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How Barrie Brouse, Mightly’s Creative Director, is making it work (mostly) Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, professionally? I am now Mightly’s Creative Director. Last year, I cofounded the company with two other Oakland mothers, both neighborhood friends. But I’ve been in children’s apparel for a long time. I started working in children’s wear about 20 years ago because I love the use of color and mixing unexpected patterns, textures, and themes together. I am a kid at heart! It also helps that my hand-sketch style lends itself to children’s designs. Whether in print design or other media, I am always drawn to hand-made qualities that highlight process rather than slick and highly finished aesthetics. How would you describe your work style, prior to the pandemic? Before COVID, work-life balance was hectic, a constant juggle with two very active and differently tempered, and spirited, boys. With two young kids, efficient use of time during the day has always been important because once 2:30 rolls around, family time begins. But I am a night owl and find that I am most creative once everyone is tucked in and I’ve had a few moments to clean up the kitchen and enjoy some quiet. How has COVID affected your family? We feel extremely lucky to be healthy but we have also felt the challenges. The four of us (plus Bodie, our 70lb hound dog) live in 790 square feet. It’s perfectly sized for small living during normal times but during quarantine, distance learning, and working from home, it has thrown us for a loop. We are all feeling squeezed to find any uninterrupted time or personal space. There doesn’t seem to be a moment when there aren’t simultaneous work and school calls. My husband and I try to take as many calls in our garden as possible but it isn’t always so easy, because of weather, our chickens clucking, or even a bee swarm from one of our hives! That said, we’ve come to embrace our lifestyle and seek mindful moments where we can. How has the pandemic affected your work for Mightly? I am used to working closely with our suppliers in India but since the pandemic, I find myself slowing down and taking the time to really check in them. Whether you are in the Bay Area or Kolkata, we are all in a similar situation, trying to keep our families and friends safe and healthy. We talk about what we see and hear, how our children feel, and the worries that come with trying to navigate these times. Now more than ever, I think about true partnerships and how we cannot do what we are doing alone.   How has Mightly been able to support you, as a working mother, during the pandemic? Working with other moms in a supportive environment feels incredibly good. I can’t say that I meet every deadline or that my kids haven’t popped up during a video call. (Their three favorite questions: where is their precious Lego? What to do when they have only 3% battery? How much longer will you be?) “Work from home” is just real life right now. It isn’t always predictable but it is understandable without having to feel apologetic. We talk about our good and bad days with each other, and together understand that keeping our homes healthy and happy is what’s most important. I have worked for other companies in the past where this wasn’t the case and where announcing a pregnancy or a personal vulnerability was not welcome. We all afford each other empathy and flexibility, which are so, so important.  Are there any hacks that have worked for you, that might also work for other working parents? With our limited space, my normal work area must be flexible. Staying organized and mobile is important, so I keep an “office in a bag.” I like the Puffy Tote from Baggu. Inside it, I have a tool-kit with my design essentials – pens and pencils, sketch pad, and scissors. This way they aren’t floating in the bag and everything has a “home.” I also keep all the other things that keep me plugged in, like charging cables, earbuds, Wacom tablet and pen, etc in another zip pouch. The tote itself holds everything I need for the day. At the end of a work session or the day (or in many cases, late at night), all the contents return back to the bag and are stowed out of the way. This limits distractions and lets me focus on my kids, when they need it most. And maybe they’ll learn from example! Are there any work-arounds that you’ve tried that have totally not worked? Yes! I tried to carve out 20-30 minute intervals of activity for the kids so I could get some work done, which didn’t work well at all. For me, turning work on and off is very difficult and, in the end, fills me with guilt for not carving out enough time to be fully engaged. How have things gotten easier as months in quarantine have passed? How have things gotten harder? Summer has been a great time for all of us to take a breath and have perspective on what worked, what didn’t, and what to expect with so much still unknown. We have come to know that sometimes, taking a break or going for a bike ride after breakfast just needs to happen. We are trying to listen to each other more and address our individual needs, as difficult as that can be. Waking up early has been increasingly harder! While we are not the family that spends all day in pajamas, you won’t see us hitting the redwood trails at 8:00am either. It is increasingly difficult to find newness and drum up the energy for another cardboard building project, tie dye experiment, etc. There was novelty in trying things for the first time, like riding a bike, skateboarding, magic tricks, planting potatoes, you name it, but we all yearn for the outside world to be healthy again. What do you most look forward to doing, when the pandemic is over? I can’t wait to see kids being kids without what seems to be the weight of the world on their shoulders. “Normal” may look different, but when kids can be together in a classroom with a teacher giving them encouragement, not behind a mask, but with a smile for all to see, and even a simple pat on the back, will be something that I am truly looking forward to. I also miss seeing my family that I am not able to see in person and of course, giving and receiving hugs. And who can forget seeing live music again? Seeing and hearing music, and dancing, are such wonderful releases for me. I was lucky to see a few live shows right before shelter-in-place, so I’ve been holding onto those memories and look forward to one day seeing shows again, feeling the music and dancing it all out! Amos 5 and Rafa 8, giving feedback on Mightly's new 100% organic cotton facemasks.  Mightly Made for Mightly Kids #MightlyMe ∙ #FairTradeCertified ∙ #OrganicCertified

As a mother of two elementary school children, I’ve found it harder than I thought to find kids’ face masks that I approve of and that my kids will wear. The masks are either too big or too small, too loose or too tight, too thick and heavy, or too lightweight and too frail. When the pandemic started, I just bought whatever I could, and ended up with a variety of not-so-great options. Combine this with two active kids who didn’t particularly want to wear stuff on their face anyways, and you had one frustrated mom. Dealing with the pandemic was stressful enough, so I didn’t want mask-wearing to create any more anxiety and fear in my children than possible.  Lightweight disposable masks quickly fall apart and then go straight to littering the streets or polluting the oceans, certainly not ideal. Plus they are made with synthetic materials and plastics which could contain VOCs, BPA, BPB, PCBs, and phthalates, all things I don’t want my kids exposed to. Even regular cotton face masks made me nervous, since non-organic cotton is made with many pesticides and other chemicals, which my kids would be breathing in for many hours during the day. And I wanted to make sure that the factory workers making the masks themselves were doing so under safe conditions. The workers shouldn’t have to be unnecessarily exposed to covid just to produce the masks to keep me and my family healthy. Like many people, I was surprised to learn that the “Made in the USA” label does not necessarily mean the clothing item was produced in a factory operating under safe conditions. There are numerous examples of fly-by-night “fast fashion” sweatshops – operating within the U.S. – that have a documented history of terrible labor conditions, covid exposure, and worker exploitation. That’s why Mightly has chosen to work with a Fair Trade Certified factory because of the oversight provided by and partnership with the nonprofit organization Fair Trade USA.)  Any mask that I bought for my children was also going to have to be comfortable and fun. When they go back to school, my two kids will be required to wear masks for many hours a day. (According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, masks not only prevent the spread of COVID-19, but the vast majority of children can safely wear masks for an extended period of time.) Finally, given how fast my kids lose clothing items, I needed to buy a bunch of masks now -- and probably every month forward for the foreseeable future – without breaking the bank. So along with my fellow mompreneurs, we decided to make our own. Mightly’s new collection of kids’ face masks will debut in October 2020. When we designed and produced these kids’ cotton face masks for children ages 2 to 12, we made sure to keep the following principles in mind: Mightly’s face masks are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, without any pesticides, not to mention dioxins, aluminum, polyethylene, parabens, flame retardants, or other common hazardous ingredients.  Mightly’s face masks are dyed using non-toxic dyes and printed with plastisol-free inks.   Mightly’s face masks have three layers of 100% organic cotton, for more filtering ability and as recommended by the Center for Disease Control.   Mightly’s tagless face masks are made of incredibly soft cotton, so that kids’ tender faces will not be roughened with hours of exposure or annoyed by an itchy tag. Mightly’s children’s face masks are adjustable and designed to fit a variety of children’s face sizes ages 2 to 12. They are secured with soft fabric ties that are fully adjustable, without any need for elastic. This makes it easy for kids with little fingers to put the masks on and off comfortably and independently, with confidence. Mightly’s face masks are machine washable, so that you can use them over and over again. (Note: If you are unsure what laundry detergent is best to use on something so sensitive as a face mask, we at Mightly love Grove Collective, which makes it easier to find home essentials like eco-friendly cleaning supplies.)  Mightly’s face masks completely cover the nose and mouth, and fit snugly against the sides of your face without any gaps. Mightly’s face masks are made in a Fair Trade Certified factory.  This means that the factory must adhere to strict labor conditions, including covid prevention protocols, and that Mightly pays a Fair Trade Premium for each mask that goes directly back to the factory workers to spend as they see fit. Mightly’s children’s face masks come in sets of 5 in a variety of colors and are priced at just $24.95 for the set, which comes out to be under $5 per mask. Like all Mightly products, we made the kind of face masks that we want for our own kids! But don’t take it just from me. Here’s what my eight-year-old says about these masks: “The Mightly masks are my favorite!  And I'm not saying that because you're my mom. They fit just right around my ears, not like the other annoying ones. They don't fall down and they don't make me feel like I can't breath! I still wish we didn't have to wear masks, but since we do I'm glad you made these." #MightlyMe ∙ #FairTradeCertified ∙ #OrganicCertified   Mightly Made for Mightly Kids   Note: According to the Center for Disease Control, face masks are not appropriate for children under the age of 2 or anyone who has difficulty breathing. Mightly’s face masks are not intended to be used in a healthcare setting or to prevent wildfire smoke inhalation.

The covid-19 pandemic has affected us all, deeply, and in so many different ways. Like many others, the garment industry has been greatly impacted. Just this month, several major American clothing companies have announced they are filing for bankruptcy, including Lucky Brand, Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant, Lou & Grey, and Justice. To minimize their losses by shifting the financial burden of the crisis down to the bottom of the supply chain, major clothing brands and retailers are canceling factory orders right and left, leaving millions of low-paid and mainly female garment workers out of work and destitute.   In India, where Mightly’s fair trade clothing is produced, the situation is especially bad for migrant workers, who are also left homeless without a way to get back to their villages. Young women, who often use garment factory jobs as often the first opportunity to work, achieve economic independence, and defer marriage, have also suffered disproportionately. Where factories remain open, many workers report being forced back to work without adequate precautions, even in the United States.  In this time of crisis, fair trade apparel is more important than ever.  When you see a product with the Fair Trade Certified™ seal, you can be sure it was made according to rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards. Mightly, Inc., was founded in 2019, with the idea of bringing certified organic, fair trade children’s clothing to market, at prices parents could afford. Our first fair trade collection debuted in 2020, and 100% of Mightly’s organic clothing will be Fair Trade Certified™ by winter 2020. Fair Trade business relationships are true partnerships, which require joint problem solving and brands and factories both being willing to prioritize long term business relationships and worker protections over maximizing profits. The garment factory in Kolkata, India, where Mightly’s clothing is produced, Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills (RCM), was one of the first factories in the world to achieve Fair Trade Certification. In contrast to those factories working with – and having orders canceled by – major retailers, RCM, which works exclusively with ethical clothing brands, has not had any orders cancelled and has been able to continue to provide employment for their workers. "When I talk to other workers, friends from other factories, they're always very curious about the Fair Trade program we have and ask how they can join specifically because of the Fair Trade premium program." says Tharun Sardar, a screen printer who has worked at RCM for 6 years.    In addition to providing personal protective equipment for workers, many fair trade factories have used the Fair Trade Premium to deploy emergency cash payouts to workers affected by the covid-19 crisis and government shutdowns for groceries, rent, school fees, and hygiene products. To learn more about how to support fair trade factories and workers, Fair Trade USA has a Covid-19 response program.  #MightlyMe ∙ #FairTradeCertified ∙ #OrganicCertified   Mightly Made for Mightly Kids

"By working at this factory, I'm able to support my family and meet daily needs. Every year when we receive our Fair Trade premiums, I'm able to put them into savings - which may become important later in life. I remember the first year when the factory joined Fair Trade, I was able to buy a bicycle for my son to ride to school - I was so proud! If the customers buy our products, we can benefit and improve our lives while also providing good clothing for people all over the world." Rehana Middey, 34, works in finishing at the Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills in Howrah. Fair trade is a global movement made up of producers, companies, consumers, advocates, and organizations working towards the mission of eliminating poverty and enabling sustainable development for farmers, workers, their families, and their communities around the world. When you see a product with the Fair Trade Certified™ seal, you can be sure it was made according to rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards. Fair Trade USA, the non-profit organization that pioneered the fair trade movement and oversees the certification process, works closely on the ground with producers and certifies transactions between companies and their suppliers to ensure that the people making Fair Trade Certified goods work in safe conditions, protect the environment, build sustainable livelihoods, and earn additional money to empower and uplift their communities. Just last year, purchases of Fair Trade Certified products and other donations from supporters helped improve the lives of nearly one million farmers, workers, and fishermen in more than 45 countries. Tierra Forte, Mightly’s CEO, is a Fair Trade USA alumna, and was a leading member of the Fair Trade USA team that developed the Fair Trade Apparel and Home Goods Pilot Program. This program was the first global program to certify facilities making clothing, accessories, and linens with a consumer label to signal social and environmental sustainability, while delivering direct economic benefits to both cotton farmers and cut-and-sew workers. The pilot program evolved, and developed into Fair Trade USA’s Factory Program, in which Mightly currently participates. It was through Fair Trade USA that Tierra met Rajat Jaipuria, the owner of Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills, in Kolkata, India where Mightly’s GOTS certified organic children’s clothes are made. Rajat’s family has been in the textile business since the 1930s and a leader in sustainable manufacturing for decades. In 2012, Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills become one of the first factories in the world to achieve Fair Trade Certification. Mightly, Inc., was founded in 2019 by Tierra and two other Oakland mothers with the idea of making certified organic, fair trade children’s clothing, at prices parents could afford. Our first fair trade collection debuted in 2020, and 100% of Mightly’s organic clothing, designed for children ages 2 to 12, will be Fair Trade Certified™ by winter 2020.   When you buy Fair Trade Certified™ children’s organic cotton leggings, pajamas, dresses, hoodies, or shirts, the garment workers at Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills earn an additional Fair Trade Premium that goes into a Community Development Fund. A democratically elected committee of workers, called the Fair Trade Committee, votes on how the funds will be best spent based on dialogue and proactive problem-solving around their community’s greatest needs. In normal times, that may mean putting money towards education, home sewing machines, and clean bedding; in the current covid era, that can mean more funding for emergency funds for basic necessities, and financial support for ill workers. By purchasing Fair Trade Certified clothing, you are supporting better working conditions for the people who make them.  Mightly Made for Mightly Kids #MightlyMe ∙ #FairTradeCertified ∙ #OrganicCertified    

Ever had that nagging feeling in the back of your head that that “organic” product you bought wasn’t really organic? What does “organic” mean, anyways? Does it mean the same thing in the United States that it means in the rest of the world? What about products imported from other countries? And, although most people tend to be familiar with the concept of organic food, how can clothing be organic?   Many of these questions can be answered by GOTS, which is the gold standard for organic certification in clothing. GOTS stands for the Global Organic Textile Standard, which is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibers, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. GOTS certification, which is internationally recognized, ensures not only that the raw textile material -- the cotton Mightly uses, in our case -- is truly organic, but that it also undergoes environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing. As raw materials and unfinished product proceed from cotton farm to cotton gin, and pass through the spinners, fabric mills, dye houses, and on to the final sewing factory, each step requires a GOTS Transaction Certificate to ensure GOTS compliance at every part of the process.    GOTS certification focuses on three aspects of textile production: first, the quality of the raw organic materials; second, ensuring that the manufacturing procedure is as non-toxic and environmentally-friendly as possible; and third, that the factories producing GOTS certified products meet certain labor conditions. More specifically, a textile product carrying the GOTS label grade “organic” must contain a minimum of 95% organic fibers certified based on recognized international or national standards.  All dyes and processing chemicals must be non-toxic and biodegradable, and toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and chlorine bleaches are prohibited. Factories producing GOTS-certified organic textiles must meet the norms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), including safe and hygienic working conditions, the right to unionize, the right to living wages, and prohibitions against forced labor, child labor, discrimination, excessive working hours, and harsh and inhumane treatment.    As of August 10, 2020, Mightly, Inc., is proud to announce that the company has received its GOTS certification (License number OT-034929.)  Although Mightly’s products have always been made from organic cotton by a Fair Trade Certified factory, it took some time for Mightly itself to go through the GOTS brand certification process.  Look for the GOTS labels on all Mightly products from now on! Mightly Made for Mightly Kids #MightlyMe ∙ #FairTradeCertified ∙ #OrganicCertified  

Mightly was founded by three moms who together have two boys, four girls, and over 40 years of apparel industry experience. We founded Mightly to make the kind of clothes we want for our own kids: Kid-Friendly Styles in Earth-Friendly Fabrics at Family-Friendly Prices. As any parent knows, mornings can be hectic (even when school is at the kitchen table). Whether your child has sensory issues or just very strong opinions, getting dressed can mean frustration and tears. That is why we think about kids, not trends, in every step of our design process. We use flat seams and itch-free labels so touch-sensitive kids don’t hate getting dressed. We make our clothes extra durable by using premium fabrics, high quality construction, and special features like reinforced knees so you can pass them along when your child outgrows them. But that’s not all. Mightly exclusively uses certified organic cotton and non-toxic dyes because it’s better for your kids and for the kids who live in cotton farming communities. Our supply chain is completely transparent and certified: We know our factory, their suppliers, and even where our cotton is grown. By using certified organic cotton, and working with a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Fair Trade Certified factory, Mightly supports sustainable farming and better working conditions for the people who make our clothes.  We believe that all children should be able to wear natural organic fabrics that are free from toxic dyes and chemicals. We believe that farmers and workers should have safe and healthy working conditions and be paid fairly. Our mission is to deliver high quality organic fair trade clothing at fair prices. We do that by investing in our products and supply chains, rather than in big marketing and advertising campaigns. Mightly Made for Mightly Kids by Mightly Moms. “It was my daughter’s last day of 2nd grade and she wanted to wear something special for the step up ceremony. For my daughter special usually means a favorite graphic tee (often from the boys section), animal prints, or something she has customized herself. It never means something frilly or sparkly or “princessy.” When she came out of her room wearing a hand painted tee shirt and a pair of leggings with a hole in the knee I told her she looked great and asked her if she was bothered by the hole (I hate to admit it, but I was). She shrugged and said she didn’t have any without holes. I found that hard to believe because she had a drawer packed full of leggings. But she was right, I pulled out pair after pair of leggings looking for a replacement and every single one had a hole in the knee, even the expensive ones I bought because I thought they would last longer. I looked at the pile and knew I could do better. I had over 20 years of experience in the apparel industry, the last fifteen dedicated to developing sustainable products and building Organic and Fair Trade Certified supply chains. I knew it was possible to make clothes that could handle active kids like my daughter at prices that working families like mine could afford. I knew it was possible to do it in a way that benefited, rather than exploited, the people who made them. And I knew exactly the two women I wanted to do it with."  - Tierra Del Forte, Co-founder and CEO    "I’ve long been a legal advocate for indigent women and children, in a variety of different ways. Mightly, which is a woman-led, Fair Trade Certified, organic clothing company, offered me the opportunity to invest not only in myself but also in other mothers, including the women who grow Mightly’s cotton on small certified organic family farms and those who sew Mightly’s clothing in our Fair Trade Certified factory. My ultimate goal is to make organic, fair trade clothing available at an affordable price so that more parents can afford to buy healthy, non-toxic clothing for their children and support a transparent supply chain that gives back, rather than takes away, from its workers, while reducing the overall environmental and pesticide burden on our planet.”              - Anya Marie Emerson, Co-founder and COO “It’s hard for me to remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated by fabrics and how things were made. At an early age, equipped with only a needle and my imagination, I would update my favorite cardigans with vintage buttons or mend holes with scraps of fabric and embroidery floss. Over time, I learned to repurpose old pillow cases and bandanas into shirts, inspired by my older sister’s discarded Sassy magazines. Today, with decades of experience in the apparel industry, things aren't that different for me. I am still exploring with textiles, only now they are my own designs and prints. I spend my days drawing and sketching, thinking about what my two boys want to wear while skateboarding and also cozying up to read a favorite story, and what will keep them comfortable enough to sleep through the night. My kids inspire me to design clothing that lets them be their own superhero instead of wearing somebody else's idea of what that means. They remind me that itchy tags are never a good idea and that the softest t-shirt will always be the favorite. As a mom, I know the importance of making clothing last long enough to pass down to younger siblings. As a designer, I draw inspiration from kids' playfulness and curiosity and their need for simple comfort."  - Barrie Brouse, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer It’s been over a year since we launched our first products, 100% organic cotton tees featuring hand drawn graphics by print and textile artist Lili Arnold, and we are so proud of what we’ve accomplished! Since then we’ve shipped thousands of tees and launched other kid-friendly styles like long-lasting leggings, double-duty dresses, and no-nasties pjs. We have been awed by the support of our friends, family, and community who helped us get the word out about Mightly so we can invest our time and money into making great products, not making great ads. We never could have guessed we would be building our company while living through a pandemic and unexpectedly homeschooling our kids. Most importantly, the core values we created this company around--using our business to benefit the people who make our clothes and to support other working moms--feel more relevant than ever. Mightly Made for Mightly Kids #MightlyMe ∙ #FairTradeCertified ∙ #OrganicCertified