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What Tie Dye Means

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Tie dye

1. History of Tie Dye

Tie dye originated in different parts of the world and thus it doesn’t belong to one particular region. The history and various forms of tie dye that have been practiced in different countries are as follows:

Tie Dye in Ancient Times
Tie dye is believed to be a prehistoric product. The researches has shown that the ancient people had used tie dye by applying flower’s juices, plant’s juices, leaves, stones and other substances on their cloths. But they might have not been aware of the fact that it is actually dying; for them it was just a way to decorate their cloths.

Archeologists have found printed pieces of fabrics in various parts of India which shows that ancient dyers had tried to make patterns of colors on fabrics using various dyes. Even the mummies of Egypt were found wrapped in a dyed fabric. So, it may be possible that tie dye techniques travel from India to Egypt and then to other parts of the world.

Tie Dye in Persia
Persia’s history shows the existence of tie dye centuries before the birth of Christ. Persians used the threads of Safflower, which is a quick dissolving herb as their dye material. They used to crush it and dissolve it in water to dye their cotton fabrics into deep yellow shades.

Tie Dye in China
Chinese had been using tie dye since the sixth century. But it fully developed and spread all over China during the T’ang Dynasty (618AD – 906AD). Chinese tie dye is also called “zha ran” or “jiao xie”. The tie dye silks of this era were found at Astana and Khotan in the graveyards and at Sin Kiang on the Old Silk Road. One interesting fact is that not everyone was allowed to wear the tie dye cloths; only Priests and rich people were allowed to wear it. They even had set separate standard colors for all the social classes.

Chinese were aware of the technique of turning, folding and tying the fabric in such a way that when it was dipped; different parts of the cloth would be dyed. They used to extract their dyes from flowers, leaves, roots, blackberries, onion, indigo, sage, red cabbage, safflower etc. They used a special technique of tie dye called “ikat” in which the threads are dyed before weaving the cloth.

Tie Dye in India
Indian tie dye is probably the most famous form of tie dye. It is believed that tie dye in India started almost five thousand years ago and hence is the oldest one. Indians used tie dye on silk materials as cotton was not available there at that time. Tie dye was known as “Bandhana work”, “Bandhani” and “Bandhej” in India and was unique in its own way. The dyers used to grew the nails of their thumb and forefingers very long and use them to pick small points of the fabric to tie in shapes of small dots before dyeing it.

Tie Dye in Japan
Tie dye started in Japan during the Nara period (552AD – 794AD). Japanese tie dye known as “shibori” is one of the most famous forms of tie dye which is used to make various forms of designs on cloths for elaborating kimonos. Japanese used tie dye on both silk and cotton materials.

Tie Dye in Africa
Tie dye has been widely used in all the African countries, especially Nigeria. Africans used tie dye to make dotted designs on woolen cloths and to produce magnificent indigo-dyed fabrics. The modern form of African tie dye involves synthetic dyes and patterns.

Tie Dye in United States
Tie dye started in United States during 1920’s but fully bloomed in 1960’s when everyone was emphasizing individuality. Tie-dyed sheets were very commonly used as room dividers, tablecloths, curtains and wall hangings. Tie dye banners of silk and cotton were used as backdrops for the concerts.

It was the era of 1980 that changed the fate of tie dye and made it a very stylish, highly skilled and labor intensive form of art. Permanent dyes in bright and earth tones were invented which replaced the easily fade dyes.

2. What can you tie dye (products)/ Tie dye ideas.

Adding color to your clothes – old and new !

The colorful clothes originally popularized by the members of the hippie subculture in the sixties have really stood the test of time in terms of popularity through out the world and is currently a hot (and colorful) favorite in the United States.

The method used to color clothes as well as a host of accessories is called the Tie dye method, where clothes are tied, either with string or rubber bands into various attractive patterns. Then the clothes are dyed, either by submerging them in a dye bath or by squirting dye solution onto them.  Areas where the fabric is tied and in inner parts of folds, do not absorb dye, thus forming a pattern. This is also known as a resist technique (since the areas that are tied and the inner parts of folds resist dyeing). While the craft has been practiced in nearly every part of the world for hundreds of years, it probably began in ancient Asia and spread to Africa.

Many Americans who served in the Peace Corps in Africa during the 1960s learned tie dye designs from the native people, and on their return to the United States, they taught the craft to others.

Since each design is always different from any other and it is nearly impossible to predict the end result with absolute surety, the surprise forms the large part of the fun in its creation. Tie dyeing is a great way to give new life to an old or stained t-shirt, and recycling old clothes.

Natural fibers, such as 100% cotton are best suited for tie dye, but a combination of cotton and polyester can be used successfully.  There are thousands or designs which are used, very imaginatively on the items, the most common of which is a t-shirt, but you can dye just about anything (shirt, pants, socks, handkerchief, pillowcase, sheets, curtains, tablecloth, etc., in fact for the home and the entire family).

Below is a list of some of the items you can tie dye:
– For Him: T Shirts,  Scarves, Shirt, Trousers, Socks, Handkerchief, Neckties, bandana, Hoodie
– For Her: Yoga pants, Tee shirts, Socks, Underwears, Skirts, Tank tops, Hot Shorts, Capri pants, Pajamas, Kaftan
– For Home: Pillow case, Sheets, Curtains, Tablecloth , Napkins, Kitchen Mops, Tapestry wall hanging,  kitchen apron.
– For infants and toddlers: Rompers (long and short sleeves), Diaper covers, Body suit, Bib, Long sleeve lap dress, Booty pants set, Onesie

3. How to Tie Dye (tie dye) a Shirt (Tie Dye Detailed Instructions)

Tie dye is the most experimental and unpredictable form of art. You can never figure out its final outcome unless it is completely processed and dried. If you keep on trying your hand on tie dye, you will learn to create many different effects that you would not have otherwise even heard about. You can make a number of tie dye items such as colorful t-shirts, sheets, pillow covers, curtains etc. A detailed instruction on tie dyeing a T-Shirt is given below.

Items for Tie Dyeing
You’ll need various items ready in order to tie dye your t-shirt depending on the brand of your dye. Below is a list of some important supplies you may need:

– T-Shirt: The first thing you need is a t-shirt; just be sure that it is at least 60% cotton or another dye able fiber.
– Rubber Gloves: It will protect your hands from the dye and hot water.
– Large Container: A large container with a capacity to hold at least 3 gallons is needed for the mixing of the dye.
– Spray Bottles: It is used to apply the dye.
– Long-Handles Utensil: It is used to stir the dye.
– Sodium Carbonate: it is used to pre-treat the item you are tie dyeing.
– Rubber Bands: It will be used to tie up the item you are tie dyeing.
– Salt: it is used to make the darker colors even more vibrant.
– Plastic Bag: It is used to keep the dyed item in it for approximately 24 hours.
– Newspaper and/or Plastic Garbage Bag: It is used to protect your work area.
– Rags, Paper Towels, Cleanser: It is used for the cleaning of utensils and work area.

Remember, the above listed items are just to give you an idea of what you may need. You should read the instructions given by the manufacturer of the particular dye you may use to know the exact items needed for tie dyeing.

Instructions to Tie Dye a T-Shirt
Tie dying is a very simple process. Some of the instructions may vary depending on the brand on the dye but the basic instructions are as follows:

– Place the T-Shirt – Firstly, place the t-shirt out flat.
– Tie the T-Shirt – Now tie the t-shirt using rubber bands or strings in spirals, accordion folds or sunbursts. These techniques of tying are given below:
Spirals – Grab the t-shirt at the center of the spiral and make a tight bundle by twisting it clockwise. Now tie    the t-shirt with rubber bands and make several parts of pie shape. Spiral Tying is dyed by filling different       colors in the pie shapes while turning the t-shirt over and repeat the same process on both sides.
Accordion Folds – This tie is used if you want to make band of colors in different directions. It may resemble      this VVVVVVVVV. This type of tie is dyed by folding the stripe, binding it with rubber bands and then dyeing in     strips across the folds.
Sunbursts – Hold the t-shirt from the center of the sun burst and make folds that emerge from that point. Now       bind it with rubber bands and dye in strips across the folds.
– Prepare the Dye – Next mix your dye according to the manufacturer’s directions. But if you want to be really accurate you should measure the dye by weight and use the proportions of dye accordingly.
– Pre-treat the T-Shirt – Some brands of dyes needs you to wash and spin the t-shirt and then soak it in soda ash for at least 30 minutes and with others you have to simply dip it in hot water.
– Start Dyeing – Dye the t-shirt now. It is recommended to start with the lightest color incase of using many colors. Again follow the manufacturer’s direction. You may need to rinse or wait between colors. Some dyes need you to rinse immediately and others may need to sit it in some plastic bag for at least 24 hours.
– Final Touch – Ok now rinse the t-shirt in cold water and wash it for about 2-3 times to remove excess dye. You may dry it in a dryer or simply hang it to dry itself.

Again, the above mentioned instructions are basic guidelines to tie dye but the exact instructions may vary depending on the brand of the dye you are using. Therefore, you should read all the instructions and precautions given by the manufacturer very carefully. Remember, no two t-shirts will ever show the same results, no matter how hard you try! So be creative and you’ll be having fun in it.

4. Tie Dye Tips

No doubt tie dyeing is fun to do and it’ll become even more valuable and interesting if you follow the below guidelines and tips.

– Cover the Work Area: You should cover your work area by laying down some newspaper or garbage bags.
Wear Gloves: Always remember to protect your hands from hot water and stains by wearing rubber gloves while dyeing.
– Try it Outside: It is recommended to tie dye your item outside if the weather is good.
– Pre-Wash: You should wash the material before dyeing in order to remove anything it may have gotten on it from the manufacturer.
– Follow the Instructions: It is highly recommended that you follow the instructions given by the manufacturer of that particular dye while tie dyeing your fabric.
– No Softeners: No softeners or fabric sheets should be used during pre washing.
– Recommended Fabric: Cotton fabrics and almost all other nature fibers shows best results after tie dyeing.
– Hot Water: Dye should be mixed using hot water.
– Pre Decide: The design and colors you want on your fabric should be pre decided.
– Watch your Color Combination: You should remember the color wheel and apply the colors that come next to each other in the start like red – orange – yellow – green – blue etc
– Depth of Color: The depth of color is determined by the length of time the dye is used.
– Rinse Cautiously: The tie dye item should be rinse with warm water first and then with cold water.
– Wash Carefully: You should wash the tie dye products very carefully. Most of the tie dye item should be washed with cold water.
– Let it Dry: You should let your item dry flat.
– Wash the Containers: After dyeing all containers should be washed with hot water and cleanser or soap.

5. Where can you buy tie dye supplies (online and off)

Acquiring those Tie Dye Clothes – It’s easier than you think!

If you think buying the colorful, attractive tie dye items is tough in the United States, think again. There are innumerable websites on tie dye selling stuff on line. They accept mail orders and even payment can be made with almost all major credit cards. There are wide varieties of designs, colors, patterns which are displayed for items which range from personal casual wear to kids/infant wear to household items. And if you wish to learn “how to do”, there is equally large number of websites teaching you the art of tie dye.

Ordering is simple; where you have to specify your design and size and there you are…goods are delivered at your doorstep. Of course there are shops as well who specialize in tie dye wears.

Here are a few websites which you can visit for your shopping of tie dye goods:

Wildflowerdyes gives you access to an exhaustive range of clothes and accessories with vivid colors and designs which is surely to make an impact wherever and whenever you wear them.

EBay is a huge market of tie dye products.

Contact Richard@tie-dyes.com for fabulous tie dye products.

TrueTieDye is available offline at below address:
742B Maniton Avenue #3,
Maniton Springs,
CO 80829, USA.
Ph. (800) 796 5723.

TieDyeQueen offers online as well as offline supplies of tie dye products. You can contact the owner, Karen at Karen@TieDyeQueen.com. Their can be found offline at below address:
3511 Sierra Madre,
Columbia/Missouri 65203.
Ph. (573) 442 5791.

You can have custom-made tie dye apparels at dyemaster.net. Products of this company are also available offline at the following stores :
Headquarters
125E, 7th Street,
Tempe, Arizona .
Ph: (602) 956 5093.

Strawberry Fields
304E Main Street,
Salem, VA 24153.
Ph: (540) 375 6550.

You can see an excellent collection of tie dye products for the entire family as well as for your home just by logging on to mamashome.com.

Mamatiedye.com is yet another site which is as refreshing as the summer setting in and the vibrant colors offered with a wide range of items is bound to make your on line shopping memorable.

1. History of Tie Dye

Tie dye originated in different parts of the world and thus it doesn’t belong to one particular region. The history and various forms of tie dye that have been practiced in different countries are as follows:

Tie Dye in Ancient Times
Tie dye is believed to be a prehistoric product. The researches has shown that the ancient people had used tie dye by applying flower’s juices, plant’s juices, leaves, stones and other substances on their cloths. But they might have not been aware of the fact that it is actually dying; for them it was just a way to decorate their cloths.

Archeologists have found printed pieces of fabrics in various parts of India which shows that ancient dyers had tried to make patterns of colors on fabrics using various dyes. Even the mummies of Egypt were found wrapped in a dyed fabric. So, it may be possible that tie dye techniques travel from India to Egypt and then to other parts of the world.

Tie Dye in Persia
Persia’s history shows the existence of tie dye centuries before the birth of Christ. Persians used the threads of Safflower, which is a quick dissolving herb as their dye material. They used to crush it and dissolve it in water to dye their cotton fabrics into deep yellow shades.

Tie Dye in China
Chinese had been using tie dye since the sixth century. But it fully developed and spread all over China during the T’ang Dynasty (618AD – 906AD). Chinese tie dye is also called “zha ran” or “jiao xie”. The tie dye silks of this era were found at Astana and Khotan in the graveyards and at Sin Kiang on the Old Silk Road. One interesting fact is that not everyone was allowed to wear the tie dye cloths; only Priests and rich people were allowed to wear it. They even had set separate standard colors for all the social classes.

Chinese were aware of the technique of turning, folding and tying the fabric in such a way that when it was dipped; different parts of the cloth would be dyed. They used to extract their dyes from flowers, leaves, roots, blackberries, onion, indigo, sage, red cabbage, safflower etc. They used a special technique of tie dye called “ikat” in which the threads are dyed before weaving the cloth.

Tie Dye in India
Indian tie dye is probably the most famous form of tie dye. It is believed that tie dye in India started almost five thousand years ago and hence is the oldest one. Indians used tie dye on silk materials as cotton was not available there at that time. Tie dye was known as “Bandhana work”, “Bandhani” and “Bandhej” in India and was unique in its own way. The dyers used to grew the nails of their thumb and forefingers very long and use them to pick small points of the fabric to tie in shapes of small dots before dyeing it.

Tie Dye in Japan
Tie dye started in Japan during the Nara period (552AD – 794AD). Japanese tie dye known as “shibori” is one of the most famous forms of tie dye which is used to make various forms of designs on cloths for elaborating kimonos. Japanese used tie dye on both silk and cotton materials.

Tie Dye in Africa
Tie dye has been widely used in all the African countries, especially Nigeria. Africans used tie dye to make dotted designs on woolen cloths and to produce magnificent indigo-dyed fabrics. The modern form of African tie dye involves synthetic dyes and patterns.

Tie Dye in United States
Tie dye started in United States during 1920’s but fully bloomed in 1960’s when everyone was emphasizing individuality. Tie-dyed sheets were very commonly used as room dividers, tablecloths, curtains and wall hangings. Tie dye banners of silk and cotton were used as backdrops for the concerts.

It was the era of 1980 that changed the fate of tie dye and made it a very stylish, highly skilled and labor intensive form of art. Permanent dyes in bright and earth tones were invented which replaced the easily fade dyes.

2. What can you tie dye (products)/ Tie dye ideas.

Adding color to your clothes – old and new !

The colorful clothes originally popularized by the members of the hippie subculture in the sixties have really stood the test of time in terms of popularity through out the world and is currently a hot (and colorful) favorite in the United States.

The method used to color clothes as well as a host of accessories is called the Tie dye method, where clothes are tied, either with string or rubber bands into various attractive patterns. Then the clothes are dyed, either by submerging them in a dye bath or by squirting dye solution onto them.  Areas where the fabric is tied and in inner parts of folds, do not absorb dye, thus forming a pattern. This is also known as a resist technique (since the areas that are tied and the inner parts of folds resist dyeing). While the craft has been practiced in nearly every part of the world for hundreds of years, it probably began in ancient Asia and spread to Africa.

Many Americans who served in the Peace Corps in Africa during the 1960s learned tie dye designs from the native people, and on their return to the United States, they taught the craft to others.

Since each design is always different from any other and it is nearly impossible to predict the end result with absolute surety, the surprise forms the large part of the fun in its creation. Tie dyeing is a great way to give new life to an old or stained t-shirt, and recycling old clothes.

Natural fibers, such as 100% cotton are best suited for tie dye, but a combination of cotton and polyester can be used successfully.  There are thousands or designs which are used, very imaginatively on the items, the most common of which is a t-shirt, but you can dye just about anything (shirt, pants, socks, handkerchief, pillowcase, sheets, curtains, tablecloth, etc., in fact for the home and the entire family).

Below is a list of some of the items you can tie dye:
– For Him: T Shirts,  Scarves, Shirt, Trousers, Socks, Handkerchief, Neckties, bandana, Hoodie
– For Her: Yoga pants, Tee shirts, Socks, Underwears, Skirts, Tank tops, Hot Shorts, Capri pants, Pajamas, Kaftan
– For Home: Pillow case, Sheets, Curtains, Tablecloth , Napkins, Kitchen Mops, Tapestry wall hanging,  kitchen apron.
– For infants and toddlers: Rompers (long and short sleeves), Diaper covers, Body suit, Bib, Long sleeve lap dress, Booty pants set, Onesie

3. How to Tie Dye (tie dye) a Shirt (Tie Dye Detailed Instructions)

Tie dye is the most experimental and unpredictable form of art. You can never figure out its final outcome unless it is completely processed and dried. If you keep on trying your hand on tie dye, you will learn to create many different effects that you would not have otherwise even heard about. You can make a number of tie dye items such as colorful t-shirts, sheets, pillow covers, curtains etc. A detailed instruction on tie dyeing a T-Shirt is given below.

Items for Tie Dyeing
You’ll need various items ready in order to tie dye your t-shirt depending on the brand of your dye. Below is a list of some important supplies you may need:

– T-Shirt: The first thing you need is a t-shirt; just be sure that it is at least 60% cotton or another dye able fiber.
– Rubber Gloves: It will protect your hands from the dye and hot water.
– Large Container: A large container with a capacity to hold at least 3 gallons is needed for the mixing of the dye.
– Spray Bottles: It is used to apply the dye.
– Long-Handles Utensil: It is used to stir the dye.
– Sodium Carbonate: it is used to pre-treat the item you are tie dyeing.
– Rubber Bands: It will be used to tie up the item you are tie dyeing.
– Salt: it is used to make the darker colors even more vibrant.
– Plastic Bag: It is used to keep the dyed item in it for approximately 24 hours.
– Newspaper and/or Plastic Garbage Bag: It is used to protect your work area.
– Rags, Paper Towels, Cleanser: It is used for the cleaning of utensils and work area.

Remember, the above listed items are just to give you an idea of what you may need. You should read the instructions given by the manufacturer of the particular dye you may use to know the exact items needed for tie dyeing.

Instructions to Tie Dye a T-Shirt
Tie dying is a very simple process. Some of the instructions may vary depending on the brand on the dye but the basic instructions are as follows:

– Place the T-Shirt – Firstly, place the t-shirt out flat.
– Tie the T-Shirt – Now tie the t-shirt using rubber bands or strings in spirals, accordion folds or sunbursts. These techniques of tying are given below:
Spirals – Grab the t-shirt at the center of the spiral and make a tight bundle by twisting it clockwise. Now tie    the t-shirt with rubber bands and make several parts of pie shape. Spiral Tying is dyed by filling different       colors in the pie shapes while turning the t-shirt over and repeat the same process on both sides.
Accordion Folds – This tie is used if you want to make band of colors in different directions. It may resemble      this VVVVVVVVV. This type of tie is dyed by folding the stripe, binding it with rubber bands and then dyeing in     strips across the folds.
Sunbursts – Hold the t-shirt from the center of the sun burst and make folds that emerge from that point. Now       bind it with rubber bands and dye in strips across the folds.
– Prepare the Dye – Next mix your dye according to the manufacturer’s directions. But if you want to be really accurate you should measure the dye by weight and use the proportions of dye accordingly.
– Pre-treat the T-Shirt – Some brands of dyes needs you to wash and spin the t-shirt and then soak it in soda ash for at least 30 minutes and with others you have to simply dip it in hot water.
– Start Dyeing – Dye the t-shirt now. It is recommended to start with the lightest color incase of using many colors. Again follow the manufacturer’s direction. You may need to rinse or wait between colors. Some dyes need you to rinse immediately and others may need to sit it in some plastic bag for at least 24 hours.
– Final Touch – Ok now rinse the t-shirt in cold water and wash it for about 2-3 times to remove excess dye. You may dry it in a dryer or simply hang it to dry itself.

Again, the above mentioned instructions are basic guidelines to tie dye but the exact instructions may vary depending on the brand of the dye you are using. Therefore, you should read all the instructions and precautions given by the manufacturer very carefully. Remember, no two t-shirts will ever show the same results, no matter how hard you try! So be creative and you’ll be having fun in it.

4. Tie Dye Tips

No doubt tie dyeing is fun to do and it’ll become even more valuable and interesting if you follow the below guidelines and tips.

– Cover the Work Area: You should cover your work area by laying down some newspaper or garbage bags.
Wear Gloves: Always remember to protect your hands from hot water and stains by wearing rubber gloves while dyeing.
– Try it Outside: It is recommended to tie dye your item outside if the weather is good.
– Pre-Wash: You should wash the material before dyeing in order to remove anything it may have gotten on it from the manufacturer.
– Follow the Instructions: It is highly recommended that you follow the instructions given by the manufacturer of that particular dye while tie dyeing your fabric.
– No Softeners: No softeners or fabric sheets should be used during pre washing.
– Recommended Fabric: Cotton fabrics and almost all other nature fibers shows best results after tie dyeing.
– Hot Water: Dye should be mixed using hot water.
– Pre Decide: The design and colors you want on your fabric should be pre decided.
– Watch your Color Combination: You should remember the color wheel and apply the colors that come next to each other in the start like red – orange – yellow – green – blue etc
– Depth of Color: The depth of color is determined by the length of time the dye is used.
– Rinse Cautiously: The tie dye item should be rinse with warm water first and then with cold water.
– Wash Carefully: You should wash the tie dye products very carefully. Most of the tie dye item should be washed with cold water.
– Let it Dry: You should let your item dry flat.
– Wash the Containers: After dyeing all containers should be washed with hot water and cleanser or soap.

5. Where can you buy tie dye supplies (online and off)

Acquiring those Tie Dye Clothes – It’s easier than you think!

If you think buying the colorful, attractive tie dye items is tough in the United States, think again. There are innumerable websites on tie dye selling stuff on line. They accept mail orders and even payment can be made with almost all major credit cards. There are wide varieties of designs, colors, patterns which are displayed for items which range from personal casual wear to kids/infant wear to household items. And if you wish to learn “how to do”, there is equally large number of websites teaching you the art of tie dye.

Ordering is simple; where you have to specify your design and size and there you are…goods are delivered at your doorstep. Of course there are shops as well who specialize in tie dye wears.

Here are a few websites which you can visit for your shopping of tie dye goods:

Wildflowerdyes gives you access to an exhaustive range of clothes and accessories with vivid colors and designs which is surely to make an impact wherever and whenever you wear them.

EBay is a huge market of tie dye products.

Contact Richard@tie-dyes.com for fabulous tie dye products.

TrueTieDye is available offline at below address:
742B Maniton Avenue #3,
Maniton Springs,
CO 80829, USA.
Ph. (800) 796 5723.

TieDyeQueen offers online as well as offline supplies of tie dye products. You can contact the owner, Karen at Karen@TieDyeQueen.com. Their can be found offline at below address:
3511 Sierra Madre,
Columbia/Missouri 65203.
Ph. (573) 442 5791.

You can have custom-made tie dye apparels at dyemaster.net. Products of this company are also available offline at the following stores :
Headquarters
125E, 7th Street,
Tempe, Arizona .
Ph: (602) 956 5093.

Strawberry Fields
304E Main Street,
Salem, VA 24153.
Ph: (540) 375 6550.

You can see an excellent collection of tie dye products for the entire family as well as for your home just by logging on to mamashome.com.

Mamatiedye.com is yet another site which is as refreshing as the summer setting in and the vibrant colors offered with a wide range of items is bound to make your on line shopping memorable.

How to Celebrate Steelmark Month

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Steel

Thinking about Steel during Steelmark Month

Steel is a material that many Americans take for granted. But did you know that without steel, we would not have skyscrapers, or tall office buildings, nor armored equipment and weapons for our military?

Steelmark month was designed and designated to encourage Americans to recognize the contribution that steel, and the steel industry, has made to the national security of the United States, as well as her defense. It goes without saying that the United States military appreciates the discoveries and innovations within the steel industry that serve to create not only body armor, but steel plates used in the construction of tanks, missiles, submarines, Humvees and aircraft within every branch of the military. Without steel, American soldiers and support personnel would lack adequate protection from enemy missiles, mortars and other weapons. While the invention of new weapons increasingly forces the United States steel industry to create new materials to protect our soldiers, steel has been invaluable in both the domestic and military history of the United States.

Steel manufactures and associations throughout America, including the American Iron and Steel Institute, United States Steelworkers and the Steel Manufacturer’s Association, are vital to American military defense and Homeland Security, as well as being major providers of steel products and services for millions of cities around the United States. Supporting domestic steel production is a vital component of the U.S. Steel industry, and one that many Americans don’t consider very often.

Steelmark Month, observed every May, is a time when American citizens can discover and appreciate the advancements and products that support not only the defense of, but also the American way of life, as we know it today. Without steel, Americans would not be able to fly, sail or drive anywhere. Steel is found in everyday products that many of us take for granted, from the chair we’re sitting on to the wastebasket we toss our trash in. Efforts to keep steel production within the United States, instead of outsourcing our steel needs as well as our steel-related products, is an effort that has gained attention in our country in the last decade. Limiting our reliance on foreign sources of steel is a major topic of many politicians in Washington D.C. and at state levels.

Steel plays a vital role in the strength of the United States military, and our ability to produce vast quantities of it has helped to maintain our military strength for over a hundred years. From handheld weapons to missile launchers to tanks and aircraft, steel has been the number one supporter of the military since the founding of our country.

Manufacturing steel is a hard, dirty job, but thousands of Americans across the United States enter the workforce within the steel industry every year. They work in various aspects of the industry, from mining minerals to designing the latest in armored vehicles, tanks and weapons for our military personnel. Millions of buildings are erected every year throughout the country, built upon a foundation of steel rods, beams and girders. Without steel, America would not be the successful and powerful nation that it is today.

Celebrating Steelmark Month is something that every American should observe. Children in schools are taken on tours to factories and taught about the importance of steel in our everyday life, but adults tend to neglect such lessons. While we see examples of steel use around us every day as we work, play or run errands, we take them for granted. Appreciating the steel industry for its innovations and advancements is the driving force behind Steelmark Month, one that every American should take a few moments to ponder during the month, recognizing its presence in our lives.

What are sweatshops?

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Sweatshop

Sweatshop T-Shirts

Prevalent in developing countries sweatshops are factories where people work for small wages or for doing piecework. The goods that usually come out of a sweatshop are clothes (t-shirts), electronics, toys, shoes and other consumer goods. The word sweatshop is actually a pejorative term that connotes the condition of a factory or place where the employees are made to stay in harsh conditions. Sweatshops are commonly criticized for their use children in their sweatshops while others that forbid the practice of trade unionization. Many times employees in a sweatshop are kept in a harsh environment with inadequate ventilation and are sometimes physically and mentally abused, and subjected to long hours with unsafe conditions.

Where and why are there sweatshops?

To do this, they hire, recruit and pay garment workers to cut, sew and package the clothing at very low wages. In addition to low pay many manufacturers do not pay legal wages (if they even exist in some countries) or comply with safety laws, and thus they ‘sweat’ the profit out of their workers! Large retailers such as Walmart or even down the supply chain for clothing companies such as Nike contract their work out to manufacturers at the lowest bid and in turn insist that they are not directly connected with the employment of these people and not responsible for the wages and working condition of sweatshops because it is the manufacturers responsibility.

Stringent laws, high wage levels, and competitive markets in USA and other developed countries has influenced many companies in the garment industry to moved overseas or slightly below the border (in Mexico) for the manufacture of t-shirts and clothing in sweatshops. Sweatshops are prevalent throughout Central America, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. Many countries in these areas do not have labor laws, health codes, or environmental restrictions (or they aren’t enforced) that maintain the safety of its workers. There have been many cases of children working in sweatshops to help their family obtain basic necessities. Because the children start working at such a young age and for very long hours they have little to no opportunities to get a formal education. The lack of environmental regulations also creates a much less expensive situation for clothing manufacturers. The result is expensive for the environment. Unfortunately a $2 t-shirt does not factor in the damages to families, communities, and their surrounding environment.

Alternatives to Sweatshop T-Shirts and Clothing

Fortunately there are alternatives to sweatshop t-shirts and clothing.  Over the past few years growing concerns about the effects of sweatshops on local communities and the environment have pushed certain retailers, clothing and t-shirt manufacturers (with the help of consumers!) to produce products follow principles that are far less destructive than the sweatshop model. Many of these sweatshop-free products are currently marketed as Fair Trade or socially responsible products. While these socially responsible and Fair Trade t-shirts and clothing items aren’t completely mainstream but they can easily be purchased online through a variety of merchants. With Fair Trade, many of the manufacturers not only try to be more socially responsible but they also have been increasing the number of t-shirts made from organic cotton. Organic t-shirts made from socially responsible companies are the best option because its take into account not only people and communities but the surrounding environment. For your next t-shirt make sure to ask the retailer if it was made by a socially responsible company and hopefully made from organic cotton.

How to Dry A Shirt

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drying shirt

The Fastest Way To Dry A Shirt

Isn’t it always the worst possible time, when you are in a rush to get out the door, that you discover your favorite T-shirt, your work T-shirt, or the T-shirt that is perfect for the occasion that you are heading to is still in the washer dripping wet! Those kinds of moments seem to happen way too often. However, if you know the trick to quickly drying a T-shirt, you will never have to sweat it again while your tee takes its time drying.

Much debate is held about the ideal way to dry clothing. Some people advocate hanging clothes to dry only, in order to avoid shrinkage and color fading. Others love the wrinkle-free softness that only a clothes dryer can deliver. When speed is what you are looking for in clothes drying, an electric or gas dryer is the way to go.

Before you even begin to officially dry your T-shirt, make sure it is as dry as it can be so you don’t overtax your clothes dryer and to speed up the process. Put the tee through an extra spin cycle in the washing machine, in order to spin out as much excess water as possible. You can also lay your T-shirt flat on a dry towel and then roll up the towel and T-shirt together in a jelly roll fashion. Squeeze the rolled up towel/tee combination to get rid of extra humidity.

Then, you will need to put it into the dryer inside out, with another dry towel. The towel will help to absorb some more of the moisture in your T-shirt. Alone, except for the towel, the shirt will not be competing for other wet clothes for heat or air and will dry amazingly quickly. Use the highest heat setting recommended on the care tag of the T-shirt.

When selecting a towel to go in the dryer with your tee, remember to choose one that is the same color as your T-shirt or there may be unwanted color transference. The towel may also transfer a little lint onto the T-shirt, so if it is in the same color as the tee, it is less noticeable. Be sure to dry your T-shirt inside out because it will protect the exterior of the T-shirt from developing pills from the friction of rubbing against the towel. Drying it this way also minimizes the appearance of lint.

Another trick for those people who seem to get stuck needing to dry a shirt quickly often is to get a backup shirt. Have a custom T-shirt made that is identical to the one you end up needing to dry often. Custom T-shirts can be printed exactly as you want them in the color, style and quality of your choice. This is the perfect solution because you can make sure to always have one T-shirt clean and dry before putting the other in the laundry.

Outfit yourself with a selection of great looking custom-made T-shirts for every occasion and never again be stuck trying to dry that must-have tee at the last minute.

How to Dress like an Artist

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Artist t-shirt

Become an Artist with Custom T-shirt Printing

Artists are all about being creative. You might think that their need to leave their artistic mark ends with a canvas, a lump of clay, or a sheet of paper. This is not the case. You can spot an artist from across the street by the way they dress.

Artists tend to extend their artistic chops to every area of their lives, including their wardrobes. They can’t stop creating, even if they try. Everything they touch, own, and wear becomes a medium of individual expression. It’s the artist’s way.

Take an artist’s clothes for example. Artists always look like they just stepped off of some bohemian runway. Their clothes make a statement, whether it’s politically, socially, or personally. The funky, unique style of an artist is craved by many, both artists and non-artists alike.

Artists manage to achieve that coveted style without breaking the bank. Yet they still look as if they only wear one-of-a-kind couture that would set you back a few bucks. However, just the opposite is true. Artists make the most out of what they have. They take ordinary t-shirts, jeans, pants and dresses and make them into something special. They use scissors, paint, and anything else they can get their hands on to turn that ratty old shirt into something spectacular. They don’t call them ‘starving artists’ for nothing.

However, there’s another way that you can dress like an artist without raiding your desk drawer at work of safety pins or creating your own textiles with your son’s finger paints. You can actually take the creative process of designing your own clothing to a whole new level with custom t-shirt printing.

Custom t-shirt printing services are the ultimate in artistic clothing design. With custom t-shirt printing, you can put anything you want right on a t-shirt. From words, to pictures, to your very own designs, it can be on a shirt in no time.

Better yet, custom t-shirt printing doesn’t just allow you to dress like an artist. You can actually become an artist with custom t-shirt printing. Your original designs don’t have to stay on the paper or in your head. You can actually wear your unique designs right on your shirt sleeve.

Custom t-shirt printing is also a great way to share your creativity with the masses. You can specially design your own t-shirts and give them as gifts to friends and family. Everyone you know can be wearing your artistic creations. With that, you and everyone you know can dress like an artist.

Dressing like an artist is about being resourceful and using what you have. Custom t-shirt printing lies at the fingertips of every aspiring artist out there. In no time, you can have a closet full of artistic t-shirts that bear your unique designs. Everyone will want to know where you got your unique wardrobe and you can tell them with pride that “You made it yourself.” With that phrase, you won’t just be dressed like an artist. You will actually be one.

How to Dress like a Teacher

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Teacher t-shirt

Those Who CAN Do, Teach: Be a Teacher with Custom Printed T-shirts

Dressing like a teacher seems pretty easy to most people. You go to your closet, you put on something awful. Done! Better yet, you find a ten year old t-shirt from the Sierra Club and tuck it in to a broom skirt. With an outfit like that, the only thing you’d be missing is a teacher’s certificate.

The fact is that teachers get a bad rap when it comes to fashion. Let’s face it: these ladies (and gentlemen) have a tough job. You can’t blame them for wanting to be comfortable. They also have to be tasteful yet professionally dressed. The classroom is not always the place to make a fashion statement. Thus the bad t-shirts, brooms skirts, and weathered loafers.

However, being that t-shirts are a main staple in the teacher’s closet, you can’t dress like a teacher without them. That is not to say that the t-shirts in question have to be devoid of all modernity and style. In fact, it’s just the opposite. T-shirts are a great place to demonstrate your own personality and creativity while you dress like a teacher.

Just think if you could actually design and print your own t-shirts? Then, dressing like a teacher would be creative, fun, and cool. With custom t-shirt printing services, you can! Custom t-shirt printers can print almost anything you can think of on a t-shirt. Your options are only limited by your imagination.

If you’re going to dress like a teacher, then you’re going to have to think like a teacher. When you’re thinking like a teacher, you’ll have an unlimited supply of ideas as to how you can design your own custom printed t-shirts. You can even design t-shirts that correspond with the day’s lesson. Your custom printed t-shirt can even be a discussion starter for the students. Teaching ‘Hamlet’? Wear a t-shirt that says “To be, or not to be” and your students will never forget just ‘what’ the question is.

But dressing like a teacher doesn’t mean that you have to dress like you just stepped out of a catalogue specializing in frump gear. There’s no need to unearth your faded and thoughtless t-shirts from college and beyond with reckless abandon. Be relieved that you won’t need to rob your mother of her broom skirts hidden in the back of her closet in case they ‘come back in style.’ They never will. Not even for teachers.

That’s right. With custom t-shirt printing, you can dress like a teacher that has great personal style and endless creativity. All of your fellow teachers—or teacher impersonators—will be wondering where you got all of the great t-shirts. Teachers are hard-working and underpaid, so be sure to spread the word about your new found secret to great teacher style.

Custom t-shirt printing allows teachers and non-teachers alike to create awesome, unique t-shirts that are both trendy and functional. Be more comfortable in front of your classroom in a t-shirt printed with a design of your very own.

How to Dress like a Geek

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Geek style

Dressing like a Geek Means Making Your Own History

Geeks are unfortunate individuals. They have a lot to offer. However, sadly they don’t have a clue about much of anything. Social gatherings are often a mess as geeks normally choose to discuss obscure topics and the latest events on a show called Star Trek. Geeks are like milder, less dramatic forms of a car crash. You don’t want to watch yet you find yourself slowing down to get a closer look.

Sometimes geeks are hard to spot. They sneak up on you. They look like a normal, well adjusted person. Yet you don’t learn until half through your conversation that you’re talking to a geek.

Sometimes you have to take a closer look to see the scotch tape holding their glasses together, or the pocket protector serving an oh-so-important function, or the fanny pack that’s neatly concealed beneath their jacket. Yes, sometimes it’s difficult to spot a geek. Other times, it can be very hard to miss them.

Many geeks have the wherewithal to keep their geeky-ness under wraps. Others have so much geek in them that it simply must manifest through their wardrobe. When it comes to fashion, geeks have a style all their own. If you’ve ever seen a flamboyant geek before, you know that they have a signature style that is unmistakably bad.

For a group of people so often fascinated with the future, they seem to live in the past when it comes to their wardrobes. For all of their studying and analyzing, they don’t have a clue as to what the current trends are in clothing. Instead they keep wearing the same old stuff, year after year, long after it’s gone out of style.

It’s not uncommon to see a geek wearing a pair of pleated, high-wasted trousers, or a souvenir t-shirt they got at Yosemite National Park in 1988, or a pair of Keds from their junior year of high school. Geeks just can’t be bothered with fashion. They’re too busy saving the world.

However, they make it easy for the rest of us to dress like them. Dressing like a geek is easier than flipping up a pair of clip on sunglasses. All you need is a little bit of creativity, a sense of humor, and the help of a great custom t-shirt printing service.

When you design your own geeky t-shirts, it’s easier to look like the real thing. It’s hard to recreate a lifetime of collecting dorky clothing items. Sometimes, you have to backtrack if you want to dress like a genuine geek. However, you can look like you’ve been a geek all of your life when you can custom print t-shirts that only a geek could love.

Imagine the geekiest things in the whole world and create a t-shirt design. You t-shirts will be ready in no time and before you know it, you can have a band of geek look-a-likes proudly wearing your t-shirts around town. Fashion tends to repeat itself. Who says the ‘geek’ look won’t become the rage?

How to Dress like a Cowgirl

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Cowgirl

Live the Glamorous Life of a Cowgirl in Custom Printed T-shirts

Cowgirls are practical people. Their primary passions in life are cows, horses and life on the farm. They don’t get caught up in celebrity gossip, the latest fashions, and whether or not they should be wearing a black belt with their brown boots. In general, cowgirls care about function over fashion when it comes to their apparel.

How can you blame them? After all, who would want to be wearing a pair of shorts or even a pair of pinstripe trousers when riding full speed through a patch of mesquite? What if you were thrown off of your horse into a cactus? What if your horse stepped on your foot and you were wearing a pair of peep toe pumps? Most of all, it’s just downright dangerous to ride a horse without heeled boots.

It’s true that being a cowgirl means sacrificing a little bit of personal style for the sake of being safe and comfortable while performing daily tasks. Being a cowgirl isn’t exactly for your average mall walker. However, when cowgirls aren’t on the range bringing in the cattle, you can bet the ranch that they are looking their best. Just where do you think the term “Buckle Bunny” comes from?

Cowgirls make up for lost time when they get an opportunity to get out on the ‘town’ and be seen. They dress up in all of their usual western wear. But they do it with enough rhinestones, glitter, and glam that you’d think they were walking the red carpet at the Grand Ole Opry. Buckle Bunnies, otherwise known as rodeo groupies, set the standard in western glamour. Nothing can outdo these gals with their bedazzled teal jeans, glittery fingernails, and big jewelry.

In a nutshell, cowgirls love to look their best. But because their everyday lives require that they get a little dirty every now and then, it’s important that they’re appropriately dressed. However, it’s easy to dress like a cowgirl and look great if you remember to use your imagination when it comes to your wardrobe. With a little ingenuity and attention to detail, you can have a comfortable, practical, cowgirl worthy wardrobe.

But just how do you get your hands on such a collection of western wear? It’s easy to acquire a unique cowgirl wardrobe with a custom t-shirt printing service on your side. When you design and custom print your own t-shirts, the marriage of style and function is almost instantaneous. There’s nothing you can’t do when you design your own t-shirts.

When you want to dress like a cowgirl, you can be the best dressed cowgirl on the range when you employ the services of a custom t-shirt printing company. Your very own western designs can be seen while you’re working cattle as well as while you’re cheering on your favorite celebrity bull rider. Custom t-shirt printing allows you to create cowgirl fashions that are all your own. All the other cowgirls will want to know where you got such a great wardrobe.

How to Wear Pocket Tees

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pocket tee

Fabulously Functional Pocket Tees

The pocket t-shirt, or pocket tee, is one of the most wearable garments you can have in your wardrobe. That’s why, regardless of what the trends are doing, you can still find these comfy staples hanging in the closet of 90% of modern males. Despite its simplicity, the right pocket tee can be remarkably versatile. It can act as a base layer for a casual jacket or even a sport coat during cool weather, then be worn alone or with a vest during the summer months.

The pocket tee is a cut above a plain undershirt as far as sophistication goes. The material used in pocket tees tends to be more durable than that of undershirts, and the pocket itself gives the shirt a bit of added strength. Choosing the right color and wash is important to achieving a casual yet polished look with the pocket tee.

Even among pocket tees, there are numerous styles available. Crew necklines are the most common, although v-neck pocket tees have gained in popularity in recent years. Solid colors are the typical style for casual wear, and also the most functional. Common colors include red, blue, black, white, heathered gray and navy blue. Of course any of these colors can be worn casually, but if you’re using a pocket tee underneath a sport coat for a dressier look, it’s best to stick with a darker color. Anything bolder will draw attention to your tee, not the outfit as a whole. If you want to wear a pocket tee in a bold color for a dressier occasion, try pairing it with a white or light-colored jacket for a tropical feel.

For a good selection of basic pocket tees, check out a major retailer that sells men’s clothing. Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart and JCPenney will all have a respectable selection of tees to choose from, although the quality will not be as good as those found at more upscale department or clothing stores. J.Crew offers a nice selection of pocket tees (and styles without pockets) in a wide range of colors, including some that are hard to find (such as brown, sage, gunmetal grey, green, yellow and taupe). The cotton jersey material is soft and durable. The fit is also tailored, making them better for layering since there’s less bulk. GAP has a similar pocket tee version at a less expensive price, but the color selection is limited to white, black, grey and navy.

Striped tees are another variation on the pocket tee, and a look that’s currently very hot for guys. Bold, contrasting colors give the tee a bit more youthful edge, while more subtle neutrals are easier to dress up. This classic-fit striped pocket tee by Ralph Lauren is an excellent example of this style.

If you’re into a certain designer, there’s a good chance that you can find pocket tees among the offerings of that particular label. The designer touch can add a bit of flair to this decidedly casual look.

Observing Maryland Day

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MD Day

Most states in America celebrate their own special birthdays, days they were officially admitted into the United States of America. Sometimes, they celebrate events that have had a huge impact on local communities within that state. Maryland is no different.

Maryland Day, observed and celebrated on March 25th of every year, is the anniversary of the day that the very first colonists landed on St. Clement’s Island, in the Maryland province, in 1634. Two ships, called ‘The Ark’ and ‘The Dove’ brought weary travelers to the island situated in the midst of the Potomac River, where they took their first steps on native Maryland earth and prayed for the safe conclusion of their journey. Since the landing in March also took place during what is usually celebrated as the Feast of the Annunciation, which is the Catholic world, honors Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. The very first religious service also took place that day, when Jesuit Father Andrew White offered thanks for the conclusion of the arduous journey on the sandy shores of St. Clement’s Island.

While those early Maryland generations more than likely remembered the day without any reminders, later generations did not think about the day too much until 1903, when the Maryland State Board of Education suggested the day become a state holiday in order to serve as a reminder of historical and ancestral roots. In 1916, the United States legislature designated the day a legal holiday.

Today, school districts honor the week or so prior to the observance of the legal holiday by offering curriculum that teaches children about their state. They learn that Maryland was named after King Charles’ wife, Mary and that Lord Baltimore was given control over the entire colony just so long as he shared any gold or silver he found in his new realm with the king. They are also taught that Maryland was the seventh state to ratify the United States Constitution and that during the War of 1812, Baltimore’s Fort Henry provided the scene from which Francis Scott Key wrote our beloved ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and watched the ‘bombs bursting in air’.

Every year on Maryland Day, bands play the famous tune and honor not only their state, but also the legacy it has left for future generations. Civic leaders are careful to make sure that ceremonies and local events serve to remind residents and visitors alike that Maryland is a state of many ‘firsts’ in American history.

St. Clement’s Island is now a National Park, and millions of visitors to Maryland visit the site every year on vacations, observing the place where those first tired and fearful colonists landed and stepped foot in their native state. Uncertainty and difficulties followed the colonists for years before the colony was firmly established, and their dedication and determination to survive both harsh elements and harsh surroundings is a reason to honor and celebrate the day. If it was not for such courageous ancestors, Maryland, as we know it today, might not exist. Now, over three hundred fifty years later, Maryland natives are happy and proud to honor their ancestors with civic events, parades and banners and, most importantly of all, reminders that serve to offer modern day Marylanders a moment or two to appreciate the bravery of those colonists as they struggled to create homes, towns and cities out of the wild and dangerous wilderness that surrounded them.

The anniversary of the first colonials to set foot on Maryland soil in 1634 is an important day of observance in Maryland every year, and despite the passage of time, the day serves to keep the memories of those who came before us alive in memory, perpetuated by Maryland Day, honored and celebrated every March 25th.

How to Celebrate National Transportation Week

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Transportation week

Every day, millions of products are shipped across the United States in big rigs, airplanes take passengers to foreign destinations, and cruise lines offer luxurious vacations to exotic ports of call. Billions of Americans commute to work every day, or cart the kids to school and run errands and visit with friends. Without transportation, the United States of America would come to a standstill.

Since the days of horses and buggies, public transportation has gotten people from point A to point B. Since the invention of Mr. Ford’s Model T to the latest landing of the space shuttle, Americans have been on the go. National Transportation Week is a time when all Americans should stop, if just for a moment or two, to realize the impact that wheels have had on not only our country, but also the world. Today, we consider transportation a part of our daily lives, and could not imagine anything else. However, there was a time when planes, trains and automobiles were not such a part of every day life and there are many still around to attest to that fact!

Every May 13th through 19th honors National Transportation Week, a week that should offer all Americans a chance to appreciate the inventions and determination of those who came before us to broaden horizons, to fly with the birds and to reach for the stars. National Transportation allows produce and goods to be transported to every part of the country, as well as providing employment for millions of Americans who work on our highways and streets every day. Building freeways, roads and bridges to help us get where we want to go, is a public work that was begun and has served the American people since the 1930’s. The United States Department of Transportation, or UDOT, as it is commonly known, makes sure that our nation’s highways and byways are kept as open and in good repair as possible.

Transportation connects people across the country. A journey that used to take six months or longer can now be accomplished in mere hours. A voyage across the ocean typically took months, yet today, Americans can fly to China in little over half a day. Sure, we have grown spoiled by such conveniences, and such an attitude may be perfectly natural since most of us grew up with wheels and planes. However, during National Transportation Week, take the time to envision your world without such luxuries. Many school children, and adults, are encouraged to do without their wheels for at least one day during this week, to fully appreciate how valuable such inventions have become in the daily life of all Americans. Even if we don’t own a car, we have buses or taxis, trains and subways to get us where we’re going.

Nearly four million miles of roads transverse the country, and allows imports and exports to be distributed around the nation and to other countries as well. Despite the growing numbers of vehicles on the road today, pollution and harmful emissions have decreased by almost 30% since the 1960’s. Researchers continue to create ways to decrease the greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions due to demands from the American public to ‘clean up our act’, and the United States is a leader in fuel economy regulations and emissions guidelines.
The next time you and your family is on a trip, think a moment about what you are doing and where you are going, and how difficult would be to get there without the vehicle you’re driving and the road you’re traveling on. Someone had to build that car and lay that road for you, and National Transportation Week is a time when all Americans should remember the dedication and determination of those who came before us who dreamed of the impossible.

What Is National Poison Prevention Week

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Poison

Did you know that over 50,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms every year due to accidental poisonings, and that every year, children still die from ingesting materials that they never should have been able to get their hands on in the first place?

Since the early 1960’s, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has tried to prevent such accidental poisonings by informing, teaching and instructing the general public in the safe use and storage of common household items that may seriously injure, or even kill, when ingested. Such items like cleaning solutions, medications, and even vitamins and minerals can be lethal, especially to small children, if taken in large enough amounts.

Established in 1961 when Congress passed a resolution designating the third week of every March as National Poison Prevention Week, the commission has since urged parents and child caregivers to make sure that harmful products are kept out of children’s reach at all times. They also attempt to warn parents and caregivers that a child’s natural curiosity is enough to overcome many verbal warnings and that it’s extremely important to make sure that potentially hazardous materials are stored or locked away out of their reach.

These items can include, but are not limited to baby oil, mouthwash, drain openers and oven cleaners. Of course, any type of drug or medication can be dangerous, and that includes cough syrups, aspirin, including baby aspirin, eye drops and hair gels and shampoos. Many young children are attracted by the bright colors and scents of many bathroom items, so make sure to always store them out of reach of babies and toddlers. Avoid taking medications in front of young children, as they are apt to mirror your actions.

More than two million poisonings occur in the United States alone every year, and most of those are avoidable. The majority of children affected by poisonings are under the age of six, which makes them too young to read, but old enough to be increasingly curious about the world around them. The theme of National Poison Prevention Week is, “Children Act Fast, So Do Poisons!” Such a theme is true, not just during this week, but every week of the year. While deaths relating to accidental poisonings have decreased dramatically since 1961, even one child lost through poisoning is one too many.

National Poison Prevention Week is a time when parents and caregivers from all walks of life literally go through their homes and apartments to make sure those dangerous materials are properly stored or secured from children’s reach. Every home throughout the United States has items stored inside that can potentially poison a child, so it’s important for everyone to be aware of what they are and what they can do. While the event does not initiate parades or celebrations, it is an occasion that demands attention and recognition. During National Poison Prevention Week in schools across the country, children of all ages are taught about the dangers posed by certain types of chemicals and solutions stored within most homes.

During this week, the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Association of Poison Control Centers and local community health services offices get the word out about child poisoning and what steps most residents can take to prevent such tragic occurrences. These organizations urge parents and caregivers to take the few minutes necessary to go through every room in your home to insure that items that may pose a threat to children are put away, out of reach of exploring fingers. National Poison Prevention Week is a time for attention and responsibility. It’s up to each and every American to provide a safe and secure environment for their child, or those they are providing care for.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

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Disability

Recognizing diversity and skills is sometimes lacking when people see someone who is handicapped in any manner. Yet, handicapped people are often able to offer as much to the workplace as any other person, and should not be discriminated against. Being disabled doesn’t mean inability to work or hold a job. It’s just a setback, one that can be overcome with determination on the part of the disabled, and understanding and knowledge on the part of any employer.

After World War Two, hundreds of thousands of injured soldiers returned to civilian life, many of them permanently maimed or disabled. Such disabilities didn’t stop them from wanting to work, to earn a living and provide for their families. In 1945, Congress enacted a law that declared the first ‘National Employ to the Physically Handicapped’ week, to address the needs of those soldiers. Today, veterans from every state in the Union, with varying degrees of disabilities, hold positions of employment in every work sector. Not only a veteran, but also anyone who is disabled, has the right to pursue gainful employment today.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month, observed every October, is a time for not only employers, but also citizens throughout the country to realize that disabled persons have just as much to offer the workplace as anyone else. The weeks serves to showcase the efforts made on behalf of employers around the country to use to the fullest the intelligence, abilities and managerial skills that many disabled people can offer to many different career fields. National recognition of the day didn’t really take off until the late 1980’s, and the name of the week was changed to ‘National Employ the Handicapped Week’. It’s a time for all people to face challenges and to test beliefs. Expanding technology now offers handicapped people access to places than ever before, and their contributions to industries throughout the United States should not be overlooked.

Today, regulations prevent employers from discriminating against handicapped people when they show they are able to perform the tasks and duties specific jobs entail, but the most well known is the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which guarantees that as a nation, America will not underestimate the capabilities of handicapped people regardless of their disabilities. The law is vital in helping workers with disabilities not only find jobs, but keep them as well.

Due to accidents, war, and medical illness, thousand of Americans are stricken with one kind of disability or another every year. These people need jobs and income, and providing jobs for people with disabilities not only helps them, but America as a whole. When disabled persons are allowed to work and support themselves, their care is no longer relegated to the government. Ultimately, Americans save money on their taxes and the disabled are treated as they deserve to be.

Schools around the country, as well as public service organizations, try to encourage all disabled people, regardless of age, to challenge not only the public at large, but themselves as well, to work and provide services for any kind of business. Being handicapped doesn’t prevent many people from working, but the discrimination of employers keeps them from such endeavors. Nationwide campaigns prevail every October in an effort to provide information and inform the public on the limitless skills, ideas and creativity that can be found in every American, disabled or not.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time that is observed and recognized for the encouragement and support of all disabled Americans that it, and its millions of supporters nationwide, offer. Every citizen of the United States has something to offer, whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional, and unique abilities exist within all Americans. National Disability Employment Awareness Month is an opportunity for each America to recognize that fact, and embrace it.

What Is National Day of Prayer

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Prayer Day

National Day of Prayer

Did you know that throughout the United States, National Day of Prayer is celebrated by every state in the Union by people of different races, religion and creeds? National Prayer Day has been celebrated and practiced since 1952, when President Harry S. Truman signed a joint resolution of Congress that supported the coming together in prayer for all Americans. National Prayer Day was practiced long before that, however. In times of national crisis or strife, our Founding Fathers felt that community support was needed, and so in 1775, the first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer. The Continental Congress asked the infant nation to pray for wisdom and guidance in forming our Declaration of Independence and through the years of struggle ahead. During the War Between the States, President Abraham Lincoln also called for a National Day of Prayer to help hold our great nation together and in 1863, Lincoln asked citizens of our divided nation to pray for our common good. More recently, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan officially designated the first Thursday in May as National Prayer Day.

The United States of America was founded on faith, and it’s the freedom to practice that faith within both Christian and Judean belief systems that keeps America strong. A National Day of Prayer serves to show the world that despite diversified cultures, backgrounds, beliefs and races, Americans are free to not only worship as they choose, but also to gather, pray and exercise the Freedom of Speech granted by our forefathers over two hundred and thirty years ago.

Ever since our Founding Fathers wrote that all religions and creeds should be freely practiced in the United States, public prayer and the National Day of Prayer has been accepted and practiced in our country. Such a holiday serves to remind all Americans of our heritage and our ability to pray as we see fit. People of all faiths participate in the National Day of Prayer, including Christians, Jews, Moslems, Taoists and Buddhists, just to name a few. That’s the legacy of a National Day of Prayer. Coming together to worship as each individual sees fit in order to pray for the greater good of a country is an American tradition that has withstood the test of time and trial. It’s a day to celebrate an entire nation coming together as one, to bend our heads in prayer for the common good of all its inhabitants. Every year on National Prayer Day, events organized at city, county and state levels unite to participate in events from sunrise to sunset. Demographics and politics don’t matter, nor does socio-economic levels. In 2006, more than two million people attended more than 40,000 National Day of Prayer events throughout the United States. An additional 40,000 volunteers planned and staffed those events, proof that prayer is still a common uniting factor in this country despite different beliefs and creeds. People everywhere stopped what they were doing and paused for several moments of private prayer, participating even if they didn’t make it to a local National Day of Prayer event.

There are several ways to become directly involved in the National Day of Prayer movement. One of those is to plan an event in your local community. If you’re not up to planning something like that and want to observe first, plan on attending an event. If you’d rather pray in private, perhaps you can offer your help with a monetary donation to support a National Day of Prayer event. The National Day of Prayer website offers a wealth of information on how people can participate in the event without having to offer their time or services, and welcomes your questions. The honorary chairman for the National Day of Prayer Task Force in 2007, Dr. Charles Swindoll, invites all religions and creeds to support our nation every year with their time, their donations or their prayers. The National Day of Prayer continues to support an American’s right, regardless of race or religious background, to practice their faith and pray in their own way. That most basic of rights is what makes America the most blessed nation in the world.

How to Celebrate Mother’s Day

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mothers day

Let’s face it; mothers rarely if ever get the thanks and appreciation that they deserve.  In our infant years, they provide us with every bit of life-sustaining support necessary to nurture us and turn us into healthy and happy adults.

In 1890s, a woman named Anna Jarvis swore on her own mother’s grave to establish a day of remembrance for mothers everywhere.  After eighteen years of attempting to gain support for her efforts, a West Virginia church agreed to dedicate a Sunday service in May to the mothers of the congregation. One year prior to the agreement, Anna personally attended a service at the church and passed out over five hundred carnations to the mothers attending that day.  Anna’s efforts did not stop with the hand-delivery of the carnations however.

Her efforts included a letter-writing campaign where she sent personalized letters to business leaders and politicians in an effort to gain national support for the establishment of a “Mother’s Day.”  The first politician to move for the establishment of the holiday was Elmer Burkett from Nebraska who introduced a bill the U.S. Senate.  The bill was supported also by the YMCA, a leading national philanthropic organization. Although the bill was rejected, Anna’s plight continued.

In 1912, two full years before the holiday would be nationally established by Woodrow Wilson, the State of West Virginia legally established Mother’s Day as a state holiday.

Anna Jarvis was not the first woman to push for a Mother’s Day.  In 1872, a woman names Julia Ward Howe began to campaign for a Mother’s Day of Peace after the Civil War.  Funding the Boston, Massachusetts public celebrations herself, Howe intended to establish a tradition of celebrating women and mothers everywhere.

Howe, in addition to establishing the first public celebrations of women, contributed significantly during the beginning establishment of women’s rights in the United States. Howe is also known as the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, a national folk song popularized during the Civil War.

The United States is not the only country to devote a day to the celebration of mothers and women everywhere.  Some of the other countries with a national holiday include Great Britain, Denmark, Australia, Finland, France, Turkey and Italy.  Of course, every country celebrates at a different time throughout the year.  Spain for example, celebrates motherhood on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which is already a national holiday.  Britain calls it’s celebration “Mothering Sunday,” and the celebration occurs on the fourth Sunday in Lent.

The commercialization of Mother’s Day was scorned by Anna Jarvis, who intended for the day to be a personalized celebration, mainly due to the popularity of pre-made greeting cards for the occasion.  She believed that an hand-written letter of thank was much more appropriate.  However, there are many industries today which can thank consumers for ignoring Anna’s insistence on personal attention and creativity.

Everyone sends mom flowers on Mother’s Day! Just ask the florist industry, which peaks on Mother’s Day, making it very busy for the nearly 25 thousand U.S. florists.  Also, since mom is not going to expected to cook on this day most restaurants claim that Mother’s Day is their busiest day of the entire year.

This is not to mention the greeting card industry, which touts sales of Mother’s Day cards for almost 95% of America’s 80 million mothers.  Yes, they definitely profit from the labor of our mothers.

Some non-commercial ways to celebrate your mother include sending her a home-made greeting card with a personal note included, make her dinner or a special dessert or just make it a point to spend some time with her.  Not every celebration warrants the expense of supporting retailers and commercialism, and Mother’s Day is one of the few where the sentiment is often more desired than any gift.

Maternity Shirts for Men

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men maternity shirt

Fatherhood is in. More and more men are embracing the experience of pregnancy as a shared adventure for a couple. Gone are the days of men being bashed to obscurity while the mother to be is celebrated with parties in her honor and gifts that reflect only her tastes. No, now couple’s baby showers are being thrown and diaper bags, strollers, and baby gear are being designed with men in mind. Why should moms have all the fun and get all the new stuff?

The mother to be always knows or suspects the pregnancy first. Then there is the dilemma of how to break the great news about the new baby to the daddy. There is any number of creative ways. Why not give that special man in your life a shirt proclaiming “Good daddies are hot”?

For most men, they can’t have too many t-shirts. T-shirts proclaiming your feeling about pregnancy and resulting baby are one of the hottest trends. This is not only true for moms to be but dads to be also. Dads can be seen wearing shirts stating they are on a mission to fulfill their significant other’s craving of the hour or that all should be kind to them as the princess in their life is pregnant.

Is your brother’s wife or girlfriend pregnant? While you are shopping for the new baby (being a good aunt is cool too), get a shirt for your brother to tell him how you think he will be a wonderful father. Pair the shirt with a book about baby care or fatherhood.

Often dads complain about diaper bags and how many items moms think are necessary and stuff into the bag for just one trip to the grocery store or visit to the grandparents. Get a black messenger bag or backpack and fill it with baby necessities, then add a cool vintage style t-shirt. Have the t-shirt made with design of your own. This would be a great gift for the new dad at the baby shower.

Fathers are going need even more t-shirts after the baby is born, especially since babies can be messy. For a fun gift for the new father, take packages of diapers and wipes and a t-shirt proclaiming how real men change diapers when you visit the mom and baby in the hospital. Get one as a hint for your husband as the due date approaches for your baby and his role in your life is about to change forever.

The best place to find these creative t-shirts is with online retailers. Celebrity magazines and blogs are great places to look for style and design ideas. Styles range from the plain white t-shirts to vintage look. Long sleeved tees are also a popular choice.

T-shirts are great gifts especially with their easy care requirements. They are totally wash and wear. This is a big plus with any household with a new baby and all the items babies add to the laundry. Dad can just throw his own t-shirts in the washing machine with no help from a very tired new mom.

Help the dads in your life embrace their new role in life and show how proud they are with a new t-shirt.

Top 10 Places to Wear Matching T-Shirts as a Couple

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Matching

Matching couples t-shirts have become extremely popular, particularly in China and other Asian countries. Proud couples who want to display their love for each other wear couples t-shirts for many occasions. Here are some places you can show off those cute matching shirts.

At the rehearsal dinner. Wearing couples t-shirts at the rehearsal dinner is a fun way to show your personality and relax a bit before the big day. It will also help those relatives you haven’t met to identify who’s the bride and who’s the groom. Shirts that simply say “The Bride” and “The Groom” will do, or try these t-shirts featuring two intertwined hearts.

At your wedding. If you’re a couple with a sense of humor and want to break the tension typically associated with a wedding (or you just don’t have the time and/or money to spend on formal wedding attire), matching couple t-shirts are the way to go. Try a tuxedo t-shirt for the groom and a wedding gown t-shirt for the bride. To create a truly custom look, have your names and wedding date printed on the back of your shirt. The tuxedo t-shirt/wedding gown t-shirt combo could also be a fun choice if you’re guests at a casual wedding.

At your second wedding. You already endured the pomp and circumstance of a big first wedding. This time around, why not have some fun? Dress in a tuxedo t-shirt and a matching bride t-shirt, and you won’t even have to change before the party that night. If you have attendants, let them in on the fun too.

On your honeymoon. The love is new, the excitement of the wedding is still palpable and you want the whole world to know that you’re in love! A honeymoon is one of the most popular times to wear matching t-shirts as a couple. We like the matching “We Did” t-shirts at Zazzle.com featuring a cute cartoon wedding couple. Shelf Life offers a selection of t-shirts featuring a honeymoon theme.

On a date. So you shouldn’t give your date a matching t-shirt on the first date (or the second or even the third) or you risk looking psycho. But if you’re a steady item, matching t-shirts can be a fun way to let everyone know who you are with.

At a nightclub. Keep the sharks at bay by wearing matching t-shirts!

At parties. Matching couple shirts are the perfect get-up for a party. You’ll stand out in the crowd, and you’re sure to get lots of comments from men and women alike about how cute you look together. Best of all, all the other girls will know that your guy is taken (and vice versa)!

To a concert. If you’re both fans, why not wear matching t-shirts to the concert? Double the fun!

Anywhere there will be a crowd. Matching couple t-shirts are not only cute, they can also come in handy if you and your partner become separated. Just ask people if they’ve seen someone wearing a shirt like yours!

Hanging out at home. Seeing that your special someone is wearing your matching shirt will make you feel closer all day long.

How to Dress Like a Nerd

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Nerd

Whether you love nerds, or love to hate nerds, there’s always a reason to dress like one. Nerd was once a derogatory term, but now it’s a badge of honor. A nerd is usually someone with a deep, almost obsessive, love for something. Commonly, nerds were the book worms who craved knowledge and learning. Nowadays, the term nerd has expanded to three main types of obsessed people: classic nerds, sci-fi nerds, and computer nerds.

Classic nerds are the ones who you may instantly think of when you hear the word “nerd.” Classic nerds wear suspenders and pocket protectors. To get this look, make sure to invest in white, knee high socks. Classic nerds rarely wear jeans, but when they do, it’s acid or stone washed jeans. Usually, classic nerds wear khaki pants, combined with the knee high socks. Copy this by getting petite or straight leg Capri pants that stop above the ankle. If you can’t find these types of pants, raise up a pair of straight leg khakis with a set of suspenders. Make sure your socks are showing. Pair with this black loafers. It creates an awkward look that works.

Classic nerds also love to wear white shirts. Make sure to tuck in the shirt. The shirt should also have a front pocket, so that you can place in the pocket protector for your pens and calculator. Wear a bow tie. To round off the look, wear black rimmed glasses and a middle part down your hiar. Girls can wear a low pony tail.

The second type of nerds are in the sci-fi crowd. Sci-fi stands for science fiction. These are the types of nerds interested in Star Trek or Star Wars. You may find them at Star Trek conventions dressed up like Spock the Vulcan, and brushing up on the nuances of the Klingon language. Sci-fi nerds love to wear graphic t-shirts. Capture this look by getting shirts that say something witty or sassy. It’s even better if you can find a shirt that references a popular science fiction television show or movie. Sci-fi nerds usually wear shorts. They rarely wear jeans or regular length pants. Sci-fi nerds never wear closed-toe shoes. They prefer flip flops or sandals. In cold weather, they wear socks with their sandals. These type of guys like to wear spiky hair. The girls wear pony tails.

The third and final type of nerd is the computer nerd. Computer nerds are always found hunched over their computers, toiling away with some computer software into the night. Computer nerds are not exactly fashion forward. They prefer function over fashion. These nerds do have their own unique brand of style. Computer nerds usually wear nondescript, or non-graphic, t-shirts. Sometimes they wear sweat shirts, with an imprinted college logo. Computer nerds usually wear sweatpants, but on special occasions, they will wear jeans. Computer nerds wear socks, but rarely wear shoes, because they don’t go out much. When going out, computer nerds wear ordinary sneakers. This look is definitely the most comfortable of the three, but is also the least defined.

Pay homage to the nerd in you, or poke fun at the stereo-types by exaggerating them. Whatever option you choose, make sure to have fun with it.

How to Wear Garter Belts and Stockings

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Garter belt

A few decades ago wearing garter belts was the norm and women didn’t think twice about how they should go about doing so. Enter the affordable and easy to wear pantyhose. These nylon hosieries really shook up the world of shear-wear for women and once they hit the scene the popularity of garter belts quickly faded away. But they never totally fizzled out.

These days when a woman wears garter belts and stockings it is usually on a more intimate level. Because of that they are typically reserved for special occasions. Because of the limited number of times that a woman will actually find herself wearing these types of hosiery they may or may not know how to go about properly wearing them. If you are one of those women fear not, it is not as hard as you might think. Here’s what you need to know:

– Try on the actual garter belt: The most important part about wearing garter belts and stockings is ensuring that your garter belt fits you properly. This is essential because you will not only want comfort but you will want the clasps to function properly as well. Before you buy a garter belt you need to actually try it on. It should fit nicely around your waist but you don’t want it to be too snug. Be sure that you will be able to easily modify the clasps in accordance with your body’s length.

– Check the clasps: The clasps of the garter belt should be strong and durable and be able to put up with a little bit of abuse if need be. Again you need to make sure that they can easily be adjusted to match your body length.

– Choose good stockings: Be sure that your stockings are as durable as your garter belt is. Going with a nicer material such as silk will often help in terms of durability. These types of stocking may cost a bit more but they can be worth their weight in gold if they last longer.

– Actually putting them on: To avoid any embarrassment later on in the ladies room, put your panties on first. Put the garter belt on and be sure that it is fit properly and that all the clasps are hanging down at about the same length. Next you will put the stockings on and pull them up as high as they will go. Now you need to attach the clasps onto the stockings and adjust them until they feel even and above all else comfortable.

There is no rule of thumb for the adjustment of the clasps on the garter belt and the actual indicator of truth is your own personal preference. Many women these days avoid wearing garter belts and stockings because they feel it is too hard to put them on. But if you start with the right garter belt and stockings the rest is practically a cake walk. It may take you a time or two of putting them on to get smooth at it, but just as with anything else, practice makes perfect.

How To Wash A Cashmere Sweater

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Cashmere

Nothing says true luxury like cashmere. A cashmere sweater is often a special treat for that special someone in your life or for the someone who simply has everything. It will draw admirers with its beauty. However, if you own a cashmere sweater or are thinking about getting one, it is important for you to know exactly how to wash a cashmere sweater or you will get no practically no enjoyment from your luxury item.

The only safe way to wash a cashmere sweater is to hand wash it in cold water. This is a fairly simple technique. You will need to select a pan or sink big enough to hold the sweater, water and allow for some movement for agitation. Fill it with cold water and add the exact amount of detergent stated on the container. Be sure you are using a detergent that is formulated for delicate hand washing in cold water. Do not add too much detergent because it suds up very easily in cold water and it will take you quite a long time to get rid of all the suds if you use too much.

When the detergent is mixed into the water, add your cashmere sweater. If there were any stains or odors on it, you should have pretreated with a pretreatment product made for delicates. Move the sweater around gently to completely cover it in the water and to create agitation, so that the sudsy water will pass through the fabric and start to work on cleaning it. Rub stains, necklines and armpits with your hands to help along the cleaning process in these areas. Let the sweater soak for a while in the sudsy solution.

After a half hour or so has passed, come back to the sweater and agitate it throughout the water again. Then you will rinse it. Remove the soapy water and add clean water, agitating the sweater in it again. Keep repeating this process until no more bubbles are produced when the sweater is agitated in clean water.

Remove the sweater from the water and gently compress it to get as much water out as you can without damaging the garment. Do not wring or twist a cashmere sweater. When you have gotten some of the water out, lay the sweater on a dry absorbent towel. Gently roll the towel up with the sweater inside, in a jellyroll fashion. Compress the roll to get out additional moisture. Following this, lay the cashmere sweater flat to dry on a sweater dryer to allow air circulation. It may take a couple of days to completely dry but you will have saved yourself a pricey dry cleaning bill.

Don’t turn away from cashmere simply because it’s a little more work and extra care than most clothes. The feel of the luxurious softness is well worth the occasional investment of your time in hand washing what will quickly become one of your favorite things to wear.