When drinking tea...drink tea
This is one of my favourite zen sayings and a personal value I cherish in my everyday life. When I worked in corporate, I prided my ability to multitask and get many things done in a short amount of time. But with juggling work and family, I was in a constant mindless rush.
Several years ago, I joined the Fashion Revolution and Who Made My Clothes Movement. The campaign sought to raise awareness of the clothing industry’s unsafe and unethical working conditions, and unfair distribution of profits. Part of its goal was to educate consumers and increase awareness.
It highlighted the impact that fast fashion was having on the environment – such as the farming practices causing degradation of land, textile dying causing chemical pollution, synthetic fibres causing ocean pollution and the incredible amount of clothes that ended up in the landfill sites every day.
So I challenged myself not to buy any clothes for a year. This meant that I had to make do with what I already owned and if I wanted something new I had to sew it myself; thus making sure I chose only sustainable fabrics and created it of the highest quality so that it lasted. And this was the beginnings of my slow movement journey. (Its been several years, and I continue to sew my own clothes)
Little by little other parts of my life also slowed down. I started to live more consciously. The products I placed on my skin, the detergents I used in my home and the food I consumed came under the spotlight and this too changed and I (and my family) became healthier and well balanced. Living simply transformed my life into something beautiful, I started to live deliberately, purposefully and with higher intentions.
I created Anahata Friends for other conscious families that also make ethical and earth-loving choices in their everyday life. Those that also want to make a difference one step at a time. This is a slow business – I do not try to keep up with global trends or market for dates that I believe cause mass production, overconsumption and unnecessary buying. I believe in buying less, and only things that are made of a high quality and is timeless in its aesthetics. And with this in mind, I created each doll in harmony with nature and of the highest quality. All of my designs aim for a classic and timeless aesthetic.
So, when I drink tea, I drink tea – its symbolic and a constant reminder of staying in the present moment and maintaining my integrity.
Slowing down and focusing on one thing at a time allows me to be in the moment and create with greater quality, attention to detail and a peaceful heart. It is my dearest hope that you feel the energy of love when you hold an Anahata Friend. And that you feel assured that it was created with these high intentions.
With love