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.
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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.
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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."
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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." |