Stacy Wolfenden, Tum Tum Tree Designs
by VANESSA RICHMOND
Stacy Wolfenden spends a lot of time answering the question: “Can I smoke it?” It’s to be expected, considering she designs, sews, and markets a children’s clothing line called Tum Tum Tree Designs—all made from hemp.
The answer is no, and Wolfenden isn’t thrown by the question. She sees it as an opening to talk about sustainability, the clothing industry, and ways to have a positive impact on future generations.
That’s why she chose to launch Tum Tum Tree a couple of years ago. There were many designers working with cotton, but none with hemp. She knew the fabric is four times stronger than cotton (making it kid survivable), and that the yields are higher than traditional fabric.
At the time, Wolfenden was working as an interior designer, a job, she says, “which doesn’t even pay enough to afford day care.” She sought a job that was meaningful, positive, and allowed her to spend more time with her kids.
So she set about making clothes that she tested on her own kids (aged four and five). “My daughter loves them. My son is tougher to please, but I’m working on it.” Her clothes are now selling in both “brick-and-mortar” retail and online stores.
The fabric isn’t available in all the colours she wants, but Wolfenden plans to import larger batches and dye it. It’s more work, and more expense, but in the end, she thinks it’s all worth it. “I just didn’t want to contribute to the instability of the world. This is one way to make a difference.”
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