Interviews

Shana Yansen

Founder, Jute and Jackfruit

Jute and Jackfruit founder, Shana Yansen, once squeezed a scorpion to death with her bare hands. How could we not interview her? Okay, first things first: the question we ask everyone, “How would you explain your business to a five year old.” We sell clothing, jewelry and gifts that are good for the environment, but also help the people around the world that make them. I also write two blogs.

Do you think a five year old would know what a blog is?
Depends on the five year old, but some are probably “tweeting” already.

Okay, so what are your blogs about?
My company blog (http://www.juteandjackfruit.net) highlights the designers, products, and the mission of Jute & Jackfruit. My other blog, Green Cotton (http://greencottonblog.com), is focused on raising awareness about the importance of organic vs. conventional agriculture, plus eco-fashion, and organic textiles.

Ok, so before we move on, tell us about this scorpion and could it possibly have any relationship to Jute & Jackfruit?
Well, years ago while I was living in Honduras, I accidentally grabbed (and crushed) a scorpion in my hand. The scorpion happened to be hidden in the mosquito net I was folding. I will never forget that moment, nor the hours of sheer numbness that followed. However, I would also add that while there were many life-changing and memorable moments during my service in the Peace Corps in Honduras (including the scorpion!), that it was working with local women’s groups and artisans that impacted me the most, and first led to the idea for Jute & Jackfruit.

So, you’re probably a little too familiar with all the consumer “green washing” out there. As a genuine eco-conscious business owner what do you do to reduce Jute & Jackfruit’s global footprint?
At Jute & Jackfruit, we source organic and sustainable fabrics for our clothing, and we also place strict environmental (and fair trade) criteria on the jewelry and accessories we carry. For example, one of our core clothing designers is Indigenous, a pioneer in fair trade and certified organic cotton knits. A good environmentally sustainable example in our jewelry collection is AnnaBuilt, which is handmade by Brooklyn-based artist Anna Johansson from unique, recycled metals. We also have Nahui Ollin handbags made from factory over-run and misprinted candy wrappers.

Wow, candy wrappers? How does that work?
Using Mayan weaving techniques, the designer handbags are woven by Mexican artisans using wrappers that would otherwise be burned or sent to a landfill. We have some great photography on our Web site.

Speaking of wrappers, I know packaging is a big issue for eco-conscious retailers. How do you handle it?
We spent months trying to find eco-friendly packaging materials! Our postcards, clothing tags and other materials are all made on recycled paper, most of which are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. We also source recycled content gift-wrapping such as tissue paper, boxes and ribbon. In addition, we use biodegradable plastic bags for garments (when additional bags are needed to protect from the elements) and recycle our boxes for shipping. We are also developing reusable fabric gift wrap for the holidays made from over-run and unused fabrics. In general, we are constantly looking into was to reduce our impact. For example, we are currently exploring carbon-offsetting for our shipping among other initiatives.

Impressive! Now, how about as an individual?
I started riding a bicycle last year and ride it almost everywhere now including trips to the grocery store with my pannier bags. I also gave up water bottles and improved my recycling habits. For the last few years, my husband and I have participated in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). This year we joined Picadilly Farm, a New Hampshire-based farm, which has a local pickup location. We really make a conscious effort to shop locally.

What habit was surprisingly easy to change … and what was the hardest?
The easiest to change was bringing my own bags to the grocery store and other places; the hardest was giving up water bottles. As someone who has always been an avid water drinker and is frequently on the go, I used to grab a disposable plastic bottle and go. With consistent and conscious effort, I gradually moved away from this practice. I stopped buying bottles and now bring a reusable Sigg or bicycle bottle with me.

I love my Sigg water bottle, too. In fact, I got it as D2E last year. Which segues nicely into our last question: how did you decide to participate this year?
My experience with similar green conferences is that they provide wonderful opportunities to strengthen the local eco-conscious community, and I believe d2e will do that for the Boston area. Plus, my impression is that D2E is going to be a fun-filled weekend with a remarkable line up of speakers, videos, and events—including the eco-fashion shows, eco-living seminars, tasty organic marketplace and green-conscious exhibitors.

You are exactly right.

John Bassett

Founder, John Bassett Glass

John Bassett will tell you he’s fascinated by light, structure, line, texture, balance, and color … in that order. Growing up in a family of both artists and thinkers, it’s not surprising that he can articulate his creative process in such exacting terms. What might surprise people is that he can also beautifully articulate what he does for an audience of five-year-olds. And for someone who has recently exhibited his work at the Children’s Museum, he’s has a lot of practice doing just that!

Big question first: So what are you doing to reduce your global footprint?
I make art from recycled stuff.

That works! Now, onto what we’re all wondering: How do you explain your profession to a five year old?
“I melt bottles and make things for people to look at.”

Have you always been a glass artist?
No, I actually worked most of my life as a carpenter, but I’ve been doing glass since 1979.

What is it about glass that you find so interesting?
I’m happiest in the rich, associative world of recycled glass and other found objects. I find myself focused on that most conventional quality of glass—its transparency.

Any early influences?
I was a kid who drew and painted. My uncle, Richard Bassett was a painter, but I think it was really my grandmother’s gardener who was my biggest influence. His name was Joseph LeBeau. Today, he might be considered a “naïve artist.” He also made fantastic, wonderful moving toys for kids using brightly painted Popsicle sticks and discarded lumber. He gave them all away. I have only a very small toy he made and don’t know if there are any others left. I think the kids who enjoyed his toys were the only people who appreciated what Joseph made.

That seems sad.
Joseph LeBeau’s story isn’t really sad, I think. He was loved and is still remembered by me and probably by his family and a few other kids. A lot has changed for the better since the 1940’s and 50’s when he made his toys. People have learned to see and to value naive artists and the things—buildings, signs, manufactured stuff—we see every day. And people have also learned to value kids’ art. I remember when I was an architecture student about 1963 going into a public elementary school in Cambridge and asking for kids drawings and paintings. Teachers were surprised by my interest and many didn’t save the art—and neither did the kids. That wouldn’t happen today.

I’ll bet Joseph be happy that kids are enjoying you’re work.
I think he would!

Visit John at www.basglas.com.