98% of clothes we buy made overseas: Eric Henry at TEDx ElonUniversity

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Eric Henry, president of TS Designs (TSD) in Burlington, NC, is one-half of the dynamic duo that owns TSD. Alongside his business partner and TSD CEO, Tom Sineath, Eric has been in the screen printing and apparel business for over 30 years. Eric's duties at TSD range from sales to R&D to marketing. Outside of TS Designs, Eric devotes much of his time to furthering the sustainable agenda in various community organizations. He founded the Burlington Biodiesel Co-op in 2001 and has run his car on biodiesel (or straight vegetable oil) that now has travelled over 250k miles. Along with Charlie Sydnor and Sam Moore, Eric founded Company Shops Market, a co-op grocery in downtown Burlington that reconnects local agriculture to Alamance County. His most recent start-up is the Burlington Beer Works Co-op. Eric also serves on the Burlington Downtown Corporation board, which works to create an environment for development that enhances Downtown Burlington as the cultural, historic, social and economic center of the community. He also serves on the board of NC GreenPower, an organization that purchases and resells renewable energy, and Green America. Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented in the mid 90s we have seen a massive shift to overseas apparel production resulting in destroyed communities, bankrupt businesses and ten of thousands of unemployed people. Time to balance the scales.