Around the World in 40 Hours

What a month this has been... first: work, work, work in Sri Lanka! Production coordination + meetings with our nonprofit partner + explaining the importance of durable gold foil printing for 2 weeks...

Below, with Upali at the screenprinter:



How do you say, "IT MUST WITHSTAND 1,000 WASHES" in Sinhala? They never taught me!


I see devil heads in my sleep...

On this trip, I was also fortunate enough to bring Mr. C. Stephen Hurst, School House Photographer Extraordinaire, with me! He took a few thousand gorgeous images which you'll see on SH's forthcoming full website launch on April 8th - amazing stuff. There will also be a selection on display at the School House Trunk Show Event @ Duke, Saturday, April 18th at 10:15 a.m. (more on that soon!)

Here's another from Stephen's photothon in Sri Lanka... if you've never met me in person, don't be fooled. I'm not actually 8 feet tall and overweight, I just look like I am when standing next to Sri Lankan women. I forgive you, Bati!



I also finally met the Singaporean owner of our factory and spent one very interesting evening throwing back sake and singing "Sweet Home Alabama" with he and his Taiwanese business friends. Yes, my job is the best. :)

I have to stay mum about my post-SL activities for the moment. Let's just say we took another trip to the northeast, had more wonderful meetings with buyers, and are working our tails off to take School House national!


Your Devoted T-Shirt Saleswoman,
Rachel

A Big Day

I arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday and visited the factory with the one and only, Mr. Upali Weerakoon, for the first time on Friday. A year after meeting him and after so many challenges standing in the way of our dream of opening Sri Lanka's first living wage factory, I can only describe it as an out-of-body experience. When we arrived, the employees at JK Apparel Lanka (Private) Limited, our factory partner, were lined up on the street to greet us. I received a garland of flowers and we raised the School House, JK, and South Asia (our fabric mill) flags in honor of the occasion.

Driving down to Pugoda with Upali...


Raising the flag...


With Kumar Kuberan, Director of JK Apparel...


With Kumar and Keerthi "Eagle Eye" Silva, School House's Quality Assurance Manager...


I feel comfortable calling it the most amazing day of my life so far. I am so fortunate and School House is so fortunate to have JK on our team. And of course, none of it would be possible without Upali. To think of myself a year ago, and where we are today, just blows my mind... I have seen a dream realized already that some people spend their lifetimes trying to achieve. I know that I have dozens of people in my life, from my parents and sister to Upali and Colleen, to thank for it.

One of my favorite Sinhala phrases is also one of the most commonly used expressions... prounced roughly like "mama gee-heen enn-nahn." It means "I will go and come back" and is a way of saying goodbye. Every time I come and go to Sri Lanka I think of it and what it means, what it implies... it makes goodbyes so much better to tie them in with the thought of returning. I'm never leaving Sri Lanka, just going and coming back whenever I have the chance.

xo

Rachel