Christy Baskauskas apologizes for being a little too "woo-woo". As Baskauskas proves, it's great for business. As Baskauskas proves, it's great for business. And so we went out to "Woo Woo" and made offerings to the land and talked about saying "thank you" to Mother Earth.

These new-agey practices have helped Baskauskas take Christy Dawn, the apparel line she runs with her husband, Alas (whom she describes as "someone who has an idea and can finish it the next day.") When it debuted in 2013, it was primarily dead stock fabrics and made the breezy dresses Baskauskas dreamed of. Gradually, they shifted their main source of fabric to high-quality, low-impact organic cotton. After learning how those deadstock fabrics came about and how organic cotton is a toxic process that "isn't hurting the earth but isn't helping it," she decided to take her fabric sourcing a step further, into what Baskauskas calls "farm-to-closet" territory. She decided to take the plunge.

In 2019, Aras began conversations to forge deeper connections with the supply chain, which led her to meet Nishanth Chopra, founder of the Oshadi Collective, a renewable farm and fiber production community based in Erode, India. The Oshadi Collective works not only with farmers, but also with spinners, weavers, vegetable dyers, and block printers to use the cotton after harvest. Like traditional regenerative farming methods used in food agriculture, Christy Dawn's designated farm started with dry soil (which is the result of repeated excessive cultivation and application of toxic fertilizers). Her efforts to create healthier soil on this land not only resulted in beautiful, high-quality cotton, but also sequestered 66 tons of carbon from the atmosphere. Each dress produced by Christy Dawn using this method is equivalent to 22 pounds of carbon. The first three capsules are scheduled to fall by midsummer based on the lunar calendar: the first capsule will fall at the new moon on May 11, the next at the full moon on June 24, and the new moon on July 9. This timing also coincides with the July opening of Christy Dawn's first physical store in Venice, California. Ultimately, the company aims to completely convert its entire business to regenerative cotton. [Baskauskas' feeling about regenerative agriculture may be more scientific or data-driven than anything else, as there is still much debate about the long-term results and impacts. We have to rely on Mother Nature." We want to maintain our relationship with Mother Nature and what we can do for and with her," Baskauskas says. 'Even on the spiritual plane, through giving and doing it with sincerity, we receive more than we ever dreamed possible.' We made an offering to the land and said thank you for growing this cotton for our community."

The Baskauskases expected to harvest 2,000 yards of cotton, but in the end they exceeded their expectations by another 1,000 yards. Call it divine intervention or environmental karma, but something worked, and worked well. The concept of regenerative agriculture is simple. Be kind and gentle to the soil, and the soil will take care of itself. Christy Dorn's success has certainly given the brand bragging rights in this area, but Baskauskas instead makes it clear that he honors his passion for the process and does not claim it. Says she, "We don't want to be the ones who own this, and in fact, we are not the ones who own it." What we practice is ancient indigenous wisdom." Indeed, she takes it positively and aims to share the company's learnings with anyone who will listen. We're not the only ones doing this," she says. We say, 'This is our roadmap. We want everyone to do it, join a farm or rent their own land, anywhere in the world. And we want people to understand that it is possible, maybe just a few extra steps. It requires investment, but the payoff is far greater than the risk."

Companies like Patagonia and luxury fashion group Kering have already embarked on this practice and are stepping up their support for farmers. The responsibility to understand the fickle nature of nature can be a heavy and expensive burden, unrelated to the convenience of fashion's modern supply chain model. It is much easier to order thousands of yards of organic cotton over the phone than it is to assume all the responsibility as a brand and remove that responsibility from the farmer." Right now, if there is an epidemic or a flood in India, the responsibility as a brand is on us because we invest in the farms and pay the farmers," Baskauskas explains. In theory, this is a risk worth taking. If the value of the garment is far superior to its aesthetic appeal and brand image, then it is something that will sway the customer.

Examining the cotton in this capsule for myself, there is something different. It is crisp to the touch, yet light and airy. But something different. Maybe I'm a little "woozy" with this fabric right now, but I can feel the energy of intention behind this garment. And I think Baskauskas is leading with that feeling, and that's part of what makes the science and the economic benefit. 'I hope that the consumer feels it when they're wearing the garment, or when they stumble across our Instagram or our site. That's our goal. Whether they buy the dress or not is not our concern, but we can drop a seed of hope into their hearts"