Since I was a little girl, I have always have a deep love and profound connection with nature. With a background in holistic healing and spiritual environmentalism, I longed to combine my love for the natural world with my creative gifts. My interest in the eco-fashion industry began when I discovered how beautiful and comfortable organic cotton truly is. And as I researched the organic cotton industry, I realized that the conventional cotton clothing that was filling my closet was all grown in the exact fashion that I protested when it came to the food I ate and the body care products I used.

I began searching for organic clothing, particularly tees and tanks with beautiful designs that seemed unique or special to me - to justify the higher dollar amount for organic fibers. I’ve always been drawn to graphic tees because of their ability to express ones beliefs, values, creativity, and inner musings. However, I could never find exactly what I was looking for in an organic graphic tee and if I found one that came close, it was eighty bucks! And so, each night after I put the baby to sleep, using the coffee table as my office desk, I began drawing my own sketches. I envisioned a clothing line that spoke to all the wonderful women out there who are doing what they can to be part of the solution for a healthier planet. Through a unique combination of original artwork and empowering messages, my designs are intended to encourage women to believe in their dreams, follow their hearts, and stay positive in a world that is in need of deep healing.

After many months researching the most sustainable and earth friendly way to produce a clothing line, I was able to combine comfort, style, and eco-ethics, creating the perfect tees and tanks for women.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me get my business going and to all of you who continue to help it thrive.

Keep Dreaming and Believing!

Jennifer Griffith, owner and founder of Butterfly Maidens

 

The name "Butterfly Maidens" was the result of a creative brainstorm to find an original name that represented transformation, as it pertains to the healing of our Earth, and also the transformation of our hearts and minds to truly believe that Peace is an attainable concept.

One day while searching the internet, I came across an ancient Native American Goddess called the Butterfly Maiden. She appears in the Hopi tribe’s "Story of Creation" as the beautiful Spirit that brought joy to man once he discovered that life on earth is not eternal. She represents the peace and happiness that we must strive to attain in life, once we realize the truth of our own mortality.

Reading this, I got chills up my spine. To me, the symbolism of the Butterfly Maiden spoke volumes. While I know that my lifetime here on earth will someday end, I am very aware of the impact that my work can have on future generations. By creating a sustainable business that helps to preserve the beauty of our Mother Earth, I am making a difference in my own small way. And as a mother, I am sending a positive message to my children. In this, I find my own sense of peace and happiness. My hope is for my customers to empathize with the story of the Butterfly Maiden, and in turn find the passion behind my designs and feel empowered while wearing them.

Here is an excerpt from the Hopi Tribe's "Story of Creation":

     "The dark purple light rises in the North,

     A yellow light rises in the East

     Then, we of the flowers of the earth come forth

     To receive a long life full of joy.

     We call ourselves the Butterfly Maidens."

The Secret Ingredient

The Butterfly Maidens apparel line is the softest and highest quality eco-friendly clothing that I have ever worn - which is why I am so passionate about my business. There is one factor in particular that makes my apparel shine in quality, especially the amazingly soft graphic designs: The Secret is in the Ink.

All of my clothing is naturally dyed using a revolutionary screen printing process that utilizes non-toxic, water-based inks. These inks soak right into the organic fibers, instead of sitting on top of the fabric like the majority of graphic t-shirts on the market. Unlike other brands, my designs will never flake off or fade and are extremely soft to the touch - no sticky and hard surface. The result is a beautiful finished product that is made to last a lifetime.

But not only do water-based inks create a superior quality product that looks and feels great, they are helping to save the environment in a very important way. The inks most widely used in conventional screen printing are called plastisol, made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and phthalates. PVC contains dioxin, one of the most harmful chemical presently known to science. During the t-shirt manufacturing process, dioxin is released into the environment causing a major health threat to all life on this planet.

Here’s the positive news: By becoming a wise consumer and choosing to buy organic clothing that is naturally dyed, you are helping to decrease these harmful chemicals from entering our eco-system. And with clothing so buttery soft and comfortable, this becomes a very easy investment to make.