About Thalia Gibbs-Jackson, Fiber Artist

Our Philosophy

“Whatever you do may seem insignificant to you, but it is most important that you do it.”  Mahatma Gandhi

Mission

My mission is to create eco-sustainable fashion and to provide each customer the highest quality service and care possible by offering the following services that include repairing, repurposing, refashioning, restyling, and recycling fabric and garments.  I intend to accomplish this by using existing garments, organic and natural-fiber fabrics (cotton, wool, silk, hemp, bamboo) to create one-of-a kind garments and accessories that are environmentally friendly.  My goal is to assist clients in shopping with a conscience by saving the planet one garment at a time.

Why one garment at a time?

The fiber and fabrics industry reports that the average American throws out 68 pounds of clothing or fiber-related products each year that ends up in waste collection facilities or landfills.  Of the total amount of chemicals produced in the United States, ten percent of all agricultural chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) are used for the purpose of producing natural fibers that becomes the dress, coat, jacket, or shirt that one purchases from the local department store.  It takes 1/3 pound of these chemicals to grow enough cotton to produce one T-shirt.  Many of these chemicals are known carcinogens (toxic chemicals responsible for causing cancer and other deadly diseases) according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

If we are to save our home, Mother Earth, it is our duty as a socially and environmentally conscience business to do our part in reducing the amount of fabric waste that goes into landfills and encourage the production and consumption of organically produced fabric as well as to re-use, re-purpose, repair, re-style, or recycle existing garments.

About S. “Thalia” Gibbs-Jackson

Originally from a small South-Georgia town, I began making and designing clothing when I was 15 years old.  Growing up in a family of nine children, resources were tight, often  requiring me to learn how to use whatever materials were available such as fabric remnants or old clothes to make new items or cotton twine to make belts, vests (from macramé) or handbags.  After graduating from high school I worked on my first job in a clothing manufacturing facility where men’s slacks were produced.  I became convinced that mass production was not what I was interested in and went off to college where I studied art for two years.  After dropping out of school and moving to Miami to get married and have a family, I returned to school a few years later when I moved to Atlanta, Georgia and studied apparel and textile engineering technology at Southern Tech for four years.  Shortly before graduating, I discovered that the clothing manufacturing industry had left the United States rendering my studies obsolete unless I was willing to move to a Third World country.  Sometime later, I completed work on a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

During the time I studied engineering technology, I continued to sew and create my own wardrobe as well as to operate a small business out of my home where I created women’s professional and formal attire and bridal gowns.  Because of my demanding career as an engineer, I gradually phased out my home business to focus on my technical career.  Although I worked as a field engineer and technical writer for many years, my dream has always been to design and create one-of-a kind clothing that are well constructed and made from beautiful, yet interesting fabrics.

In 2005, I moved to New Mexico from Jacksonville, Florida where I changed careers and worked as a community organizer focusing on literacy.  I wanted to make a difference in the world and to give back to the community.  No matter the circumstances, I’ve always known that the world is an abundant place and we are called to be good stewards of the natural resources at our disposal.