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US-Made Stuffed Animals Provide an Eco-Friendly Alternative
Posted by marin2008
Wednesday, 24 June 2009

After the success of their organic cotton Sock Monkeys and Penguins,
Maggie's Organics has stepped up to the plate once again to provide
eight new stuffed animals, the Barnyard Series, ranging from Tie-Dye
Chickens to Denim-Blue Cows. All part of the "Maggie's Menagerie"
series, these cuddly toys are made by the 100% worker-owned co-operative
in North Carolina, "Opportunity Threads", and are carefully crafted from
scrap materials created by Maggie's organic clothing and sock production.

Each animal is created using leftover materials from organic cotton sock
production, and is stuffed with polyester mill scrap to make them
incredibly soft. This ingenuity ensures that the Barnyard Animals play
their part in preventing apparel products from ending up in landfills.
Considering the EPA states that clothing makes up 5% of all the waste in
the US, the creativity in recycling shown by this production process
shows an exceptional commitment to the environment.

Maggie's first animals, the Sock Monkeys and the Penguins, were created
by Maggie's design team, and then only slightly modified by North
Carolina co-op. But this time the folks at Opportunity Threads provided
the creative energy behind the series, and each Barnyard animal was
designed by the workers themselves.

Maggie's Organics President Bena Burda explains that, "[the stuffed
animals] are fulfilling our dream of providing US workers a chance to
build and run their own businesses. They are cuddly, fun, and an
inspired creation that we all can share. Supporting worker-owned
businesses that understand the importance of organic practices aligns
with our mission to produce environmentally sustainable products and
promote worker independence."

The eight new varieties of stuffed animals being released include all of
the Barnyard essentials: chickens, cows, pigs, and sheep. The chickens
are tie-dyed by hand, so each one is unique from all the others. All of
the details on the animals, such as the eyes and ears, are securely sewn
on to make them safe for all ages.

Doug Wilson, VP of Sales at Maggie's, said "By teaming up with a US
worker-owned cooperative and utilizing leftover material so it doesn't
end up in landfills we are making a statement about what we believe is a
fresh--and much needed--approach to making a high-quality product."

Each Barnyard Animal has a price of $15 MSRP.

About Maggie's Functional Organics:

Maggie's Organics was founded in 1992 on the premise that workers should
be treated ethically and that clothing should be durable, affordable and
constructed of environment sustaining materials. Maggie's produces a
range of clothing, from scarves to socks, all made from Certified
Organic Cotton or Certified Organic Wool. They work exclusively with
business partners who guarantee livable working conditions and
independence for their workers.

Visit http://www.maggiesorganics.com or
Call (800) 609-8593 within the US, (734) 482-4000 outside the US
Or email Stephanie Sherson at sa...@organicclothes.comThis e-mail
address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled
to view it

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