Promoting sustainability at The Bobbin

The Echo- St. Michael's College Local sew bar and craft lounge uses recycled materials to create

Owner Gyllian Svensson looks over an eco-friendly stuffed animal with her sister Ginger Pressey, a regular customer at The Bobbin. (Photo by Michelle Chapdelaine) Click on the image to view a multimedia of an eco-friendly craft class at The Bobbin.

By Crystal Bissett Staff Writer

Funky music plays and conversations flow behind sewing machines at The Bobbin Sew Bar and Craft Lounge. Upon entering the store, there is an explosion of colors from the array of recycled sweaters, hats and animals. Cushions are propped on the floor against the vibrant yellow and green-colored walls, with hand-made pillows and stuffed animals for extra crafting comfort.  In 2007, Gyllian Svensson and Rachel Hooper established The Bobbin, a sustainable sew and craft store, located on the corner of Archibald Street and North Winooski Avenue in the Old North End of Burlington. Creating a Craft Bar Svensson and Hooper are both graduates of Goddard College, where they studied in the socially responsible business and sustainable communities program. "We knew we wanted to create a mother-friendly atmosphere because we were both mothers at the time," Svensson says. "Originally we thought of creating a natural parenting and pregnancy store, but two other similar businesses were started in the area." They thought a recycled product line would be "really neat," Svensson says. Owner Rachel Hooper makes a love bunny while at work. (Photo by Michelle Chapdelaine) "When you buy designer clothing," Svensson says, "You have to stop and think, does that really make you feel hot or not? It was probably made by a Third World child." With handmade clothing, 'you get to strut around knowing that nobody is going to be wearing what you’re wearing because you made it yourself," she says. The Bobbin does not work in cooperation with any suppliers or vendors. About 90 percent of their products come directly from the local environment. "We encourage donations of just about any art supply," Svensson says.  In addition to clothes, The Bobbin produces an assortment of other products. Their newest products, "love bunnies," are stuffed bunnies, handmade from cashmere sweaters. They also make a variety of other products such as hats, scarves, mittens, zipper pouches and aprons, she says. In hopes of spreading the knowledge about sustainability, The Bobbin will be taking pledges on Dec. 7. Such pledges include buying the handmade, local work of community members. Spreading color throughout the community One of the perks of being a small business in a friendly, local community is that there are many opportunities to participate in community events, Svensson says. The Bobbin has donated products and classes to different organizations. They have also hosted a number of benefits for groups such as Women Helping Battered Women, the Chittenden County Breast Feeding Coalition and Local Motion. "We just made aprons for CEDO (Community and Economic Development) and Burlington Telecom," Svensson says. "They wore them for the Vermont 3.0 Creative Tech Jam, which was really cool." Svensson and Hooper also add an educational component to their business. The store offers a variety of classes and craft groups for the community such as Queer Crafting, Knit and Nurse, Stitch and Bitch, and Anarchist Craft Circle. Rebecca Mack prepares for her hat-making class while talking with customer Joe Golden. (Photo by Michelle Chapdelaine) "We want to encourage our community to share resources," Hooper says, "which is why we have the sew bar." A hat-making class is held once a month by Rebecca Mack, a local designer, Hooper says. The Bobbin sells Mack’s hats, but rather than charging her a consignment fee, they have her teach her skills to others, she says.  "We’re in an incredible waste stream of America right now," Mack says. "There is so much that gets thrown away that is completely valuable. Using brand new materials is easy and nice, but it’s a luxury that is going the way of the SUV." Joe Golden, a customer at The Bobbin, agrees with Mack. "The workshop is fun because you’re taking something that was going to go into the dump and making something creative out of it," he says. People are crazy to go out and buy all sorts of expensive designer clothes when there is so much that can be recycled, Golden says. The most rewarding time for The Bobbin was the week before Halloween when panicked, people were coming in with their costumes and "craft emergencies," Svensson says. Successful mommas on a mission During the first weekend of October, Svensson and Hooper celebrated The Bobbin's one-year anniversary. With a DJ and raffles, they brought the community together to have a good time and celebrate their success, Svensson says. "We started out as two mommas on a mission," she says. "Now we’re working to get to a place that is sustainable for us." Hooper and Svensson strive to create an atmosphere welcoming to people of all ages. Svensson's son Chaz reads with Hooper while visiting his mother at work. (Photo by Michelle Chapdelaine) Since opening the business, Svensson has been able to have her son with her all the time, instead of having a babysitter or daycare, which has been a real blessing, she says. "We wanted to create a business where we could take our children," Hooper says, "be a multi-generational place. We have 2 year-olds and 82 year-olds who come in." "In our own consumptive way," Hooper says, "we’re asking people not to consume, or to consume less." Svensson tries her best to impress her mission unto others, including her 9 year-old daughter who has learned to alter and create her own clothing, she says. "It is tough to be a business that sells retail, but has an anti-consumption policy," Svensson says. "We’ve been doing great. Our goal was to start small and grow, so we’re right on track in terms of our dreams and hopes."