Mom, daughter spread positive word through apparel company.

By VIRGINIA BATTLES-RAFFA

Rhonda Lee and her daughter, Sarah, wanted to start a business together while at the same time making a positive impact on the estimated 200,000 homeless teens in the United States.

“Originally we thought we would recycle clothing and then redistribute them to kids on the street,” Rhonda Lee said.

This idea eventually led to Karma Threads, a positive messaging apparel company in Exeter, that launched in 2006.

Karma Threads is a for-profit company selling fashionable, form-fitting T-shirts (long- and short-sleeved, as well as thermal), eco-friendly tote bags, wraps, scarves and onesies for infants. The items have positive messages printed on them, such as “She is able who thinks she is able,” “Look good, do good” and “Love is my religion,” among others and are sold for between $25 to $50.

Those involved in the company work on a volunteer basis, and a portion of all proceeds is donated to Stand Up for Kids, an organization devoted to helping homeless teens. Some proceeds also are donated to the local New Outlook Teen Center in Exeter.

The company has continued to expand its reach and now partners with other charitable organizations. Home parties, called the Karma Giving Circle, have been a successful way to raise money for these partner charities. Karma Threads items are sold at the parties, and a percentage of the proceeds is donated to the charity chosen by the hostess.
Karma Threads has already thrown several parties across the country and have six scheduled over the next month.

Tracy Wing, a Stand Up for Kids supporter and recent party hostess, said working with Karma Threads has been rewarding.

“I love empowering women to create positive changes in the world while having fun,” Wing said.

Karma Threads recently received approval to co-brand with sororities and fraternities on university campuses. These organizations will have their Greek lettering printed on Karma Threads merchandise, allowing them to show support for their sorority or fraternity while also providing help to teens on the street.

This is only part of the Karma on Campus program that Lee has envisioned. She hopes to unveil a recycled clothing program in the near future as well.

“We are coming full circle,” Lee said, as the original idea was to recycle clothing to teens living on the street.
Lee said she would like to see Karma Threads organize on-campus clothing drives. Donated jeans, T-shirts and other items will be dry cleaned, stamped with an inspirational message and given out to teens in need.

Lee hopes that encouraging college students to recycle their own clothing in order to help homeless teens will raise awareness to the growing numbers of teens living in the street, as well as make the desire to help more personal.

“It’s been amazing to be involved with a company that gives back to my generation,” Sarah Lee said. “My mom has truly shown me that achieving a dream is possible.”

For more information, visit www.karmathreads.com.

Virginia Battles-Raffa is a freelance writer who lives in Holderness.