Impact
Hello from Life SA, in Haiti!
The beginning of fall has brought lots of new opportunities for us here at Life. As production is ramping up due to high demand, we found ourselves having to bring in new team members. This is great news for us, because providing sustainable jobs is one of our biggest goals. We are slowly but surely ramping up to where we want to be and it feels great. Life is good. You can just tell by the ambiance of the factory that there has been a shift. Machines are louder, everyone is focused, and there are a lot of new fabric colors in the building! Our hope is to keep our team busy and motivated. Looking forward to what the end of the year has in store for us. 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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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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The Importance of Brick and Mortar
“Don’t be afraid. There are exquisite things in store for you. This is merely the beginning.” - Oscar Wilde We know Oscar was talking in a more existential “Keep going. You’re awesome,” manner. But let’s talk about the phrase “in store” - the brick and mortar store that is. Recently, GOEX Apparel celebrated the Grand Re-Opening of it’s retail space in KC. The space opened August of 2020 but due to the pandemic it didn’t get the grand welcome that it deserved. This year, we celebrated. We had refreshments, a live screenprinting demonstration, community members, raffles, and more. Despite the challenges of the previous year our local community did not disappoint when it came to support and enthusiasm. The Importance of Brick and Mortar The online shopping experience has really come a long way. You can find anything online. From kitchenware to custom tees, the potential of a person’s wish lists is endless. Online shopping makes obtaining goods more accessible, convenient, and provides a private shopping experience. For years, the data has shown that the future is online. However, brick and mortar stores have survived numerous bouts of uncertainty proving that they are here to stay. Despite the data, the fact remains that the magic of the brick and mortar experience simply can not be matched. Here’s why: Tangibility The ad you saw on social media indicated that our tees were super soft. Do you believe it? It may seem obvious but so much anxiety is eliminated by being able to see and feel a product before you buy. No shipping back and forth. No measuring twice. It’s right there. (Real talk: Our shirts ARE indeed super soft. You can absolutely take our word for it. Just check out the reviews.) Community Brick and mortar stores are the inventors of customer service. From sales to product demonstrations, shopkeepers have been the innovators when it comes to knowing what the customer wants before they enter the store. In addition to tailored service, brick and mortar stores cultivate community. Money earned from a brick and mortar store goes back into the local economy benefiting all. A brick and mortar store practically defines what it means to be a community. Realization (Speaking of community.) Human beings thrive in strong, compassionate communities. In this atmosphere, dreams come true. For example, an entrepreneur opens a shop. The shop gains notoriety and causes the owner to hire more staff. Eventually that leads to a 2nd location. (Read more about our partner Pink Dinosaur opening their second location HERE.) You may think that your small purchase didn’t mean much but it did. It helped to sustain jobs from manufacturing to the shop floor. It helped validate an entrepreneur’s business decision. Your support of a brick and mortar store makes dreams come true. Where’s GOEX? You can find GOEX all over. We are coast to coast and even in parts of Canada! Here’s some of the brick and mortar stores that sell GOEX goods: Greenville University Latitudes Lubanzi Wines The Mercantile of Scottsdale Mercy House Global Market National WWI Museum New Creation Pink Dinosaur Rockford Art Deli Ten Thousands Villages Zee Bee Market Want GOEX Tees in your store? Need something better for your brick and mortar store? Whether you need 24 tees or 24,000 tees, GOEX is here to provide you with retail-quality, fair trade garments with the highest quality screenprinted graphics. Love our social mission but have your own screen printer or even print yourself? No problem! You can purchase our blank tees at wholesale prices in bulk too!
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A Message From Life S.A. General Manager, Ariane Manuel
Shortly after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, reports started coming in from the field. The following is a message from LIFE S.A. General Manager, Ariane Manual - "As many of you may know, this year has been fairly challenging for us in Haiti. Aside from managing the COVID-19 pandemic, and the day to day challenges we face, we can’t seem to catch a break. Fuel shortage has been a major crisis as it effects transportation, generator operated businesses, and overall chaos surrounding the issue. In addition, the political instability has taken a new toll since our president Jovenel Moise was assassinated in early July. To top it all off, Haiti is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. This morning we experienced a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the south of Haiti. The aftermath is devastating as there is a lack of aid and supplies. I pray that we are able to come back from this and receive as much assistance as possible. Personally, this was my first time experiencing an earthquake and I honestly can say it was one of the most frightening things I’ve ever experienced. Amidst it all, our team has continued to be dedicated to work no matter what the circumstance. We have a great line of communication and always ensure that our safety comes first. As far as production goes, it’s been a struggle getting fabric into the building whether it has to do with issues at customs or at the port, or shipping delays. I’ve been trying my best to keep everyone busy during these difficult times. I am extremely proud to be apart of this team and hope that we will continue to do great things together no matter what obstacles come our way." 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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What Is A Social Enterprise?
We at GOEX consider ourselves a social enterprise but what does that mean exactly? Social Enterprise is a loaded term because it is ever changing at lightning speed. If you’re looking for a good old-fashioned dictionary definition, Cambridge Dictionary defines social enterprise as “an organization that aims to make money in order to serve a useful social purpose”. That’s pretty straight forward. While that is very to the point there are layers upon layers of meaning and mission. Here are three ways GOEX defines what it means to be a social enterprise: 1. People Over Profits People over profits is a phrase you hear regularly on the social enterprise grapevine. It’s more than a buzzword though. Valuing people over profit means you’re dedicated to keeping your makers safe and empowered, to paying promptly and fairly, respecting cultural identity, and to creating opportunities for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. 2. Making The World A Better Place At GOEX we seek to do better; better for our needs and better for the needs of future generations. In every decision we make, we ensure that the planet is protected and that every hand that touches a garment is respected. There is a way to conduct business while making a positive impact and we chose to lead by example. A better shirt for a better world. 3. Upgrading The Wheel We are a basic apparel company. T-shirts, cardigans, fleece, cool graphics? We got you. We don’t need to reinvent basic apparel but we do believe in upgrading it. We are dedicated to making garments that last in order to lower our carbon footprint without sacrificing comfort. A good tee can invoke your favorite version of you. That’s what we want! (It’s in our tagline - Feel good. Do good.) We want you to put on a GOEX garment and know that you feel good: feel good about yourself and about your impact through a simple purchase decision. We are GOEX We exist to do good so the world can feel good. By aligning our mission with the Fair Trade Federation’s Nine Principles we can influence real, lasting change. As a social enterprise we not only commit to leading an example, we allow ourselves to grow and learn from others. You know: Feel good. Do good.
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We're Bringing Fair Trade To KC's Runways
KCFW is a nexus of fashion professionals. Featuring local, national and international designers, each year KCFW produces two full weeks of premier runway shows, enabling designers to collaborate with seasoned stylists, make-up artists, models and photographers to present their collections in the most professional atmosphere imaginable.
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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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Our hearts are with Haiti.
Reports of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse have generated many calls to GOEX. We have invested in the lives and livelihoods of the proud people of Haiti and are happy to report that our team in Haiti is safe. With the threat of violent demonstrations looming, we have temporarily closed our manufacturing operations near Port au Prince and have instructed our staff to remain at home with their families. When we are confident it is safe, we will return to normal operations. Until then, the work will wait while the country heals. Thank you for your continued care and support. If you have questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact us: cs@goex.org (816) 800-8284
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Three Things To Consider When Creating Your Custom Tee
Choosing your t-shirt color can be a fun but overwhelming process. The good news is that our experts can help you navigate the color wheel and create a unique design that will make your t-shirt stand out among the rest. Here's three things to consider when creating your custom tee. Your audience One of the most important things to consider is who will be wearing these t-shirts, why & where. Seasons are great to consider when determining whether you choose short sleeves, long sleeves or even fleece. For outdoor events in the heat, a light, breezy color like Vintage White or Light Blue can keep you cool and guarded from those bold rays. If your event is in the summer months, we suggest going with a brighter pop of color for fun and to keep the wearer nice and cool. Mint and Bubblegum are not only popular but are perfect for the sunny season. For a company event, we suggest sticking to a neutral color or a color on brand with your company. The makeup of the group can also help determine if you want to purchase unisex or ladies fit t-shirts. Considering your wearers ensures your team will not only look good but they’ll feel good. Design There are so many t-shirt and ink color combinations to choose from. It’s important to consider how many colors are in your design and if they will be dark or light colors. This also helps determine whether you want the design to be bold and pop, or to be more faded and tonal. If you want a tonal design, we suggest choosing a color that is from the same color family. Getting playful with tones can create a whole new aesthetic. If you want the design to pop, consider choosing a color that is either much darker or lighter than your design. Choosing a color at the opposite end of the spectrum can create a bold, complimentary look. Don’t hesitate to explore color and range. We can work with you to make sure you get exactly what you want. Price and Purpose Just one more thing - consider your price point. If you are looking to order many shirts at the lowest price point possible, a US cotton t-shirt with a one-color design will meet your goals in abundance. If you’re looking for a strong fabric that can withstand the elements as well as the challenges of everyday wear, our triblend or fleece options stay soft wash after wash. No matter what option you choose, we will print your t-shirt at the highest standard, and it will be the best t-shirt for you and those who made it. GOEX is here for you Sometimes it can be hard to visualize what your design will look like on the shirt, that is why here at GOEX we provide a digital example before printing. This will help you visualize and determine how your art actually looks on the shirt. Let’s get designing! Shop Tees made for you. We’d love to get you started with a better basic tee today! Choose from our many styles, colors, and fit to make the perfect garment for your next group event — something you can feel proud to wear. Browse our Digital Catalog.
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