Impact
Goin’ Green | Stayin’ Green
Sustainability is a growing trend in our everyday lives. This is great news for humanity and for the planet. Over the last decade, we have all made great strides to protect the world we inhabit and have become more aware that our actions have a huge impact. From rethinking how we shop to exploring alternative fuels, the human race is on an eco friendly roll. Going green can be challenging, though. Changing habits requires time, planning, education, and resources. In a world where instant results and cutting corners are the social norm, knowing who’s actually walking the green path can be tricky. Enter greenwashing. What is “greenwashing”? Greenwashing is a term used to describe a form of marketing in which green values and green marketing are fraudulently used to persuade consumers that an organization’s products, aims and policies are environmentally conscious. It’s downright deceptive. It is the responsibility of an organization to foster an honest, healthy relationship with the consumer. By participating in greenwashing, an organization is acknowledging the values of consumers but takes no action towards embracing those values. Types of greenwashing: Environmental Imagery – This is when an organization uses images such as leaves, animals, recycle icons, etc. on their packaging with little or no insight to the why or how. Irrelevant/Exaggerated Claims and Misleading Labels – This is when an organization uses phrasing like “100% natural” or “contains no chemicals” when in reality these claims are self-created and self-declared. These products might not contain certain chemicals or manufactured a certain way because those chemicals or practices might actually be illegal making the claim immaterial. One of the biggest offenders is “Made from Recycled Materials” – many brands market products this way regardless of how small the percentage of recycled content. Hidden Trade Offs – This is where an organization claims that they’re being environmentally conscious but they are doing so by exploitative means. A company may be using 100% recycled products but are they recycling those products through sustainable means? How can organizations get away with this? The truth of the matter is that monitoring truth and transparency in advertising is still an evolving matter. There are many groups worldwide that are beginning to encourage critical analysis of advertising practices. In the meantime, it’s up to us to keep our eyes open to what really is and what is just a superficial selling point. How to identify truly sustainable products? Look beyond the label – really dig into how a product is made, what it’s made of, and at what cost. Look for proof of green practices – can 3rd party nonprofits or advocacy groups (like the Fair Trade Federation) vouch for their efforts? Is the company completely transparent about how they conduct business? Do they answer your questions in a timely, direct manner? Educate yourself – Know what sustainability means and know your values. Does the organization you’re supporting support your values and ethics? How GOEX walks the walk Being a sustainable enterprise is not something that you can scratch off of your to-do list. It’s a continued, conscious effort that requires constant introspection and full transparency. In 2020, we introduced buttons, labels, drawcords, twill tape and packaging made from recycled plastic. We also introduced a line of garments created from remnant fabric diverting waste from landfills – our ladies rib tee, rib tank and rib cardigan are all created from scrap fabric! In 2021, we added zippers to the assortment of components using recycled plastics. We will also continue to expand our assortment of garments made of eco-triblend fabric diverting even more plastic from landfills. We are also reusing boxes that originate in Haiti – be sure to look for a sticker indicating your box is on its second journey! We are proud to walk the walk and encourage you to hold us accountable. Our continued efforts to do good is what differentiates us from most apparel companies. Over the past decade, our core story has remained the same – we exist to create and sustain fair wage jobs that empower employees to care for their families and to make the planet a healthier place for the next generation. In short? Feel good. Do good. Follow the story We strive to be bold with our words and represent the ideals we believe. If you like what we stand for, we want to share more! Stay in the loop by signing up to receive our newsletters and following us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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GOEX Honors Our Working Moms
Mother’s Day is a time to honor mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers for their contribution to family and community. Working mom’s attribute to nearly 40% of participants in the global labor force (Catalyst.org). Working mom’s face incredible challenges while contributing to the success of their work and home life. In fact nearly 70% of full time working women do all or most of the caregiving in their home. (Forbes) The statstics prove that mom's keep the world turning. (We knew that before the reports but you get the idea.) There’s no doubt about it - mom’s are champions and we at GOEX want to take the opportunity to give our working mothers the spotlight. Meet some of the working mom’s of GOEX/LIFE: Life S.A., Haiti Perpetua St. Clair, Finance & HR Specialist at LIFE "Being a mother made me a better professional, because coming home every night to my daughter reminded me of what I was working for. I want her to know something that I feel is important. LIFE/GOEX gives me that opportunity to teach her that a woman has the power to positively influence those around her and bring her piece to contribute to a better world. I love work, I love her, and I love what I’m doing at LIFE/GOEX. And being a professional made me a better mother, because I’m pursuing my dreams. I modeled my actions to raise her with love, respect, and dignity." Ariane Manuel, General Manager at LIFE "Being a working mother is a challenging yet powerful feeling. As much as I would love to spend every minute with my daughter, working at LIFE/GOEX gives me a sense of purpose. I wish to lead by example in everything I do, and will do in the future. I hope to raise an independent young lady with honesty and integrity, kindness, gratitude, and respect." GOEX, Kansas City Meghann Wheelock, Product Manager at GOEX “I didn’t think that working in the fashion industry and being the type of mom I wanted to be was achievable prior to working at GOEX, but the commitment to helping families includes employees and I am so grateful. I hope to teach my daughters to value and love people.” Jessica Ray, Executive Director “Working in a place that exists to support and empower families is an incredible gift when you’re a working mom. We still have high standards and expectations but we also have a lot of flexibility and grace because of the value placed on family. When I came to GOEX (almost 8 years ago), my husband and I had just begun our foster care journey and it quickly became evident that at least one of us would need a job that was supportive of the needs of the kids in our home. During my tenure, I’ve parented a dozen kids and my co-workers have been incredibly supportive. I’m now mom to a seven year old girl who keeps me on my toes! She loves coming to work with me, saying hi to everyone and even helping in the print shop. I work really hard to live out the GOEX fair trade values outside of work. Because of that, my daughter reminds her friends to pick up trash and recycle correctly. She’s totally fine with second hand clothes and we’re working on intentional purchasing instead of a constant need for things. She saves her money and has to think through what she wants to buy. We spend as much time as possible outdoors valuing experiences and time together over stuff. Above all, we work to teach her kindness to all of those around her. We are a people first company and I want to instill that value for others into the next generation!” “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Rocks The World.” - William Ross Wallace Motherhood is sacred. Through mother’s we learn, grow, and gain support. As individuals, we can honor our mother’s by providing the same safe and nurturing environment they have given us. As organizations and companies, we can prioritize the success of our working mother’s by creating better conditions for their success. By cultivating this and more we create a better world. This Mother’s Day, join us in celebrating their contributions, persistence, and incredible care. Follow The Story We strive to be bold with our words and represent the ideals we believe. If you like what we stand for, we want to share more! Stay in the loop by signing up to receive our newsletters and following us on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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Become a GOEX Guardian
Content creators! Influencers! Do gooders! Ethical consumerism advocates! Lend us your ears! After nearly a year of preparation and testing, GOEX is thrilled to fully launch the GOEX Guardian Program, the GOEX Guardian program is our ambassador program that seeks to further our goals of job creation and sustainability. What is a GOEX Guardian? A GOEX Guardian is a brand ambassador who’s passion lies within people, planet, and the Fair Trade movement. This person knows the power of purchase and strives to change the world through. The goal of the GOEX Guardians program is to increase GOEX awareness and integrity while cultivating a community of ethically conscious consumers. A GOEX Guardian sees this opportunity as more than a goal - it’s a mission. The Mission: Feel good. Do good. You have literally changed lives with your purchase. Your continued support and voice is valuable to us. Your mission should you choose to accept it is to: tell everybody! If you love wearing GOEX as much as we love being GOEX, be vocal about it! Help us create jobs and make the planet a healthier place to live by telling your friends and neighbors about us. The Benefits: It feels good to help the planet and help keep families together by liberating them from poverty. It feels great to tell your friends about the good you do too. We want to reward you for your efforts. By helping us spread awareness about GOEX, we want to offer you a slice of the pie. How do you become a GOEX Guardian? Apply:Feel good. Do good. You have literally changed lives with your purchase. Your continued support and voice is valuable to us. Your mission should you choose to accept it is to: tell everybody! If you love wearing GOEX as much as we love being GOEX, be vocal about it! Help us create jobs and make the planet a healthier place to live by telling your friends and neighbors about us. You can apply to be a GOEX Guardian HERE. Share: Once your application has been approved, you’ll be given a unique URL. Use this URL on your blog, website, social channels, e-newsletters, wherever your communities can click! Earn: Earn commission on each verified purchase and make an impact! Commission is paid electronically through PayPal on a monthly basis. You can view our terms and conditions and privacy policy HERE. For more information you can email us cs@goex.org
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It's Fair Trade Month
October is Fair Trade Month which means it’s time to take a moment to think about what we’re buying, where it comes from and how it can affect the world around us. Read on to learn how when you purchase a GOEX tee, you are choosing a better shirt for a better world. Over two billion t-shirts are sold around the world each year. Whether it be for a sporting team, event or just for fun, we buy new t-shirts all the time, often without considering how they’re affecting the environment. After water usage, pesticide treatments and thousands of miles of travel, the apparel industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters. This is exactly the problem that companies like GOEX seek to solve. We are proud to be an ethical company and a member of the Fair Trade Federation. In addition to creating fair wage jobs, providing safe working conditions and helping to break the orphan cycle, our clothing has many environmental benefits as well. Saves Sea Life In the production of typical apparel, many fabrics will be transported thousands of miles by ship, leaving oil residue in the ocean. This toxic oil kills sea life and leaves many entire habitats ruined. Because our fabrics are sourced right here in the US, shipped only 1,200 miles to Haiti to be sewn into shirts and shipped back to the U.S. for sale, we greatly reduce the amount of pollution in our production process. Made from Recycled Material Not only are our fabrics made from U.S. grown cotton, but our triblends also contain recycled polyester. Each eco-triblend tee contains the equivalent of five recycled water bottles. Tags, buttons, zippers and drawcords are all made from recycled plastics as well. Every time you wear one of our t-shirts, you can feel good about it! Reduces Future Waste With the growing trend of fast fashion, clothing is cheaply made and quickly ripped or thrown away. In fact, over fifteen million tons of used textiles are thrown away each year. GOEX shirts, however, are made from better high-quality fabrics, making them last much longer. Plus, because they’re t-shirts, they never go out of style! By producing well-made, long-lasting clothing, we seek to minimize apparel waste. Each of these things are important to GOEX and part of the reason we choose to make our clothing ethically. Each of our two billion annual t-shirt purchases have an effect on the environment and people around the world, so let’s make it a positive one! Shop tees made with you in mind. We’d love to get you started with a better basic tee today! Choose from our many styles, colors, and fits to make the perfect garment for your next group event — something you can feel proud to wear. Browse our Digital Catalog today!
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Kansas City, you're invited!
GOEX Apparel to celebrate Kansas City and becoming human again. Join GOEX Apparel as we celebrate our Grand Re-Opening. GOEX Apparel opened its brick-and-mortar store in the midst of uncertainty and one year later we’re still going strong. We cordially invite you to our grand re-opening to celebrate how far we’ve come and to learn more about us. We’ll be hosting a formal ribbon cutting ceremony courtesy of The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, a live screenprint demonstration with a signature custom design that you can take home, raffles, and so much more. It’s also Missouri No Tax Weekend so stock up on our Fair Trade, sustainably made tees just in time for back to school. When: Friday, August 6th 3:30pm Where: GOEX Apparel 3161 Wyandotte St, KCMO 64111 Facebook Event Link: https://fb.me/e/FE9p5kKf Follow the story We strive to be bold with our words and represent the ideals we believe. If you like what we stand for, we want to share more! Stay in the loop by signing up to receive our newsletters and following us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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Strong Ethical Voices
We take pride in bringing you the latest insight into the worlds of sustainability and ethical fashion. There are so many outspoken, vibrant voices out there that truly resonate with us. Social media is a wonderful platform to learn, grow, and offer support. Here’s a few of our favorite voices to follow: Ms Paula Presents Ms Paula is a NYC mom of two with a deep commitment to fostering sustainable fashion encompassing vintage and thrift practices. She uses her channels to add voice to the pursuit of a transformation towards conscious consumption in fashion. She hopes to inspire more people to consider sustainable fashion choices and a sustainable lifestyle by providing accessible information. Her journey began with home products and has since evolved into a desire to seek, learn, and share. Subscribe to her blog and follow her on Instagram for style tips, inspiration, and knowledge. Links: Website| Instagram Manpreet Kaur Kalra Manpreet Kaur Kalra (she/her) is a social impact advisor, anti-racism educator, brand marketer, and activist working to decolonize ethical storytelling. She navigates the intersection of impact communication and sustainable global development. She collaborates with businesses to address inclusion in all aspects, from business development to marketing strategy. Her activism focuses on the interconnectivity of economic, social, and climate justice. She educates using a variety of mediums, including the Art of Citizenry Podcast, where she shares her nuanced and unfiltered insights on building a more just and equitable future. Her work unpacks history and addresses systemic power structures. She is a founding member of the Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Fair Trade Federation and sits on the board of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition. Links: Website| Podcast | Instagram| Twitter Eco-Stylist Garik Himebaugh is the founder of Eco-Stylist, the go-to marketplace for stylish and sustainable clothes. He got hooked on sustainable fashion after a chance meeting with the founder of an ethical brand, which then led him down a path of countless hours of research into how un-sustainable the fashion industry is. Garik emerged from all this research with a simple question: “can I put together stylish outfits with only sustainable brands?” Once he knew that he could, he wanted to help others dress like they give a damn—and Eco-Stylist (@yourecostylist) was born! Along this journey, Garik partnered with non-profit Remake to utilize their sustainable brand criteria to power Eco-Stylist’s brand research. He is excited to leverage this criteria in order to start conversations around what “sustainable” means, and as a vehicle to move brands towards greater and greater transparency. “I wear my values by supporting brands that are creating the future I want to live in: a world where all people are respected as if they were family, and all of the planet is regarded as if it were in our own backyard. At Eco-Stylist we help you do the same.” Links: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Personal Styling The Honest Consumer Meet Emily - an anxious creative advocating for fair fashion, social impact, mental health awareness, & conscious living. The Honest Consumer shares the stories of social enterprises, advocates for fair fashion, spreads the word about ethically made products, and empowers consumers. In response to the blog's growth, Emily launched Give A Damn Goods in 2018. Give a Damn Goods focuses on affordable goods that make a difference, while encouraging consumers to shop their values. Stay up to date on ethical fashion & conscious consumerism tips & tricks be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media. Links: Website | Instagram The world of ethical, sustainable fashion is predicted to experience exponential growth through 2030. This is due to awareness and a desire for meaningful connections in our everyday lives. Manpreet, Emily, Paula, and Garik have worked tirelessly to influence the world towards a healthier world and we can’t thank them enough for their work. Who are some of your favorite ethical voices to follow? Follow the story We strive to be bold with our words and represent the ideals we believe. If you like what we stand for, we want to share more! Stay in the loop by signing up to receive our newsletters and following us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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Build Back Fairer
World Fair Trade Day is an inclusive worldwide celebration of fair trade’s contribution to the fight against poverty, exploitation and climate change. This year, it takes place on May 13. Fair Trade matters in this moment more than ever. Why? Fair Trade companies do everything they can to keep paying makers around the world whose governments don’t have safety nets in place to provide for them. The world is ailing due to inequality and environmental degradation. The pandemic has shown us that we can work together to flatten the contagion curves, support each other through hardships, and celebrate victories. We can channel that same energy to bring about transformations in our economies and trading practices for a fair and sustainable future. Fair Trade companies focus on making the world a better place every day. Today, we celebrate these four specific focus areas: PROTECT Fair Trade means a lot of things, to a lot of different people. But if we get down to the nitty gritty, it means “better”. Better standards, better treatment, better pay, better conditions, just better. Member’s of the Fair Trade Federation seek to do “better” as they follow principle #6: Support Safe and Empowering Working Conditions. We are committed to protecting livelihoods and ensuring every maker can meet their basic needs. When you make the commitment to ensure that your workplace has an empowering environment you are doing more than running a business. You are nurturing a place of growth, sustainability, and progress. Those who work hard should always have the means to lift themselves up. RESTART In order to ensure that true advancement occurs, we must diversify the decision making panels. Our workers and customers contribute directly to our success. It’s not the numbers on a graph or projections in a report. It’s about making connections and doing the right thing. We don’t spend money on PR ads telling you how good we are. Instead we invite you to see for yourself. When you visit either facility, you’re encouraged to talk with employees and get a better understanding of how we support the people who make your clothes. Transparency is only one of the ways we seek to do better in everything we do. RESOURCE We are doing our part to uphold the pillars of Fair Trade including “Cultivate Environmental Stewardship”. For us, this means not only using recycled components or fabrics but also joining in conversations about environmental justice and equality. Environmental equity describes a society in which no single group or community faces disadvantages in dealing with environmental hazards, disasters, or pollution. It involves fair treatment from a region's authority and meaningful involvement with its constituents. It includes ethical practices that amplify better from seed to stitch REDESIGN Comfortable, sustainable apparel is wonderful and our mission is even better. The fact remains true: we’re a nonprofit organization. After costs to sustainably produce premium eco-friendly apparel and provide livable wage jobs, all GOEX profit — every bit of it — goes to fund projects set in motion by The Global Orphan Project. The Global Orphan Project exists to break the orphan cycle and one of the biggest contributors to the orphan cycle is poverty. That’s where we come in! We exist to create and sustain fair wage jobs that empower employees to care for their families. On average, one of our workers earning a fair wage supports six family members. GOEX exists to improve the lives of the workers and the communities we touch and one way we’re making good on that promise by providing fair wages to our workers in Kansas City and Haiti. Our profits go directly back to people. Our practices profit the planet. The need for commerce to invest in people over profits has never been more clear. The World Fair Trade Organization says, “We cannot simply go back to the old normal. The old normal left millions behind and was destroying our planet. We have now/today the opportunity to reboot our economies so it is equitable and sustainable.” Learn more about their #BuildBackFairer vision. We exist to do good so the world can feel good. Thank you for choosing to care for others and our world through the power of your purchase. We are committed to every person who plays a role in producing your t-shirts, committed to the children and families who benefit from 100% of profit, and committed to providing you with complete transparency and a product you’re proud to wear. Follow the story. We strive to be bold with our words and represent the ideals we believe. If you like what we stand for, we want to share more! Stay in the loop by signing up to receive our newsletters and following us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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Happy International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality. As members of the Fair Trade Federation, GOEX advocates for women’s rights, equality, and gender justice. We celebrate women who create opportunities, overcome barriers, support communities, and set an example. “The day serves as a reminder both of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go in creating true equality, especially in the developing world. It also reminds me of what employment really means to women around the world who work for GOEX as well as other fair trade or ethical brands. A job means freedom and opportunity – the work we do to support families, especially single moms, is critical,” says GOEX Executive Director, Jessica Ray. Today, the women of GOEX are celebrating by reflecting on what it means to woman up and advocate for equality in the 21st century. For Product Manager Meghann Wheelock, the message of International Women’s Day is, “Recognition and celebration of the unique challenges women face in our day to day lives and the incredible things we have and can accomplish.” This celebration is also actively being passed on to the next generation. She plans to celebrate, “By reading my daughter’s favorite book “ABC What Can She Be” with her. It’s got some really great representation and inspiration for the future!” Market Advocate, Amber Solomon, believes that International Women’s Day is a day of inspiration and an encouraging reminder to keep going. “For me, completely dedicating a day to the trials and triumphs of women is a great reason to reflect AND to get inspired! It feels wonderful to think we’ve come this far and I am ready to empower those around me to go even further. There’s no limit to what we can achieve.” International Women’s Day is about togetherness. It’s about feeling good and doing good. Here are ways you can celebrate with us: Reflect on women’s equality and achievements Fundraise for a local female focused nonprofit Watch films directed by women Call your mother/sister/aunt/friend Say thank you Follow the story. We strive to be bold with our words and represent the ideals we believe. If you like what we stand for, we want to share more! Stay in the loop by signing up to receive our newsletters and following us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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10 Things to Know About The Screenprinting Process
Glasses on, pencils out. It’s time for a little screenprinting 101. Here are ten quick, digestible facts that will make you that much closer to being a screenprinting expert. Or maybe they will just help you on Jeopardy someday. Screenprinting is the most common type of garment printing. Modern day techniques were born from ancient Chinese silk-screening techniques. Now, giant automatic presses can do the work that’s been done manually for centuries. Although, plenty of people still print on manual presses. Screenprinting is called screen printing because it literally pushes ink through screens. If you have a multi-color print job, each color requires a separate screen. This is why there’s a limit to the number of colors and why the cost increases with each color. Not all garments print the same. Different inks or techniques are better on different fabrics. Talk with your printer about how best to print on a certain garment. GOEX tees are fabricated to be great quality and to provide great prints! Different looks can be achieved based on how the art is created or with the specific mesh of the screen used to print the graphic or with the type of ink. All of these elements factor into the overall look and feel of the print. There are different types of inks. Plastisol ink lasts in gel form forever, limiting waste. Water-based inks dry out quickly so they have to be opened/mixed right before the shirts go on press so printers have to know how much ink they’ll need in order to avoid waste. After the ink has been transferred onto the shirt, the shirt must be “cured” — a fancy way to say the shirt needs to dry. Our conveyor belt oven is about 40 feet long and it takes shirts around a minute and a half to get from one end to the other. Did you know screenprinting can be a recyclable process? Screens can be reclaimed, meaning that the emulsion, ink, and design stencil are removed, using a power sprayer and diluting solution. Then, the screens can be prepped again for a new design. Screenprinting is an art, not a science. Printers learn the best combination of art, ink type, screen type, squeegee pressure, etc. to achieve an optimal print quality and look. Try your hand at it. We have an open door policy! Swing by our Kansas City office anytime. We may even let you take a spin on the hand press — see if you have the squeegee-skills to push the ink onto a tee. YInterested in pursuing printmaking as a hobby or a fun new side hustle? You can also watch this short video from our friends at Ryonet on how to print tees in your own home. OR check out this article by Maria Jose Meneses on setting up a home printmaking studio!
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