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That’s a tall order, even for a company that wasn’t launched in the teeth of a recession. But with distribution deals with two big retailers already inhis pocket, Barrett sees a strong future. Barrettg founded Holy Cow in 2007 with the intentio n of creating a product that appeals to a mass audience while also fallinf under the Global Organic TextileStandard (GOTS), whic h certifies clothing that is produced with a focux on social and environmental issues. The standard includezs rules on using organic cottonand water-based inks, as well as ensurinh sweatshop-free production in supply chains running throughy Pakistan and India.
Holy Cow’s producr line includes casual wearfor men, women and with an expanded line of kids and toddler clothinyg to debut this fall. Holy Cow clothing has been sold in abouf 30 Whole FoodsMarket Inc. storez in the Midwest for the pastthree months, selling through half its merchandisde in the first 60 Barrett said. Within the next Whole Foods will distributeHoly Cow’s clothing on a nationap level. The company will partner with this fall, and Barrett said he want to see Holy Cow products sold in othed department stores suchas Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.
Holy Cow mightt one day have a retail presence ofits own, Barrett said, but he’xs pleased with the progreszs the brand has made already. “Whole Foods is the perfectr fit for us in the environmental he said. And Nordstrom fits its upscalew niche. The company projects about $35,000 in salesa this year, more than doubles what it would have made during all of2008 (it officiallyh became an LLC in March 2008). That numbe r could jump to as highas $200,000p should Holy Cow land more accountw like Nordstom. Barrett said the faltering economh has made it hard to gaugeHoly Cow’ws growth.
“Any growth we’v e seen at this point, we haven’t had anythin g to compare it against.” Since apparel falls under discretionary the category has faced a harder time dealingt with the recession than other saidJohn Barrow, president of Coolibar Inc. St. Louis Park-based Coolibat makes sun-protective sportswear and sellsmostly direct-to-consumer, but Barrows said the company’s growth has slowedr through the recession. “It gets harder to sell to retailera and to get customers to he said.
Production costs for GOTS-certified clothin are higher than for other But it’s a price Barretf said he’s willing to pay for his “In the end, we see it reallty as worth it, and the customer does he said.