Saving Our Water

Go Fund Me Objective:   Financing our commitment to a "go green" pathway.  A textile  dyehouse can save 20% - 50% of its operational costs associated with water and effluent treatment  by reducing its water use.  Help us expand our environmental plan and  take the next “go green” steps benefitting our employees, our customers and ultimately, our communities.

A Huge Environmental Problem in Textiles: Water Consumption!    
"Color the Earth Beautiful and kill it with sweet poison!!" - This  2012 quote from Natural Science, a publication of the University Institute of Fashion Technology, Punjab University, Chandigarth, India begins to tell the story about dyeing yarn, a process touching everyone! 
http://file.scirp.org/pdf/NS20120100003_72866800.pdf

The Solution: A “Go Green” Pathway

The Facts: 
Average consumption of water in textile dyeing worldwide: 
- 61 lbs. of water for every  1 lb. of yarn dyed

With technology and a plan .....the  statistic changes to: 
- less than 7 lbs. of water for 1 lb. of yarn dyed. 

This represents a 1000 %  or 10x reduction in water consumption.

The Ask: 
Your participation at any level.  A core principle in our business practice is our belief that success in big projects such as the environment and improving our communities is  best done through a sharing of our common goals and in collaboration. 
 http://www.thepeoplewhoshare.com/blog/what-is-the-sharing-economy/      

Who is Maine Dye?  A 6 yr. old U.S. textile company

First and foremost, we are participants in a U.S. industry sector focusing  on the return (re-shoring) of textile mfg. to the U.S.  For the last several years our family and supporters have  invested personally in growing production from 5 tons a month to an average of 18-20 tons a month, buying new eco-friendly equipment and training a dye team now comprised of 20-26 part-time and full-time employees.  Our first services targeted small producers of natural fiber yarns and have now expanded to other small U.S. businesses using synthetic (manmade) yarns. We have come a long way in 6 years.

Types of Businesses we serve..........

- B2B businesses supplying the artisan and craft community with hand knitting yarns,
- Paternayan Yarns, a 100 year old line of wool supplying yarn for the Persian rug & repair market
- Mfgs. of life and safety rope,  protective technical yarns and team ropes.
- Small family farms

Customer: Mark Olshansky - an abstract textile artist using Paternayan Yarns - A Lonely Flower and A Hockey Stick.  

A handknitting yarn client:  A company dedicated to responsibly sourcing and producing U.S. artisan yarns.

What have we done in our “go green” effort to date: 
In 2013 we qualified as "organic" under the Global Organic Textiles Standards (GOTS). This means we use certified organic dyes in many of our dye programs. 

Organically dyed yarns for home textiles 

In 2016, as a USDA Rural Energy Project, we installed our first piece of equipment lowering our water consumption by 90% in approximately 60% of our production. 

The Bellini Silver Bullet -  Drops water consumption 10x from traditional dyeing for package (cone) dyed yarns. 

Why are we asking and why would you donate? 

Because starting a responsible U.S. manufacturing operation is expensive  and hard and  to move forward we need help.  Yet it is worth moving forward as this is a story about the environment, manufacturing, and a chance to use U.S. ingenuity and technology to  “get it right".   If we "get it right" - it will be about the success of  re-storing well-paying U.S. jobs in what was a "dead"textile  industry with an incredible history while protecting our shared environmental future. 

Yin - was a CPA in China, has been in this country for 9 years and last year became a U.S. citizen along with her husband, Evan.  Evan and Yin manage our  skeining operations. Dave - a Biddeford High School grad who is now our Floor Manager,  licensed boiler operator and  knows yarn counts and fibers better than a textile artist.

Regardless of why you would donate, we need YOU at whatever level you are able to participate in helping us build on what has been accomplished to date and grow the Dyehouse vision.....

Photo: Courtesy of I-Stock 

How Will We Spend Your Money? 
If you participate in our journey,  the Dyehouse commitment to you is as ollows:

First, we will track the donations and ensure GO FUND ME dollars are not spent on OWNER and management compensation.

Second and with the first contributions received, we are ready to immediately put your $$$$ to work  with our staff and the expertise we have lined up to make the next phase of changes.  A water recycling system by June is first, a new skein (hank) dyeing piece of equipment is next.

Third,  we will make you - our contributors - an on-going part of the Dyehouse story. We will  continue to use the power of social media to talk about our shared success and the impact of your participation. 

And finally,  just as a small way to say thank you ....for those of you who are committed and can do a little more
...... we will send each  contributor donating $100 or more two skeins of hand knitting yarns from our factory collection, Black Fly Yarns.  The yarns, dyed on site,  are random natural fibers and weights with beautiful  color.


Use of Proceeds