I-GO to Pivot

While working at I-GO Car Sharing I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of our members- and let me tell you, we've got some interesting, involved and inspiring members! So, I have decided to interview a different I-GO member each month and post what I learn here, for all to enjoy.

Last week I interviewed I-GO member Jessa Brinkmeyer. Jessa started, runs and owns Pivot, Chicago's 1st boutique devoted to eco-fashion. Last week we chatted by phone about her life at Pivot and how I-GO Car Sharing helps her get everything done.

When I asked Jessa why she opened Pivot and what she wanted to accomplish through the eco-boutique, she spoke of her desire to show people that they can have more conscious wardrobes without sacrificing fashion, style, personal taste or comfort.

Before opening Pivot, Jessa worked as a journalist at a small magazine in Chicago. She was primarily responsible for covering the fashion industry and soon became fascinated with the fast-growing, eco-friendly segment of the industry. Jessa wanted not only to wear the eco-friendly fabrics and support the sustainable designers herself, but also to spread the word. She was disappointed when she was unable to find anything like this in Chicago. After visiting eco-boutiques in New York City, Jessa realized that the best way to promote her passion was not through her writing but by opening the first ever eco-boutique in Chicago.

These days it seems like everyone is "going green" and it can be hard to tell who not only talks the talk but also walks the walk. Pivot definitely walks the green walk! All of the designers use sustainable and organic materials and low impact, eco-friendly dyes. All of Pivot's fixtures were designed and built by local artist, Joshua Height, out of recycled materials. Indoor air quality at Pivot is improved by using zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint and they also use CFL lightbulbs. In an effort to give back to the Chicago community, Pivot donates 1% of its profits to Growing Home, a local organization that provides job training and employment opportunities within the context of a non-profit organic agriculture business.

Jessa's environmental awareness was also what led her to car sharing in Chicago. She specifically likes I-GO Car Sharing because we're a non-profit and use only hybrids and low-emission vehicles. Jessa uses I-GO to take her recycling to a sorting center and to take old light bulbs and batteries to a hazardous waste center. She also uses I-GO for grocery trips and for checking out urban farm sites and events for Growing Home. Jessa sees I-GO as a great way to get things done a little more efficiently without having the burden of car ownership or contributing to the greenhouse gas problem.

To learn more about Pivot, check out their website, or swing by the store. Pivot is located at 1101 W Fulton Market.