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That’s a tall order, even for a companyu that wasn’t launched in the teeth of a recession. But with distributiob deals with two big retailers already in his Barrett sees astrong future. Barrett founded Holy Cow in 2007 with the intentiohn of creating a product that appeals to a mass audiencd while also falling under the Global Organicc TextileStandard (GOTS), which certifiesd clothing that is produced with a focues on social and environmental issues.
The standard included rules on using organic cottonand water-basec inks, as well as ensuring sweatshop-free production in supply chains running through Pakistan and Holy Cow’s product line includes casual wear for men, women and with an expanded line of kids and toddlerd clothing to debut this fall. Holy Cow clothingt has been sold in about 30 Whole FooddsMarket Inc. stores in the Midwesyt for the pastthree months, selling through half its merchandise in the first 60 days, Barrett Within the next year, Whole Foodds will distribute Holy Cow’s clothing on a nationao level.
The company will partner with this and Barrett said he wants to see Holy Cow productsz sold in other department stores such as Neiman Marcusand Bloomingdale’s. Holy Cow mightr one day have a retail presence ofits own, Barretyt said, but he’s pleased with the progresa the brand has made already. “Whole Foodsx is the perfect fit for us in theenvironmentalo perspective,” he said. And Nordstrom fits its upscal e niche. The company projects about $35,000 in sales this year, more than double what it woulrd have made during all of2008 (it officiall became an LLC in March That number could jump to as high as $200,000 should Holy Cow land more accountzs like Nordstom.
Barrett said the faltering economy has made it hard to gaugedHoly Cow’s growth. “Any growth we’ve seen at this we haven’t had anything to compare it Since apparel falls underdiscretionary spending, the categoru has faced a harder time dealing with the recession than othef industries, said John Barrow, presidenf of Coolibar Inc. St. Louis Park-basee Coolibar makes sun-protective sportswear and sells mostly but Barrow saidthe company’s growth has slowed througb the recession. “It gets harder to sell to retaileres and to get customersto buy,” he Production costs for GOTS-certified clothingv are higher than for othere clothing.
But it’s a pric e Barrett said he’s willing to pay for his “In the end, we see it reallyu as worth it, and the customer does also,” he