Kula Cloth, Teresa Baker of the In Solidarity Project – Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge and Artist Latasha Dunston of Jitterbug Art Studio unveiled their product collaboration to raise money for nonprofits improving access to the outdoors for people of color. Kula Cloth will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sales of the limited-edition In Solidarity Pee Cloth to Girl Ventures, Get Out Stay Out/Vamos Afuera, Camp Founder Girls, Native Women’s Wilderness. The donation will total more than $10,000. Plus, Dunston will donate her commission on the project to Black Lives Matter DC.
A year in the making, the collaboration between the three parties began in July 2019 with the goal of creating partnership and community among outdoor brands participating in the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge founded by Baker.
Baker said, “In Solidarity means to me that we come together, no matter how we define ourselves, to help push forward an agenda of diversity and inclusion, throughout society, that we commit to working with one another, to make this a reality. As this nation struggles with how we move forward, it is clear that we must change course, we must find ways to work together or history will repeat itself. Let us commit to moving forward In Solidarity, we will not get it all right, but let us commit to trying harder,
let us be exhausted, let us be weary, let us be determined, and may we all rise victorious in the process.”
Soon after, Dunston set to work creating a number of sketches that symbolized the ideals of diversity and solidarity. But it was a raised fist in multiple shades surrounded by foliage and the words “In Solidarity” that resonated with the group.
“When I was creating this artwork, I was feeling a real need for community. Though all of our individual pain and suffering may differ, we are all on this planet together and need to work together to protect it and ourselves,” said Dunston. “I wanted to represent multiple skin tones within the solidarity fist showcasing unity. I also wanted to show a variety of foliage from around the country because like plants we are diverse, beautiful, necessary elements.”
Since the death of George Floyd and the uprising against racism that has spread across the nation, the collaborators all felt a need to announce the project now.
“Simultaneously we all reached out to each other and decided, ‘THE TIME IS NOW,’” said Allison. “The imagery and message are powerful and impactful. They need to be shared now. The time for solidarity is not a distant point in the future, it’s right now in this moment.”
Dunston added, “I hope that people see themselves in this design and feel the need of urgency to stand up for what is right. I hope that we can really make a difference by investing in these organizations that are doing the groundwork of changing the narrative of what it means to be a minority who exists in the outdoors.”
The trio chose the non-profit organizations based on their missions to help underrepresented communities discover and enjoy the outdoors. A portion of the sales will support Baker’s In Solidarity Project – CEO Diversity Pledge, which pairs leading outdoor brands in one-on-one relationships with inclusion advocates to advance representation for people of color across the industry. Latasha Dunston generously chose to redirect her commission from the product sales to Black Lives Matters DC.
Allison said, “There is nothing more important to me than amplifying the voices of Latasha and Teresa and sharing their message. With our first run of Kulas and stickers, we will likely be able to raise more than $10,000. We are hoping to extend the fundraiser to a second run, with the overall goal to raise at least $20,000.”
The remaining proceeds will be split equally and donated to the following organizations:
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Girl Ventures inspires girls to lead through outdoor adventure, inner discovery, and collective action.
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Get Out Stay Out/Vamos Afuera invites Indigenous Migrant youth to run, play, and discover themselves in the natural environment.
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Camp Founder Girls hosts the first-ever summer overnight camp for black girls and provides an immersive week-long overnight camp centered on bravery, confidence, creativity, and strength.
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Native Women’s Wilderness inspires and raises the voices of Native Women in the outdoor realm, encourages a healthy lifestyle grounded in the wilderness, educates Natives and non-Natives on the rich beauty and heritage of the Ancestral Lands.
The limited-edition In Solidarity Pee Cloth and In Solidarity stickers are available for preorder today and delivered in August. The Kula Cloth® is the first-of-its-kind reusable antimicrobial pee cloth created for anyone who squats when they pee in a wilderness setting and beyond. It was inspired by the ethical standard of Leave No Trace and invented by Anastasia Allison, founder of Kula Cloth. The company aims to promote stewardship through leading by example and serve as a vehicle for good in the world to support organizations, artists and individuals that are making a difference in the outdoor space.
Allison added, “My hope is that this fundraiser will not only immediately support organizations that are doing the work to make the outdoors more diverse and inclusive, but that this small piece of gear will become a conversation piece on trails and on backpacks around the world.”
Kula Cloth invites other companies and individuals to join the cause and match their donation to these organizations. Additionally, individuals are welcome to donate to these nonprofits by visiting their respective websites.
ABOUT KULA CLOTH
Kula ClothTM was born during a trip to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington State. Founder Anastasia Allison was enjoying a spectacular sunset over Robin Lakes when she walked around a larch tree to discover a giant pile of toilet paper. Upon returning home, Allison researched Leave No Trace options for toilet paper in the wilderness and discovered the concept of a pee cloth. She used her experience as a women’s backpacking instructor for nearly 10 years to design, develop and produce an intentional pee cloth. The company aims to promote stewardship through leading by example and serve as a vehicle for good in the world to support organizations, artists and individuals that are making a difference in the outdoor space. kulacloth.com
ABOUT IN SOLIDARITY PROJECT – Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge
In Solidarity Project – Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge works to build a better, stronger, more diverse outdoor industry. They work closely with industry partners to sign The Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge and to facilitate and lead DEI-focused consulting projects, training workshops, and speaking engagements. They focus on enhancing representation across staff and executive teams, media and marketing, and athletes/ambassadors. By building a relationship of support, empathy and understanding, versus external skepticism and internal stress, they are moving the outdoor industry towards authentic inclusion. Insolidarityproject.com
ABOUT LATASHA DUNSTON, JITTERBUG ART STUDIO
Latasha Dunston is a Denver-based illustrator and painter creating primarily with watercolor, ink and digital
programs. She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in
Scientific and Medical Illustration. When she’s not in her studio, she’s cooking, tending her plants, hiking or
camping. Her love for the outdoors is a vital part of her identity, which she uses to show that the outdoors is for
