We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Alex, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When starting h clothing co, I had one simple question in mind. How do I create and sell the most environmentally and socially friendly clothing possible? From that question came many decisions that many clothing companies would never consider. Using durable natural fabrics, producing clothing in-house instead of outsourcing, creating and growing a dye garden in-house to use only naturally derived dyes, refurbishing sewing machines that are 50-110 years old for daily use, creating a zero-waste production model, and offering guaranteed free repairs for the life of the garment are among some of the most basic principles that helped my start h clothing co.
What should our readers know about your business?
h clothing co offers 100% natural and handmade clothing and home goods that all come with lifetime free repairs. As a 1% for the Planet member, we pledge a minimum of 1% of sales towards environmental conservation organizations each year. We’re still a small brand, but there’s a lot on the horizon: upcoming events, markets, product launches, etc. such as the NoCo Hemp Expo at the end of March in Colorado Springs I’m really looking forward to. There’s a lot of growth coming up this year, and those can be tricky waters to navigate. I’m looking forward to growing the h clothing co team and bringing on more wonderful people to help me grow this force for good.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Colorado Springs is a wonderland of natural, wild experiences. All of the local hiking trails near town such as Garden of the Gods, North Cheyenne Canyon, the Red Rocks Open space, and trails further out near Manitou Springs and Woodland Park would be my first stop. Downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City have so many wonderful local shops showcasing local artisans and artists, and there are so many great restaurants and breweries to choose from. My current favorites are The Burrowing Owl and Shuga’s.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people, authors, books, organizations, companies, etc. that I can thank for my journey. First, my wife, Ariel, for showing me how much strength it takes to follow one’s dreams and providing so much love and support through this journey.
My parents, for instilling a love and respect for nature in me early on, as well as loving and supporting me throughout my life.
Patagonia & founder Yvon Chouinard – for proving that a similar model works and can actually help make a difference.
The book FiberShed by Rebecca Burgess and Courtney White, for teaching me about the environmental impacts of clothing and the importance of locality.
The book Hemp Bound and author Doug Fine for introducing me to the incredible aspects of hemp and how communities and industries can thrive together.
The entire Eclectic Co team in Colorado Springs for providing me a space to sell in and a community of local creators and collaborators,
Website: https://hclothingco.com
Instagram: @hclothingcollc
Image Credits
Kirsti Logan Yvonne @ OriginalGirlfiend Ani Trejo Barrington