You Did it & Oh How We Love You!

Many, many thanks, hugs and eco-friendly kisses to all of you who took the time to vote, spread the word, and just plain encourage us during the long journey toward our ultimate goal: our founder Melissa Baswell (yep, that's her, rockin' out to the left) winning the Intuit Small Business United Grant! Now don't get TOO excited... We didn't win the big one ($25,000). We did, however, win one of the four "first place" grants. That's right. And a $10,000 business grant plus $2,500 in Intuit products and services is not too shabby for a small, green fashion company. We couldn't have done it without you! Check our fabulous press release below, ya know, just in case you have a favorite magazine or blog who might want to write about about a lil' ole' sustainable fashion label from Chicago. And speaking of Chicago, we're the only Chi-town business, and the only green business, in the top five winners. We're pretty excited to be able to represent things that we really love and that help shape our business in so many ways, like our eco-fabulous city and the wonderful world of sustainable style.

Remember kids, although this amazing grant given to us by the kind, generous folks at Intuit will really, really help us out in these crazy times, we still need your help to stay alive. Please continue to tell your friends about us, blog about us, and when you're in the mood for some sassy eco-fashion, shop with us! In fact, we're gonna give you 30% off your next orders on our website to thank you. Just enter WA30 in the coupon code box at check-out.

xoxo,
The Ladies of Mountains of the Moon


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Mountains of the Moon Eco-Fashion
PO Box 25192
Chicago, IL 60625
877.875.0689
melissa@mountainsofthemoon.com
http://www.mountainsofthemoon.com


Intuit Announces Mountains of the Moon Eco-Fashion as Small Business United Grant Competition Winner

Eco-Fashion Designer Melissa Baswell Proves Sustainable Fashion a Promising Business Idea: Wins $10,000 Grant to Grow Business

CHICAGO, IL – Jun. 04, 2009 – Chicago-based fashion designer Melissa Baswell’s passion for fashion (and the environment) began at the age of five, when she discovered her two favorite hobbies: sewing, and exploring nature. In high school, she was the president of her high school’s Ecology Preservation Club, and wore her own handmade clothing created from natural fabrics. While a student at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Baswell divided her free time between interning with an environmental nonprofit and designing clothing for her friends. Well before the green movement became popular, she was using sustainable materials in an effort to create fashion-forward clothing that would break the stereotype of eco-fashion being defined as bland and boring.

Eventually, Baswell formed Mountains of the Moon Eco.Fashion, a sustainable clothing label aimed at creating chic clothing that helps, not hurts, the earth. Called a “pioneer of the eco-fashion movement” by Fashion, Evolved, Baswell and her designs have been showcased at the Museum of Sustainable Style and the EcoModa Sustainable Fashion Showcase. Last fall, a dress designed by Baswell from recycled candy wrappers was exhibited at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art.

Baswell is an active member of several eco-friendly fashion communities, and is heavily involved in the green community, as a member of Green America, an exhibitor at Green Festivals nationwide, and as a key speaker at Green Apple Music and Arts Festival. Baswell will co-producing and emceeing the Think Tank Green Fashion Show at Rothbury Music Festival in July.


Baswell's story was one of the nearly 2,000 submitted for the Small Business United Grant Competition. She was among 50 finalists who each received a $5,000 grant and were invited to create videos telling their personal business stories. Judges selected the winners based on quality, creativity and public ratings.

One of five winners nationwide who will each receive a business grant, plus $2,500 in Intuit products and services to support their growing businesses, Baswell’s company, Mountains of the Moon, is the only green business to win.

“The Small Business United Grant Competition brought the small business community together to share stories, give and receive advice, and inspire each other,” said Kiran Patel, executive vice president and general manager of Intuit’s small business group. Melissa Baswell says she is thrilled to represent sustainable fashion through her award. “In a time of economic uncertainty, winning this grant will allow our company to really grow. I hope that my story of overcoming adversity will inspire other green business and eco-fashion labels to continue to work hard toward achieving success through creating positive change.”

The competition is part of Intuit’s Small Business United initiative, launched earlier this year to give America’s 27 million small businesses a boost. More than 1 million people have visited the Small Business United Web site to seek advice from their peers and to take advantage of the campaign’s other offerings, which include free Intuit products, services and resources.

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Mountains of the Moon Eco-Fashion (www.mountainsofthemoon.com) is a Chicago-based sustainable clothing line featuring eco-friendly contemporary and designer clothing for the eco-conscious and fashion-conscious consumer. Mountains of the Moon’s line is produced locally using only sustainable materials, and can be found at select boutiques worldwide.