Impact
GOEX is B Corp Certified
What does it really mean to be B Corp Certified? As a B Corp, we’re part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. B Corps represent individual businesses that believe we’re all in this quest to create a better world together – that change requires many of us working together. We are proud to be part of this community to work with other social enterprises and our larger community to continue to push for the use of commerce to create positive change for people and planet! B Corp Declaration of Interdependence We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good. This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation – The B Corporation – which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders. As B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, we believe that we must be the change we seek in the world and all business ought to be conducted as if people and place matter. Through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all. To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations. B Corps join together in this manifesto: Together, we transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. Together, we lead economic systems change that will realize our vision of an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Together, we create standards, policies, tools, and programs that shift the behavior, culture, and structure of capitalism. Together, we’re changing the rules of the game so that all businesses have to balance profit and purpose. Together, we’re building a movement of people using business as a force for good. Together, we won’t stop until all business is a force for good. Our social enterprise and transparent supply chain are also verified by the Fair Trade Federation and the Social Enterprise World Forum and certified by B Lab. We want our customers to feel completely confident in our products and our company – in our dedication to care for people and for responsible sourcing. Ready to open a Wholesale Account? Apply Today
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Another Update: What's Next For GOEX
Hi GOEX Family – First of all, THANK YOU for showing up for our team in amazing ways! With the match we announced, you all have given more than $27,000 to care for our families in Haiti as they endure unimaginable challenges. 100% of your generous gifts are going directly to our employees and their families. We sent the first allotment of money this week and employees are receiving bank transfers as we speak – truly life-giving funds! If you would like to contribute to this ongoing need, click here! So, an update… As of today, really nothing has changed. There is a council in place that is tasked with appointing an interim Prime Minister who is tasked with getting the country to a free and fair presidential election. But much has to happen between now and then. An international force is still possible but nothing is imminent and the general population in Port au Prince continues to suffer under gang violence and economic disintegration. Right now, in Port au Prince, no ships are coming to port with desperately needed supplies and no planes are flying in or out. Today American Airlines announced another delay to reinstated flights – from 4/17 to 5/5. Time will tell. Because of ongoing uncertainty, we have made the extremely difficult decision to shift production to the Dominican Republic for the summer with the goal of reopening in Haiti this fall. This decision was weighty but in order to remove pressure from the team in Haiti and give our partner in the DR the ability to coordinate production, we had to commit to a plan. The factory we’re using in the DR shares our values of fair wages and employee empowerment. When you look a GOEX garment over the coming months, whether sewn in Haiti, the USA or the Dominican Republic, you can be assured of the same USA fabrics, the same commitment to quality and the same commitment to caring for people through the dignity of work. If you want to learn more, we are excited to announce the first of a series of virtual Q&As with GOEX leadership! Join us Wed, April 30th at 2:30 pm central to ask questions and learn more! Click here to register and receive a link. And save the date for May 29th for our second virtual Q&A as we answer your questions about sustainable fabric sourcing! As always, we can only do this work because of your support. Thank you for caring! Best, Jessica Ray
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Haiti: A Message From the General Manager of Our Factory
It breaks my heart to have to write another devastating update on where we stand today. The recent months have been the most challenging I've ever faced, to say the least. I am somewhat at a loss for words, because the Haiti we call home is suffering more than ever. Our team made every last effort they could to make it to the factory every day under extreme struggles they are all facing. We are so sad to have to temporarily pull the plug until we can safely receive everyone through our doors. The sad part is, they would do anything to work and would come at all costs. Unfortunately, we had to think of their safety and the vulnerability of our facility. This week I had to leave my country and my home behind unwillingly. I feel blessed that I had this opportunity because most do not, but it doesn't change the fact that I am completely devastated. I choose to still be hopeful, because I know we can heal. I refuse to believe we cannot come back from this. In the meantime, my family and I are safe. Our employees are safe. This is all we can ask for for now, and hope for better days. I am confident that my next update to you all we will be in a better place. One day at a time ❤️*********************** If you would like to contribute to our efforts to provide necessities to our team that is still in Haiti while our factory is shut down you can do that through our parent non-profit organization The Global Orphan Project https://goproject.org/goex-donate/
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Haiti Update
Hi GOEX Family – I’ve waited 21 days to post an update on what’s happening in Haiti. Thank you to all of you who have reached out with kind words and prayers for the team. I was hopeful that I could share something different from the following… I know we’ve communicated in the past that gangs control most of Port au Prince. I know we’ve also shared that our team continues to work despite the danger because that work is life-giving for them and their families. However, Monday we made the hard decision to close our factory for the next 30 days and then reevaluate the situation. Why? Why now versus other times over the past two years? As many of you may have seen in the news, on Thursday, February 29th, the gangs that hold control over different parts of Port au Prince united their forces with the stated goal of forcing the resignation of the unelected Prime Minister. They attacked police stations, the airport, the port and many other businesses and institutions. The Prime Minister has agreed to resign as soon as a transitional government is in place but attempts to install that government have stagnated. This leaves the country in an incredibly unstable place as gang members continue to loot businesses and destroy property. The streets are simply not safe. The port and airport remain closed leaving us with no way to get goods in or out of the country. The good news is that we have a lot of stock in Kansas City and our print shop is running at full speed to fulfill your orders. We appreciate your patience as we navigate a few out-of-stock items. We do have fabric in the works in South Carolina and we’re sewing some styles in the United States to cover current programs. (We will be in communication with affected customers regarding those items as we will not be able to offer our standard discounts on items sewn domestically.) So, how can you help? Keep those orders coming! As I said, we have over 200,000 garments in Kansas City ready to print for you. Those sales continue to support Haiti! Give to GOEX via The Global Orphan Project, our non-profit parent organization. 100% of your donations over the next two weeks will go to support our team in Haiti. Primarily, these funds will allow the team to support their families while they cannot work. We need $300 per day to support the cutting team, sewing operators and support staff. And we need to cover four weeks! All donations to this fund are tax deductible. If you’re a praying person, please keep praying for Haiti. The people there need what literally feels like a miracle. They need safety and security and a new government that wants to govern for the good of the people and not for personal gain or power. They need to go to work and school without fear. This quote came from a fellow business in Haiti and we couldn’t agree more: "Now is not the time to give up hope. To the contrary, now is the time to work harder than ever to create change." Thank you again to all of you for your ongoing support of our mission to change lives through the dignity of work. We cannot do any of this without you and we are SO grateful. --Jessica Ray Executive Director, GOEX
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Creatively Counteracting Human Trafficking Through Job Creation
Creatively Counteracting Human Trafficking Through Job Creation About 12 years ago, I was introduced to the issue of global sex trafficking. We started working stateside to support women who have escaped sex trafficking and were working to rebuild their lives and create a better future for their children. We sold the beautiful paper bead jewelry they were creating and sent the funds back to help ensure that this happened. It made total sense to me all those years ago that survivors had to have a way to survive, and job creation had to be a part of the solution to counteract human trafficking. In 2021, Freedom Business Alliance released a startling statistic: 80% of those rescued from human trafficking are re-trafficked without dignified opportunities! WHOAH! We knew all along that job creation was powerful, but once the research showed us just how powerful it was, it reenergized us to keep going! Over the years, I have realized that, at best, job creation is also a significant way we can prevent human trafficking from entering someone's story! To date, we have partnered with over 156 organizations to ensure those rescued from or vulnerable to human trafficking have dignified opportunities. It has been such a glorious work to link arms with so many. The Issue Human Trafficking is a multi-billion dollar business that operates to flip a profit by trading and exploiting people. In reality, traffickers are scanning others for a vulnerability to exploit. New Creation has used the approach of monitoring the vulnerabilities that we can remove. When we don’t address the root cause of issues, we are allowing the doors to remain open and people to continue to be harmed. The work we do in our shop and through our subscription box, Do Good Mail, is anti-trafficking work in a beautiful and creative way. We are taking two powerful tools, fair wage opportunities and poverty alleviation, to push back on the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world. The Poverty Cycle Did you know that most often, poverty is intergenerational? “Roughly one-third of children who grow up poor in the United States will also experience poverty as adults.” (Source: Brookings) The issues that often are linked to poverty include limited access to education, difficulty navigating and connecting to resources, housing limitations, addiction, and other criminal activity, as well as child abuse and neglect. Our work, which started globally, quickly shifted to adding a local focus when I came face to face with human trafficking in my zip code. My hometown, with less than 4,000 people and three stop lights, seemed like an improbable place for it to exist. But the truth is human trafficking exists in towns and cities, big and small. This local case opened my eyes to what poverty, desperation, and addiction can lead to. The survivor’s trafficker wasn’t a stranger or a boyfriend; it was her very own mother. I didn’t know it then, but statistically, 50% of children trafficked in our country are trafficked by a family member. And in most of the familial cases I have seen, poverty and addiction were both glaring factors that led to trafficking entering their stories. Whether you are looking at domestic or global trafficking, poverty is often the common factor that sets it into motion. In 2017, we began working in Moldova, the tiniest and poorest nation in Europe. I had heard stats like one in every ten people fell victim to trafficking, and the biggest export out of the country was girls. I was shocked but also desperate to find a way to serve there. We were beyond fortunate to find a Moldovan-led organization that was doing critical work to remove vulnerabilities within their country. In one of our first meetings, they discussed the reality that the lack of opportunities for women was one of the common reasons trafficking was an epidemic there! Limited options and desperation can many times push people into accepting risky job offers that lead to human trafficking. They told us of girls being offered jobs as nannies, working in restaurants, and more. Each opportunity, in reality, resulted in them being sold for sex in countries around the world. Sadly, when limited choices are available, these job proposals often feel like their only option. By providing fair wage jobs to the women of Moldova we are helping alleviate the root vulnerability: the lack of opportunity, and ensuring they also have access to job training opportunities, life skills, and health care. Not only is that a life-changing opportunity for the survivor but also her children and the greater community. What we have seen is that communities are lifted when there are fair-paying, dignified opportunities available. When economic opportunities are present, it creates a more resilient environment where members become less likely to fall victim to human trafficking. When we invest in social enterprises that are integrated with skill-building initiatives, we are helping to support economic stability, which in turn reduces the risk of trafficking. Job Creation is Empowerment In my years of experience, I have been saddened to see how those in the anti-trafficking movement can be seen in a hero role. The truth is survivors of human trafficking are the actual heroes of their own story. When we can create space and opportunity for them to thrive with dignified opportunities, we ensure they are empowered and have agency. They use their creativity, skills, and more to create their future. The survivors and artisans we have served alongside are some of the most creative, resilient, and powerful people on the planet. Living wage job creation is a necessary piece to seeing survivors lead self-sustaining lives that they can be proud to have created. These job opportunities provide financial stability and security, allowing them to support themselves and, many times, their children. There is fundamental dignity and self-worth established when artisans are paid fairly for the skills they have and the contributions they make. They are more likely to feel seen, valued, and respected for the work they do, which can boost their overall self-confidence and motivation for the future. Our hope is it will also engage upward mobility with increased job skills that can create career advancements, future education, and personal development. Every Product Tells a Story In conclusion, I feel like I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the way that consumerism can either be the solution to or the fuel of the issue of human trafficking. When we began over a decade ago, I had minimal knowledge about fair trade and ethical manufacturing. Like most people, I purchased items with very little thought of who was behind the creation of the product and how that, in turn, affected the person involved. I now know that many of the items we consume are a significant contributor to human trafficking. Fair Trade promotes ethical practices, fair compensation, and safe working conditions. In contrast, the creation of many products involves exploitation, coercion, and forced labor, which is, by law, human trafficking. Fair trade and living wage job creation are such vital tools to educate others on how to consume consciously. We have always viewed our shop as a way to start conversations and bring others close to an issue that can feel paralyzing. By using ethical practices in creating items and marketing them, we are creating opportunities for everyday citizens to use their purchasing power for GOOD + ultimately join our mission to creatively counteract human trafficking! BIO Sabrina Dorman-Andrew Co-Founder + Executive Director Sabrina's passion for combating human trafficking quickly developed after volunteering stateside with an Ugandan-based nonprofit, + since then it has been her mission to learn about this issue on a local + global scale. In 2013, she + her husband founded New Creation VA, a nonprofit that creatively counteracts human trafficking with a local heart + global approach. To date, that organization has generated almost $5 million to combat trafficking. They have worked with over 10,000 students to raise awareness, as well as, training hundreds of community members on what trafficking is + how to recognize the signs. In 2022, Sabrina was named “Freedom Ambassador of the Year,” for her commitment to the mission of preventing human trafficking and championing the Prevention Project curriculum throughout Virginia. Armed with the belief that prevention education + job creation are powerful solutions to the problem, she has dedicated her life to developing concepts that will make an impact.
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Global Impact Beyond the Walls of Life SA
GOEX Apparel was founded in 2012 as one of several global family strengthening initiatives through The Global Orphan Project. At GOEX, our purpose is to sustain fair wage jobs that empower families. Our employees are able to care for their children through the dignity of work. Today we want to share more about the larger family strengthening initiative our work in Haiti is a part of – read on to learn more! At GO Project, we believe that every child belongs in a healthy, loving family. While it’s common for all families to experience both high and low times, environmental and societal factors beyond their control can create overwhelming challenges that threaten to break families apart. When this happens, we believe that the local community, not governments or other systems, should be equipped and empowered to respond with the vital skills, resources, and relationships that families need to stay together. GO Project chooses to partner with and equip local churches, which can be found in every single community and who share a divine mandate to serve the vulnerable. Church leaders possess firsthand knowledge of the needs in their community and have the ability to train and mobilize various members of their congregation to strengthen and empower families in times of crisis or instability. In recent years, we’ve worked with our ministry partners to address the complex issues that can lead to family breakdown by developing a peer-based education and training program called Strong Families. The program, which is owned and implemented by members of the local church and surrounding community, focuses on empowering parents to care for their kids across eight domains of child and family wellbeing. This includes food and nutrition, shelter and care, protection, health, psychosocial, education and skills training, spirituality, and financial literacy. Thousands of families in the rural villages of Africa and Haiti have completed the Strong Families Program and are now sharing what they’ve learned and encouraging others to participate. Soon, the program will be implemented by our partners in India and Lebanon so that the children and families they serve can be equipped to stay together and thrive. And they, in turn, can invest in other families in their communities when they find themselves in times of crisis. At GOEX, we believe that every community has value can possess the skills and knowledge needed to uplift families and children. We believe that education, investment and equipping are the solutions needed to break the orphan cycle, not charity. Stay tuned to our blog for more stories about families and communities who have benefited from our Strong Families curriculum!
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Fashion Revolution Week 2023
10 years ago the Rana Plaza factory collapsed in Bangladesh, killing at least 1132 people and injuring over 2000 others. This served as a wakeup call to the working conditions of those who make our clothes and an international movement, Fashion Revolution Week, was born out of this tragedy. People all over the world ask questions like, "Who made my clothes?", "Who Made My Jewelry?", "Who Made My Shoes?", etc. At GOEX we are committed to transparency and fair wages.As Fashion Revolution Week approaches April 22-29 you’ll see many ethical, transparent brands posting and sharing pictures of the amazing craftsmen and women who produce your garments, shoes and accessories. Typically we would be right there with them – we believe in the power of this movement and link arms with others who are pushing for fair wages and ethical practices in apparel manufacturing. However, above all this movement is about caring for makers and so this year you won’t see any of those photos. Realistically, pictures of our makers will be absent from your inboxes and feeds for the foreseeable future. Why? Back in September our General Manager in Haiti shared about the dangers there due to political instability and gang activity. Unfortunately, while the port is open and goods are flowing for the most part, the danger has not decreased. In fact it’s continued to escalate. If our employees are associated with us as an American company, it could potentially make them targets and we absolutely do not want that! We are taking every precaution we can think of from the US to prioritize their safety. So why do we continue to produce in Haiti in this climate? It’s because the need for jobs is more real than ever as the unemployment rate rises and the currency continues to devalue. As you may recall from the letter we shared in September, coming to work “is a risk that our employees are willing to take at any cost, because "Le travail c'est la liberté." This is a saying in French that means, ‘Work is Freedom.’” As other employers pulled out of Haiti we doubled down on our trust of the team to make good decisions and in our desire to care for our team and their families through the dignity of work. We added a social worker to our team to invest in their emotional health and we continue to provide lunch each day. And so, when you next put on a GOEX tee, we hope you’ll think of the hands that touched it and take a minute to pray for their safety and for Haiti. The need has never been greater than it is today. As always, thank you to the entire GOEX family for your support!
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The Dominican Republic & Haiti: An Update From Jessica Ray
Hi GOEX family – I’m on my way back from visiting the factory we’re working with in the Dominican Republic and wanted to take a few minutes to update you on the trip! Before I dive into info on the factory, I want to share super fun news – the port in Haiti opened this week while I was on the other side of the island! The container of fabric we’ve had sitting at the port since August was delivered to Life around noon today, just hours after the container we sent to the Dominican Republic was delivered there! While we have no idea what will happen from here in Haiti but we are hopeful for a season of stability and this was a major step in that direction. We can now keep our team in Haiti working even while we do some catch up sewing in the DR. And with the fabric arriving at Life, we’ll be able to deliver the end of our new 2022 styles – remember Funfetti? We promise, it’s coming and it’s going to be FUN! So now to more information about the DR. The factory we’re working with is managed and partially owned by a couple with decades of experience in the industry. Their investment partner is a sportswear company in the USA. The atmosphere in the factory was very positive and upbeat. The employees enjoy one another, celebrate birthdays with singing and dancing and are decorating in preparation for the annual visit from Santa! We saw the evidence that there was no work for line 5, which will be sewing our garments! The work we’re providing will keep their income flowing and we feel great about that! While we did not do a payroll audit, we did talk with the owner about employee wages. The minimum wage in apparel in the DR is 3200 pesos per week but he said employees earn more, many of them up to twice that along with transportation allowances. Some light reading on livable wages in the DR says that employees need 4600-4900 pesos per week. This means a large group of the factory is earning a local livable wage. If we pursue additional work with this factory, we will dig in deeper. We had free range of the sewing floor, cutting tables and product development departments – we observed happy employees, about a 50/50 mix of men and women and no children. We were, overall, super happy and pleased with this visit! As I said in my earlier update, we are committed to our families in Haiti and will support them through all of the political challenges. We are grateful for a solution that can bridge the gaps and take some pressure off of them. And we’re SO grateful for a container delivered today that equals work continuing to flow through Life. Most of all, thank you to our community for supporting us and our teams. We appreciate you more than you know! Happy Holidays,Jessica
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Update on Haiti
Haiti has been in and out of the news over the past weeks. Many of you have seen reports of riots or gang violence. But coming from a country that has long struggled with protests and general unrest, it’s easy to glaze over. Please don’t glaze over this letter from Ariane, our General Manager at Life SA, our garment factory in Port au Prince. She and her team want us to know what their jobs mean to them. They need us to lean in, to pray, to encourage. If you want to, drop us an email and we’ll send your words on to Haiti. As always, thank you to our community - we can’t do anything without you. It has been 24 days. 24 days since Haiti has been completely paralyzed. Out of those 24 days, we have tried to open our doors at Life for a total of 6 days with minimal efficiency. We are operating on a day to day basis which rely upon these 3 key factors: Is it safe for us to leave our homes? Do we have a means of transportation? Do we have fuel to run the generator? Without these guarantees, we are struggling to keep our heads above water. The challenges we are facing as a team are different yet the same. There has been ongoing insecurities and gang violence long before September 12th that we are all facing. We're scared to leave our homes whether it's by armored cars, taptaps, motos or even by foot. Our day to days are so unpredictable, which is the scariest part because every day is a risk leaving your home. This is a risk that our employees are willing to take at any cost, because "Le travail c'est la liberté." This is a saying in French that means, "work is freedom." One of the most important things we provide at Life, aside from fair pay, is a paid lunch every day. This is an added bonus for them because it is one less meal to have to pay for, especially during these times. Haiti as an island is extremely dependent on the importation of goods. We import about 90% of what we consume. Between the insecurity on the streets, particularly around the ports, and the lack of fuel, we are now dealing with a shortage of basic necessities. It's been extremely hard for us, and everyone, to maintain the determination to keep going because it feels like the Haiti that we all love so much is giving up on us. It's easy to give up and turn our backs on this place, but we are resilient fighters. It has always been in our nature to fight, and we will continue to do so as long as we are able. We are beyond grateful for the continued support of our consumers that are fighting this fight with us. We know we are not alone, so a huge thank you from myself and the team at Life. - ARIANE MANUEL
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