. The Farm Friends are inspired from where I live now, in Upstate New York. I have chickens and ducks and was inspired by the cows, horses and sheep at the nearby farms. I’ve always loved insects of all kinds and wanted to add them also.
After I know what I want to make I figure out a pattern, how to construct it and sew it. Sometimes you can design something great but can’t figure how to make it. Then it’s Playing with color combinations. I work with my palette of dyed fabrics and choose ones that at the time I like together. Some animals just come out easily like they were always there. Some it takes me time to sit with and figure out how to make the pattern, choose the colors, etc. Once one is made I tweak it and figure out how I’d like the face stitched. I like the items to be free of any specific emotion, so the child can project their own feeling on the animal or insect. So I usually don’t stitch a mouth on.
4. What do you think is the most important reason for choosing toys made from organic material?
I guess if I had to choose, it would be all the unknowns out there. In light of all the chemicals in plastics possible affecting of hormones in young children, pesticides in the oceans and environment from growing cotton and heavy herbicide crops and the lack of biodegradation from any plastic based materials produced, it’s important to know what you are buying for your children, yourself and who you are supporting. There are so many small wonderful toy companies out there lovingly creating safe and fun toys for children of all ages from natural and sustainable materials. These natural toys can also be keepsakes that will last a long time. It’s important for consumers to support these great companies to keep these items available.
5. How long have you been making Ecoleeko toys?
I started making Ecoleeko in July of 2008. I previously started making one of a kind Artdolls after college, and have had some published in Art Doll Quarterly magazine. When we moved to NY my husband actually was the one to inspire me to get back to my love of sustainable fabrics and merge it with my love of creating dolls. I created my first business and set off to explore my new venture. It’s been a little over a year and it still is ever changing and growing. I am constantly designing new things and researching new and better fabrics. It’s an evolving process, like any craft or art, and that makes it creative and fun.
6.Do you make the toys yourself or do you have people who make them for you or with you?
I make all the toys and Ecoleeko items myself in my home studio in New York, with a little cutting help by my husband. I hand dye and print all the colored fabrics I use. I just couldn’t find any organic printed fabrics I was looking for, as well as the color selection I wanted. Each pattern is designed by me and cut by myself or randomly by my husband if I need help and he is free and willing. I machine sew all Ecoleeko items with a machine that my mom had when I was little. It keeps going and sews through everything. I just love it. I then hand embroider the faces with different natural yarns, print the hangtag with custom stamps and print sew in labels in the same way on organic fabric tape.
You can find Ecoleeko toys here.
