Hi GOEX family –

I cannot believe it’s November.  A year ago I was forming new year’s resolutions while celebrating another year of new customers and strong jobs.  The GOEX team was preparing for growth, expanding our sustainable fabrics and wrapping up our B Corp Certification – we were running full steam ahead!  We had no idea what the next few months would bring…

If you’ve been following along this year, you know we had to close our factory in Haiti in March in the midst of escalating gang violence.  Then in July our fabric supplier in South Carolina closed their doors.  What was supposed to be a year of rapid growth and excitement became a year of adapting, finding solutions and new sources, raising money to continue paying our team in Haiti and thanking our clients for their patience and grace as we navigated the year.

So, as we near the end of 2024, I am again looking toward a new year while still navigating the challenges of this one.  While the factories we’re working with in the Dominican Republic and the US are shipping garments, they’re not yet up to the speed of our team in Haiti.  And our new fabric supplier is shipping but it’s been a slow process getting all of our colors approved and different yarns sourced and finished correctly.  And yet, you, our customers, are hanging in there with us, adapting and figuring it out alongside us.  We could not be more grateful or hopeful in this moment.

In the spirit of thankfulness this season brings, I want to take this opportunity to share some gratitude and then update you on where we go from here.

1. We are grateful for the generosity of our community as well as that of our board of directors.  Through your giving and the backing of The Global Orphan Project and GO Haiti, we have paid a monthly stipend to all of our employees since their last pay checks from the factory in April.  The messages of gratitude we continue to receive from them are life giving and reassure that we are doing the right thing in continuing to allow them to care for their families.  We are committed to continued pay – click here if you would like to give. 
2. We are grateful for customers old and new who have adjusted their preferences and timelines to support us.  We know this has actually caused lost revenue for many of you and your sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. 
3. We are grateful for the factories who jumped in to help us in this season.  Adding machines and operators even without a multiyear production commitment and doing everything they could to help us meet the moment has been our saving grace this year.  We are grateful for their continued support and production! 
4. As I write this, Ariane is touring a potential new location for our factory in a safer part of Port au Prince.  Being in a quiet area instead of an industrial park has been great for our team in times of peace but now it’s simply too risky.  We need to be in a location that is more secure and populated so our employees can get back to work which is what they want.  Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to support the move effort.

 I hope the next update I write shares that we have a reopening plan and timeline in Haiti and that fabric is flowing on time out of the Carolinas.  Please join us in both of those prayers! 

And, from our team in Haiti to you, thank you for your continued support – it is life giving!

Best,

Jessica