The History of Cotton-Part 2

There is a sad part of the history of cotton that cannot be ignored. During a 72 year period, the market need for cotton fueled the inhumane trade of slaves. Human beings were killed, maimed, tortured and denied their rights in order to ensure that cotton demands were met. 

A quote from a cotton picking slave that is heart-wrenching and that reminds us the extents of human cruelty is that of Mary Reynolds, "It was work hard, git beatins and half fed ... . The times I hated most was pickin' cotton when the frost was on the bolls. My hands git sore and crack open and bleed." Excerpt from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938.

Cotton in all it's glory is not exempt of human pain. We hold close the memory of all who suffered, and hope that this is a lesson that history will truly teach all of us, market demand for a product is never reason to cause so much suffering.

Pamoja Japan

Today at 2PM the Japanese Embassy in Kenya will be holding a memorial service in remembrance of all who suffered from the 2011 tragedy. It is also a call for solidarity and togetherness for those still suffering from the implications of this crisis.

As people that empathise with humanity and as global citizens we too are in solidarity with Japan, in this time of great need.

Sometimes as we struggle to make it through difficult times, hearing the wisdom of those who have struggled, questioned and dreamed before us can make the journey easier.

We hope that these quotes will uplift any and all facing trying times.

"Tough times never last, but tough people do." - Robert Schuller

"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." - Edmund Hillary

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

A History of Cotton- Part 1

Cotton was first cultivated in the Old World 7,000 years ago (5th–4th millennia BC), by the inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization, which covered a huge swath of the northwestern part of the South Asia, comprising today parts of eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. The Indus cotton industry was well developed and some methods used in cotton spinning and fabrication continued to be used until the modern industrialization of India.

In Peru, cultivation of the indigenous cotton species Gossypium barbadense was the backbone of the development of coastal cultures, such as the Norte Chico, Moche and Nazca. Cotton was grown upriver, made into nets and traded with fishing villages along the coast for large supplies of fish. The Spanish who came to Mexico and Peru in the early 16th century found the people growing cotton and wearing clothing made of it.

During the late medieval period, cotton became known as an imported fiber in northern Europe, without any knowledge of how it was derived, other than that it was a plant; noting its similarities to wool, people in the region could only imagine that cotton must be produced by plant-borne sheep. John Mandeville, writing in 1350, stated as fact the now-preposterous belief: "There grew there [India] a wonderful tree which bore tiny lambs on the endes of its branches. These branches were so pliable that they bent down to allow the lambs to feed when they are hungry." This aspect is retained in the name for cotton in many European languages, such as German Baumwolle, which translates as "tree wool" (Baum means "tree"; Wolle means "wool"). By the end of the 16th century, cotton was cultivated throughout the warmer regions in Asia and the Americas.

Keep it here for part two :)


Source: Wikipedia

Great links for Start-Ups

A lot of people have great ideas on their start-ups and a strong vision and mission as well. However, sometimes we all need different perspectives and ideas on conducting our biasharas and pushing our business forward.


We decided to share some of our favourite links that entrepreneurial minded people can benefit from.


Entrepreneur


This website contains information from the A-Z of not only running a business, but it also has business ideas that can expand yours, or that you can use to start your own thing. The site also has a blog and a Q & A section that allows for greater interactivity. You are also able to benefit from their cloud platform and take advantage of accounting software for example.


Succeed As Your Own Boss


Here, forward thinking small business owners, solopreneurs and people in business can find resources to succeed as their own boss. Whether you are looking to become self-employed or are a small business owner with five years or less in business, or you just need to hear from a person who has been there and done that, this is the place to be.


Harvard Business Review


A compilation of some of the greatest business minds in the world, this allows you a global perspective on business, innovation, strategy, marketing, management and leadership. It is a business classic with analysis and views that are incomparable. 


Strategy + Business


An award-winning management magazine, published in print and on the Web for decision makers in businesses and organizations around the world. Whose purpose is to illuminate the complex choices that leaders face — in strategy, marketing, operations, human capital, public presence, governance, and other domains — and the impact of their decisions. As of 2010, they are one of the few business magazines with an expanding circulation, and one reason may be their pragmatic but far-ranging focus, helping companies navigate the transition into the emerging global economy.


We'd love it if you shared any other great links too! Enjoy!!!

The Psychology of Colour

Our reaction to color is instantaneous, color is a meaningful constant for sighted people and it's a powerful psychological tool. By using color psychology, you can send a positive or negative message, encourage sales, calm a crowd, or make an athlete pump iron harder.


Today we look at three colors of interest, 3 being a magical number and all of that :)


Blue 

The overwhelming "favorite color." Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed. The color of sky and the ocean, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives.

As the collective color of the spirit, it invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming; however not all blues are serene and sedate. Electric or brilliant blues become dynamic and dramatic, an engaging color that expresses exhilaration.

Gray

Gray is most associated with the practical, timeless, middle-of-the-road, solid things in life. Too much gray leads to feeling mostly nothing; but a bit of gray will add that rock solid feeling. 

Some shades of gray are associated with old age, death, taxes, depression or a lost sense of direction. 

Silver is an off-shoot of gray and often associated with giving a helping hand, strong character (sterling in-fact!).

Orange

There is usually strong positive or negative association to orange and a true orange color generally elicits a stronger "love it" or "hate it" response than any other color.




For more on color psychology go here.

Fluid's Inspiration Room

This week we're all about inspiration. On realizing at Fluid Towers that it's the third month of the year, we felt that little extra nudge towards your goals may be just what's needed to cap off the year on a high. We got together some inspirational quotes to keep you going strong. Enjoy!!




“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”
- Will Rogers

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
- Dr Wayne Dyer

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
- Thomas A Edison

“You have to ‘Be’ before you can ‘Do’ and ‘Do’ before you can ‘Have’.
- Zig Ziglar

A toast to all She-roes

Every day is truly special in life, every moment, every single second is a chance for one to do better in the now. To appreciate all that is with them and that has carried them forward at that moment. Now, is always a powerful place to be.

Right now it's International Women's Day, a day where the celebration of women's accomplishments and an appreciation of their struggles is recognised. However, what of tomorrow?

Consistency and sustainability of ideals is always crucial to ensure a better tomorrow. The core message of this day, this NOW should not be forgotten or ignored.We need to as Mia Hamm put it, "... celebrate what we've accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time we succeed."

When I think of this day I am also reminded of a quote from Women who run with wolves by Clarrisa Pinkola Estes, it goes:

"A woman must be willing to burn hot, burn with passion, burn with words, with ideas, with desire for whatever it is that she truly loves. One will arrange that one's creative life has consistent fire under it."

 

 

Appreciation of self as all good psychiatrists will tell you is a vital part of well-being. We as women need to recognize our accomplishments, and love with passion all that is good for us. We should collectively strive for a better future tomorrow, by always remembering that at this moment we have the ability and capability to affect our now.

 

 

 

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.
-- James Allen

 

Twit-A-Tee

Fluid Fans rock baby!

We love to celebrate our fans and that’s the idea behind our new t-shirt design, homage to all who have supported us and who deserve recognition wherever they go.

So to all Twitterati, we say THANK YOU!!!!

And we have a question, have you ever had to go to a Twitter-meet-up and gotten really tired of introducing your handle then your name? Or have you an urge to wear your handle proudly at certain key events because you know that certain followers are essential to your brand?

Drum roll please!

Fluid Towers brings to you the iconic, representation of yourself, the Twit-A-Tee!

Because you are truly worth it to us and because we have truly appreciated your support and taken it to heart.

You are able to make orders online or via sms or call and we shall ensure that your TwitATee is delivered. Succumb to Style that is truly you, much love from Fluid Towers!

Embrace.Celebrate.Unite

T-Shirt Buying Tips

A T-Shirt is one of the most fashionable pieces of clothing you can own. But with so many options available, it becomes tough for a buyer, which ones to choose out of the large offerings available. 

The following tips while buying a T-shirt may help the buyers a great deal:

The Fiber Used:

The T-shirts are made of using varying ratios of cotton and polyester. The fabric can be either 100% cotton or can carry a range of polyester-blends. The T-shirts comprising a blend of cotton and synthetic fibers too are very common. The polyester and other synthetic fibers have a wrinkle-free feature and get dried quickly too. But the pure cotton shirts are definitely more comfortable.

Fabric Knitting:

The fabric which is closely and tightly knitted, should be preferred. They are more resistant to the changes brought after laundering. The closely knitted fabrics have “round and tiny loops” that prevent the T shirt from going shapeless even after many washes.

Sleeve Cut:

The cut of the sleeves are much important as they determine the shape a lot. The armhole shouldn't be twisted, otherwise they may hamper the ease of wearing a T-shirt.

Body Cut:

The “grain” is a determining factor while looking for a rightly cut and shaped T-shirt. If the seams are in accordance with the “grains” of the fabric, the T-shirt may keep its shape smooth and untwisted for a longer period.

The Shrinkage Factor of the Fabric:

The blended T-shirts are less prone to shrinkage. Any T-shirt which shrinks more than 2-3% of its actual size shouldn't be bought. The salesman should be consulted for the type of finishes and blend used in the fabric. Even the guarantee slips can have the complete information in this regard.

The Stitching:

The stitching of the T-shirts should be flat, smooth and most especially unbroken. Also the hems shouldn't be overtly exposed.

Elasticized Neckband:

The elasticized neckband returns to its shape nicely after passing through the head. Most of the times, a nylon mixed neckband should be preferred.

The coloring:

Make sure, the color used for your T-shirt is not toxic and made of body-friendly materials. The chemically laden color may not suit your skin. The labels on the T-shirts clearly describe the quality of the color used.

Try the Size then Buy:

Last but not least. Always try the T-shirts in the trial rooms before you buy . In case buying a pure cotton shirt, a larger size must be bought so it can withstand shrinkage post-washes.

Now, it is much clear how scientific a simple task like buying of a T-shirt can be. Undoubtedly, the above discussed tips will motivate a buyer to think of the various aspects carefully while buying a T-shirt. Interstingly, these tips are not gender specific and are equally helpful whether it's a mens T shirt, or a womens T shirt.

Source: www.fashionproducts.com