I’ve learned a lot starting a small business. One of these learnings has been how much easier it is to do things unsustainably, not locally, and through production companies that don’t align with my values. I have spent a ridiculous amount of hours calling, emailing and researching production companies to find folx who source their materials sustainably socially and environmentally. To me, this means:

• U.S. based, as close to me as possible
• support unions
• are cooperatively structured
• pay and treat their workers well
• have recycled and/or eco-friendly ink or toner & packaging)
• support social justice movements locally and globally, financially or explicitly through messaging and products
• aren’t known to give money to Trump & allies
• are BIPOC, disabled or queer

Sadly, finding all of these things in one is difficult. Often, for a start up small business that can’t afford large minimum orders, it means picking some of these and leaving behind others. I’ve done the best that I can to uphold these values, while also compromising to make this work sustainable for myself.

For transparency purposes, I share my production partners so you can learn about them, see the compromises I’ve made, and know where your products are sourced from:

• Non-Block Printed Apparel – Printed through TeeMill. Not perfect, but it was the print on demand company that most closely aligned with the values above. I sacrificed higher shipping emissions from the UK to a mostly US based audience for most of the other values above.
• Block-Printed Apparel – Thrifted, then printed.
• Block Printed Cards – Cards are 100% recycled and purchased through a small White family owned company in Pennsylvania.
• Printed Cards – Cards are 100% recycled and printed at a small business, Kendall Press, in Boston, Massachusetts.
• Prints – Prints are 100% recycled and printed at a small business, Graphic Communications, in Olympia, Washington.
• Packaging – I send orders with minimal packaging to minimize environmental impact (this also means you may receive your items in already used packaging!). I don’t package my products in plastic, glassine or cello bags because the mailers I send them in will protect them. Sticker orders are sent in 100% recycled envelopes, purchased through envelopes.com. Card orders are sent in 100% recycled, 90% PCW mailers purchased from EcoEnclose.
• Stickers – Some stickers are printed with ink, stock and coating that are Greenguard Gold certified, and contain no PVC, at Jukebox. Others are printed with a small sticker company called Sticker Ninja in Portland, Oregon.
• Zines – Zines are printed on 30% recycled paper at Red Sun Press.

Supporting me through Wombat Wisdoms means supporting these values and production partners – and hopefully work towards a future where more of these things are possible in one!

Community and Giving Back

One of the best parts of being an artist and starting a small business has been being part of such an empathetic, creative, and generous community – in time, knowledge and financially. In a world where artists’ work is constantly undervalued and underpaid, so many wonderful humans have offered me wisdom along my journey, and modeled ways of giving back to our communities locally and globally. I’m so grateful to be part of this movement! Here are a few of the wonderful humans/shops who inspire me, and/or who have lended a hand along the way. I encourage you to check out their wonderful work!