Blue Canoe

Blue Canoe & The Organic Cotton Story

Laurie Dunlap, founder and president of Blue Canoe, started manufacturing yoga apparel and bodywear in 1993. What started with a few sewing machines and the passion to follow her dreams, has now turned into one of the longest-running, successful organic cotton clothing companies around.

The breakthrough came in 1994, the year when she converted entirely to organically-grown cotton fabric. Dunlap said, “I moved to a building beside the Benbow Lake and, inspired by a handmade wooden blue canoe I noticed standing out among the familiar green fiberglass models, I named my company Blue Canoe.”

From the beginning, Blue Canoe has been known for their "un-granola" styles and fabrics. They were called "the pioneer of stylish organic clothing." Fourteen years later, the company maintains not only a commitment to organic cotton and manufacturing in the USA, but also to providing truly stylish, beautifully fitting and functional clothing.

Blue Canoe uses only hand-picked, certified Peruvian organic cotton. The company utilizes fiber reactive dye that works only on natural porous fiber and is absorbed rather than coating the fiber. According to Dunlap, it's the least toxic of dyes, takes less water, uses less energy, and produces less waste.

"It's definitely a conscious and deliberate choice, but one that's definitely worth it. We hear from our customers all the time, and they truly appreciate our commitment to the environment," said Dunlap. "People are concerned about the environment, and about the choices they make. We all want the same thing: a healthy and secure future for our children. People are looking for alternatives to chemical-ridden clothing and we're happy to provide a great alternative." ~ Laurie Dunlap, founder and president