Kevin Ristow and Deneen Winchester-Ristow noticed a need for organic, fair trade / fair labor apparel, so the husband-and-wife team launched thINK Conscious Apparel, a division of their business called Ink Designs.
"I saw a business opportunity that has allowed me to apply my graphic arts background and my passion for design towards helping a sustainable cause," says Ristow. "The business has allowed me to fulfill my commitment to both art and the environment."
Ink Designs / thINK Conscious Apparel encourages the use of fair trade/fair labor, organic cotton that's made in the U.S.A. -- such as the California-based American Apparel -- as well as union-made apparel. They specialize in sourcing products from other like-mined sustainable businesses.
"The garment industry has been notorious for using sweatshop labor. I have found a handful of companies that are paying their employees an honest living wage," says Ristow, 35.
Ink Designs attempts to use soy and citrus-based cleaners and water-based adhesives. Plus, the company filters all of its wastewater.
"We are committed to reducing waste, recycling and creating an environmental awareness," he says. "All garments are thoughtfully selected from sustainable resources and are individually hand printed using earth-friendly practices."
Their new collection of screen-printed apparel debuted this past weekend at Gnoap Gallery, 241 N. Broadway, in conjunction with Gallery Night, and is currently available at Oniomania, 6430 W. National Ave., and J. Bird Boutique, 415 E. Menomonee St. Soon, it will be available via their Web site, too.
"The purpose of thINK is to promote awareness of social and environmental issues through a thought provoking line of art-focused, original, ethical and fashion-aware apparel with designs focusing on nature, peace and the environment," says Ristow.
Ristow and Winchester-Ristow live and work in Cudahy. Ristow graduated with an art degree in 1996 from Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). He worked in the advertising industry as a graphic designer for almost 12 years at various advertising agencies, and completed his screen-printing training at Vastex International based in Allentown, Pa.
"We are proud of our hard working Wisconsin heritage and we're happy to be a contributing small business to our local community."
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
