The Sam-I-Am "Time Ticker": A Lesson in Stewardship

Unless Someone Like You Cares a Whole Awful Lot: The Lorax, Sam-I-Am, and the Art of the Second Chance

Today, March 2nd, we celebrate Dr. Seuss Day—a day that honors more than just whimsical rhymes and colorful characters. At Talking Fashion, we are diving deep into the environmental heart of Seuss’s legacy, specifically the call to action found in The Lorax: the responsibility to protect our resources and value what we already have.

The Archival Artifact: The 1997 Sam-I-Am Watch

In our Archive, we currently feature a rare piece of 1990s functional art: the Official Dr. Seuss "Tick Tocking Time Tickers" Sam-I-Am Watch.

• The Craftsmanship: This 1997 licensed piece features a high-quality Japan Quartz movement and a durable stainless steel mesh band.

• The Detail: The case back is intricately engraved with the Cat in the Hat and a quote from Green Eggs and Ham, a reminder of the intentionality put into character accessories of this era.

• The Second Chance: By preserving this battery-operated timepiece, we are practicing the "Lorax way"—choosing to value and restore an existing object rather than contributing to the cycle of new waste.

Sustainability in the Studio

At Columbus Fashion Academy, our students learn that "how the world gets dressed" is a global responsibility. Using Sam-I-Am’s persistent spirit as inspiration, we teach our makers to look at a "discarded" item and ask: What else can this be?. Whether it’s replacing a watch battery or upcycling a vintage textile, every act of restoration is an investment in a more sustainable society.

Featured Archival Piece:

• The Item: Vintage 1997 Dr. Seuss Sam-I-Am Mesh Watch

• The Impact: 100% of the proceeds from this watch go directly toward funding our youth empowerment and fashion education programs.

The Art of the Second Chance: From Archive to Academy

At Talking Fashion, we turn waste into wonder to fuel artistic freedom and community agency. Our curated Archive is more than a collection of vintage treasures; it is an ecosystem of sustainable advocacy where every purchase supports a vision of intentionality.

The Outcome of Your Impact: Every sale directly funds Columbus Fashion Academy, empowering the next generation of creative leaders through sustainable fashion education. By teaching youth the technical skills of mending, upcycling, and design, we foster life skills like creative problem-solving and self-assurance that enrich our local economy. We believe that learning the "superpower" of self-expression early in life has a tremendous return on investment—not just for the individual, but for our society.

Invest in Our Youth: Those who wish to support our mission may donate online or by check, mailed to The Columbus Foundation at 1234 E. Broad St, Columbus, OH 43205. Please designate your gift to The Fashion Community in support of Columbus Fashion Academy. Your contributions ensure the human right of artistic freedom remains accessible in our community.