Impact
Introducing CiCLO® Biodegradable Polyester In Time for Earth Day
Earth Day is a powerful reminder of our responsibility to protect the planet, and at GOEX Apparel, we’re committed to making a difference through the fabrics we choose. In January 2024 we started talking about a big step forward in our commitment to care for the planet – Ciclo polyester. One of the most exciting innovations in sustainable textiles, CiCLO® biodegradable polyester is a breakthrough that addresses the environmental challenges posed by traditional synthetic fibers. All of our eco-triblend and fleece fabrics now contain CiCLO® polyester! Why Synthetic Fibers Are a Problem • Microplastic Pollution: About 35% of microplastics entering the ocean come from synthetic materials, primarily polyester and nylon. • Landfill Waste: Every day, 44 million pounds of synthetic textiles are sent to U.S. landfills, where conventional polyester can persist for centuries. • Global Impact: With synthetic fibers making up 60% of global textile production, the scale of potential pollution is massive. How CiCLO® Biodegradable Polyester Works CiCLO® technology is a patented additive blended into polyester and nylon during manufacturing. This creates countless biodegradable spots in the fiber, allowing naturally occurring microorganisms to break down the material when it enters environments like landfills, seawater, soil, or wastewater treatment plants. Unlike traditional synthetics, which can last for hundreds of years, CiCLO®-enabled fibers biodegrade much faster—often within a few years under the right conditions. In independent lab testing, CiCLO® fibers biodegraded at the same rate as cotton! (So don’t worry, your tee won’t dissolve in your washing machine!) Key Environmental Benefits of CiCLO® • Accelerated Biodegradation: Third-party laboratory studies using internationally recognized ASTM test methods show that CiCLO® polyester biodegrades at greatly accelerated rates compared to conventional polyester in anaerobic landfill conditions, seawater, and wastewater sludge. • Reduces Microfiber Persistence: When fabrics made with CiCLO® shed microfibers, those fibers behave more like natural materials (such as cotton or wool) and do not persist in the environment indefinitely. • Non-Toxic and Safe: CiCLO® fibers are non-toxic to marine life and are certified safe by ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX®. • Maintains Performance: Fabrics with CiCLO® maintain the same durability, functionality, and recyclability as regular polyester, ensuring no compromise on quality or longevity. • Supports Circularity: CiCLO® can be used with both virgin and recycled polyester, helping to close the loop and reduce reliance on virgin resources. Why Choose CiCLO® for Earth Day and Beyond By choosing eco-friendly fabrics made with CiCLO® biodegradable polyester, you’re helping to: • Reduce the long-term environmental impact of synthetic textiles. • Prevent microplastic pollution in oceans and waterways. • Support a more circular, sustainable apparel industry. At GOEX Apparel, we believe that every choice matters. This Earth Day, let’s celebrate progress and keep pushing for a cleaner, greener future—one innovative fabric at a time! Learn more about all of our sustainable fabrics on our site!
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GOEX Apparel Trends to Watch for 2025
As we look ahead to 2025, the world of screen printing is set to see a variety of exciting new trends in fit, color, graphic design, and fabric choices. These developments will drive fresh approaches to fashion, offering consumers new ways to express their personal style and sustainability values. Here’s a closer look at what we can expect in each category. Fit Trends As bottom trends move toward wider cuts and lower rises in 2025, expect to see a shift in the way we approach the fit of tees and fleece. With more relaxed pants and jeans becoming the norm, fitted tops will become a key trend, offering a balanced contrast to looser silhouettes. Longer, more tailored tees and fleece will be in demand, giving a sleek and polished look while remaining comfortable and versatile. Why It Matters: As the balance between upper and lower garments becomes more important, fitted, longer tops offer a flattering and modern solution. These fitted pieces will help balance out the proportions of the outfit, ensuring that even with looser pants, the overall look remains stylish and cohesive. Best Uses: Try out our Ladies Triblend and Cotton Tees that are slightly more fitted longer in length, offering a streamlined appearance without sacrificing comfort. For fleece and layering pieces try sizing down. These pieces will work well paired with everything from wide-leg trousers to relaxed jeans, making them the perfect go-to for your 2025 wardrobe. Color Trends Color is the starting point and therefore one of the most impactful elements of any design. For 2025, expect to see a range of earthy, vibrant, and playful hues take center stage. WARM EARTH TONES Warm earth tones, like Coffee, Amber, and Ivory, will dominate the fashion landscape, offering a natural and grounded palette. These colors, epitomized by the 2025 Pantone Color of the Year Mocha Mousse, reflect a return to nature and sustainability. Why It Matters: As consumers become more eco-conscious, warm earth tones symbolize a deeper connection to the planet. They create a timeless, rustic vibe that appeals to those seeking simplicity and grounded beauty in their fashion choices. Best Uses: Perfect for lifestyle brands, outdoor apparel, and nature-inspired designs, these tones evoke feelings of comfort and harmony with the environment. PASTELS Soft pastel shades, including our newest additions Soft Pink and Orange Sorbet will become key players in 2025’s fashion color palette. These hues offer a serene and approachable aesthetic that works well across different demographics. Why It Matters: Pastels evoke a sense of tranquility and playfulness, allowing for versatile designs that can range from minimalistic to quirky. Their calming nature makes them highly wearable, especially in warmer weather or for soft, approachable branding. Best Uses: Pastels are ideal for refreshing your spring collections. Soft Pink, Orange Sorbet, Lavender, and Light Blue are all excellent triblend options, with Soft Pink and Light Blue also being offered in our super soft eco-friendly fleece! NEON BRIGHTSBright shades, particularly Neon Pink, will make a striking comeback. These bold, eye-catching colors reflect an energetic and positive approach to fashion, perfect for those wanting to stand out. Why it Matters: Neon brights are attention-grabbing and electrifying. They cater to a younger, more experimental crowd that values bold, statement-making designs. These colors make a strong impact and infuse a sense of excitement into any assortment. Best Uses: Neon bright colors are especially fitting for streetwear and activewear. Their high impact makes them ideal for statement pieces that need to capture attention quickly. Check out our neon pink triblend tees and fleece options! Graphic Trends Graphic design is an essential part of screen printing, and for 2025, we’re seeing an eclectic mix of vintage, futuristic, and highly creative graphic trends that will define apparel design. PHOTO REALISM Photo-realistic designs are making waves in screen printing, adding a unique touch of detail and realism that wasn’t as prominent in years past. This trend covers everything from mouth-watering food photography to bold bootleg graphics and pop-culture references. The hyper-realistic imagery allows for a vibrant, photographic quality that can be captured through CMYK screen printing. Prints featuring iconic celebrities or surreal, larger-than-life images are becoming increasingly popular. Why It Matters: The ability to showcase intricate detail adds a sense of authenticity and novelty, allowing brands to stand out with vivid, impactful visuals. Best Uses: Photo-realistic prints work best on light colored garments and accessories where the CMYK. Inks and vivid imagery can stand out. We recommend our white or ivory tees and fleece, along with accessories like our natural tote bag. MULIT-LOCATION GRAPHICSBig, bold designs are taking over the world of screen printing, and they’re not limited to just one area of a product. We’re talking about graphics that cover multiple areas or unconventional placements—think prints that wrap from the front to the back of a t-shirt, or even graphics that span across sleeves, necklines, or along seams. These designs are often busy, filled with overlapping patterns, and leave little room for negative space, creating an almost chaotic aesthetic. Why It Matters: People want their garments to be eye-catching, and extra-large graphics demand attention. Non-traditional placements further emphasize creativity and individuality, giving designs an unpredictable, modern flair. Best Uses: Lovingly called the “full Nascar” by our team, printing all over your garment is eye-catching and bold. Try combining prints on the chest and the hem or adding a pocket print to a hoodie. “Tattoo” sleeve wrist placements are also very popular. Larger, bolder designs can extend across the back or down the sleeves for a statement piece. RETRO REVIVAL Nostalgia is a powerful force in design, and the retro revival trend taps into that by reimagining vintage graphics, fonts, and textures. Think distressed serif fonts, weathered textures, and badges reminiscent of old-school sports logos boy scout patches. The '90s are making a strong comeback, with faded color schemes and nostalgic pop culture references, such as classic cartoons, brands, or logos. Why It Matters: Nostalgia continues to resonate strongly with consumers who are looking for a connection to the past. Distressed designs create a sense of history, while fonts and colors from decades past appeal to those wanting to relive the cultural moments of their youth. Best Uses: Think of bold vintage logos, and slogans that can give any simple shirt a nostalgic edge. Badges make a great update to “icon” graphics of the past few years. We are loving fonts like Scrubby or Allenoire for this trend. Items with retro graphics bring a sense of familiarity and warmth that many consumers find comforting. FUTURISTICLooking toward tomorrow, futuristic graphic design trends in screen printing are all about high-contrast imagery and bold visual experimentation. Geometric Deco-style fonts, metallics, gradients, and 3D effects are the key elements that make these designs pop. Distorted elements, neon-like colors, and holographic vibes bring in a sense of technological advancement and futuristic exploration, often taking cues from science fiction aesthetics. Why It Matters: The futuristic trend appeals to those who want to make a statement. The cutting-edge visuals add depth, intrigue, and excitement to any print, offering a way to bridge classic design with modern tech-inspired aesthetics. With the growing interest in virtual reality and digital aesthetics, these designs represent what lies ahead—perfect for consumers excited about the future. Best Uses: Futuristic designs work incredibly well on streetwear, especially on oversized t-shirts or hoodies with bold metallic or high-contrast graphics. OLD MONEYThe “Old Money” trend is all about embracing the high-society aesthetic with references to classic sports and leisurely outdoor activities like tennis, sailing, and club memberships. Graphics often incorporate sophisticated elements such as monogrammed logos, intricate patterns, and the rich colors associated with old-school luxury (Kelly green, navy blue, etc.). It’s all about creating that timeless, understated vibe that exudes wealth and class. Why It Matters: Old Money designs tap into the aspirational luxury market. The elegance and subtlety of these designs convey exclusivity and a refined taste, appealing to consumers looking for timeless, stylish pieces. Best Uses: Check our traditionally “preppy” garments like our polos, cardigans, and quarter zips that emphasize subtle sophistication. Classic colors like Navy, Ivory, Forest and Grass Green, and Bubblegum or Soft Pink are perfect for embodying the high-class aesthetic of the Old Money trend. TOAD COREToad Core is a playful trend that’s filled with whimsy, lightheartedness, and simplicity. This aesthetic draws from the charm of classic children’s book illustrations with soft, pastel colors and joyful, imaginative designs. Minimalist in nature, it embraces low-color palettes and gentle imagery—think simple animal illustrations, hand-drawn characters, and gentle motifs that invoke a sense of calm and nostalgia. Why It Matters: Toad Core evokes a sense of happiness and nostalgia with its gentle approach to design. It's a trend that celebrates innocence and joy, appealing to those looking for fun, uplifting designs that are easy on the eyes and the heart. Best Uses: Toad Core us Ideal for kidswear, quirky art-inspired designs, and casual wear that emphasizes a carefree spirit. Soft, minimalist designs will be ideal for those who embrace the joy of simplicity. Pair these graphics with any of our pastel colored tees for maximum impact. Fabric Trends With an increasing focus on environmental responsibility, 2025 will see a rise in sustainable fabric choices, signaling a shift toward more eco-friendly production methods. Sustainability, Organic, and Biodegradable Fabrics The push for eco-friendly, sustainable fashion continues, and 2025 will see an increase in the use of organic cotton and biodegradable fabrics. These materials cater to consumers who are committed to making environmentally responsible choices. The good news is that when you work with GOEX, every garment you purchase is made with these ideals in mind. Why It Matters: Consumers are becoming more environmentally aware and demand products that are kind to the planet. Organic and biodegradable fabrics give brands the opportunity to be part of the solution to global waste, while still providing high-quality, stylish apparel. This shift reflects a broader cultural movement toward more sustainable living and purchasing habits. Best Uses: Each and every GOEX garment is made with sustainable fabrics and trims. Our triblend and fleece are now made with biodegradable Ciclo Polyester, so no matter where your garment ends up it will not have a negative impact on the environment. You can also shop our Eco Cotton line with a variety of organic/recycled cotton options. Additionally, we are partnering with fellow Fair Trade brand The Good Tee to offer a line of 100% organic cotton tees. As we look to 2025, the future of apparel and screen printing is brimming with exciting possibilities. From the warm, earthy tones of the season to the nostalgic and futuristic graphic trends, the apparel industry is embracing change while honoring the past. And with the rise of sustainable fabrics, fashion is also becoming more conscious of its environmental impact. These trends present a fantastic opportunity for designers, printers, and consumers alike to express their style, their values, and their creativity in new and meaningful ways. Get ready for a bold and stylish year ahead! Ready to get a quote? Contact us today!
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Say No To Fast Fashion
Why Should We Say No to Fast Fashion? In April we’re offering 15% off retail pricing on our Say No to Fast Fashion collection – our fair trade tee and new notebook made of recycled textile waste. Read on to get inspired to take up the cause! According to the World Bank, 700 million people across the globe live in extreme poverty earning less than $2 per day by definition. Researchers across organizations have agreend that less than 2% of workers in the global fashion industry earn a livable wage, most earn less than $2 per day putting them in the 700 million in extreme poverty. Estimates of global garment workers vary from 100 million to 300 million depending on if you count the entire supply chain or just those in garment factories. Whichever number you choose, apparel is a major contributor to poverty even though the employees typically work long hours 6-7 days per week. This is not a work ethic problem or even a lack of job opportunities problem – this is a value proposition problem. Consumers do not perceive clothing to have the same value as other items. Inflation statistics are very telling – while the overall CPI in the US rose 13% from 2020 to 2024, apparel prices rose only 7%. This is driven largely by fast fashion which keeps prices low by sacrificing quality of fabrics and fit creating garments only meant to be worn a couple of times and then discarded. Prices may seem low but the cost per wear is increasing rapidly. Read on to learn more about the harmful effects of fast fashion and why we should all say no! Fast fashion has significant adverse effects on the environment, labor conditions, and consumer behavior. Here are a few of those effects. 1. Environmental Degradation Water Pollution and Waste: The fast fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater due to dyeing and textile treatment processes. Factories often discharge untreated water filled with toxic chemicals into rivers and oceans, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh and India.Carbon Emissions: Fast fashion contributes to 10% of global carbon emissions—more than aviation and maritime shipping combined. This is exacerbated by the use of synthetic fabrics derived from fossil fuels, which are energy-intensive to produce and non-biodegradable. Add shipping to that and the total is even more shocking. 2. Textile Waste Landfill Overflow: Approximately 85% of all textiles are discarded each year, with most ending up in landfills or being incinerated. Globally, consumers generate 92 million tons of textile waste annually, a figure projected to rise to 134 million tons by 2030.Microfiber Pollution: Washing synthetic garments releases 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean annually—equivalent to dumping 50 billion plastic bottles into the sea. 3. Exploitative Labor Practices Low Wages and Unsafe Conditions: Less than 2% of garment workers globally earn a livable wage. Many work up to 16 hours a day in unsafe environments for as little as $2 per day, particularly in countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam.Child Labor and Forced Labor: The industry employs millions of children in low-skill roles, often under coercive conditions. Forced labor is also prevalent, with workers subjected to wage theft, gender-based violence, and hazardous chemical exposure.False Claims Related to the Above: Brands like Shein and Temu are masters at hiding their labor practices. They contract factories to produce who contract all of their labor paying them by the piece. The brand can then claim people make decent wages but don’t unpack that they earn those higher wages only by working 10-12 hours per day 7 days per week. 4. Consumerism and Psychological Impact Throwaway Culture: Fast fashion promotes a “disposable” mindset by encouraging frequent purchases of low-quality garments that are quickly discarded. This cycle fosters overconsumption while diminishing the perceived value of clothing.Social Pressure: The industry leverages influencer culture and social media to create an insatiable demand for new trends, leading consumers to feel dissatisfied with their existing wardrobe. These impacts highlight the urgent need for sustainable alternatives such as slow fashion, which prioritizes ethical labor practices and environmentally friendly materials. So how is GOEX setting an example in the apparel industry of how to do things differently? Our fabrics are made in the USA and our garments are sewn in the Caribbean or in the USA. This means higher environmental standards than found in developing nations and a low carbon footprint from very short shipping lanes.All of the polyester used in our garments is either recycled or, after recent changes, made with Ciclo. Ciclo polyester biodegrades like cotton in ocean water or a landfill meaning harmful microplastics do not live forever in ocean water or soil like with conventional or even recycled fibers.Protecting and empowering people throughout our supply chain is our top priority. Every supplier we partner with shares our values in caring for people and planet. We want you to be absolutely confident in these claims. To that end, this year we opted into an additional customs review on each import checking that our supply chain is free of risk for human trafficking or child labor.We use quality fabrics and produce quality garments. We actually want you to wear your garments over and over again and use high quality, made in America fabrics to ensure it will look great wash after wash. Please join the movement to say no to fast fashion. Grab your tee and notebook and start telling others!
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Longing For Home
I’m writing this evening on my way home from the Dominican Republic. I spent the last several days learning about some education and ministry opportunities and visiting the factory we’ve been partnering with for production since last summer. Some of you know me personally and some of you I’ve never met – I hope that changes some day! But, those of you who know me, know I’m typically very factual, very honest and rarely flustered, for lack of a better term. I find myself in a different space this evening. This has been a hard week and I want to try to share why. Do you know that the Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti? I didn’t until I started working in Haiti a decade ago – we’re being honest here, right?! Don’t get me wrong, the DR has it’s challenges and there are amazing people doing amazing work to care for people. But compared to the situation across the closed border on the same island, the DR is paradise. I flew into Santo Domingo last week practically in tears as we neared the island and I could see Haiti but couldn’t go there. It was heartbreaking to stare at the shores of a country I love and haven’t set foot in in over 5 years. And yet I live in tension because I love Haiti but it’s not my home. I can go home. I have friends who can’t. Friends who don’t only miss visiting, they haven’t been home in years. Tonight I will be in my bed, near my family and that reality isn’t lost on me. My pain is nothing compared to theirs. But even in longing for home, all of us who work in Haiti but live in America are the “lucky” ones because we have options and opportunity. We’re not living on high alert, constantly worried about our families, listening to reports of what roads are safe to drive and dreading the next phone call. Man, we live in a broken world, don’t we? And so, I landed in the DR and spent several days observing and learning and then visited the factory we’re sewing with. I measured garments and talked about production challenges, goals and objectives. I planned for production while simultaneously sending WhatsApp messages talking about how we get moved and back to work in Haiti. The desire of my heart is to send fabric containers to Port au Prince. To flow yards and yards of sustainable fabric from South Carolina to Haiti and receive back perfect garments made by hands who love their work, love their co-workers, love caring for their families and love making things that you love to wear. And I ended up in a bit of a pity party – this really shouldn’t be so hard! It’s just not fair! And then I got an email with a blog post from from my dear friend Kayla of Rosie’s Boutique – you can read her whole blog here but don’t miss this… “…we promote fair trade and fair wages, yet it still seems unfair. You know, the realities of the world. The fact that people still don't have access to clean drinking water. The fact that babies will die from super preventable things, simply because there wasn't a hospital to care for them. The fact that people sleep in small huts with no electricity, no warm beds, no sense of safety. My parents always said, "life isn't fair," but now it all just kind of feels like a cop out. Life isn't fair for a lot of reasons that are out of our control, but what about the things that are in our control? We have the technology, resources and money to eradicate world hunger, yet.... We have doctors, vaccines and medical advancements to save precious lives from so many preventable things, yet.... We have machinery to drill wells and smart engineers to design sewers & roads & all sorts of fun infrastructure, yet.... We have these insane amounts of technology and internet and access to information like no generation before, yet... A wise friend once told me, "all problems have a solution, it's just whether or not we care to find the solution." That hits deep. So, here's where my 3:15 a.m. thoughts lead me...while there are many aspects of world issues we won't be able to solve here, there are still so many things we are solving. Yes, the work is hard, but we need to keep being loud about these jobs & partnerships & keep selling the dang things. We can't eradicate poverty, but we sure are going to go down fighting for it. Every job sustained is a life forever impacted. Every single day we get to make a choice in what we buy and where we buy it. I'm just going to call it for what it is, but your purchases with big corporations only add to the world's suffering. Truly, there's no way around it. These corporations are some of the world's biggest polluters, are publicly known to be abusers of human rights, and act with no intentionality except to make an easy dollar. By shopping with them, we participate in the unfairness. We play a role, whether we want to admit it or not. But behind all the pretty advertising are people in bondage… I think of this every time we place a PO or send another box to Haiti...work is on the way! The praises that follow. This is good news to our partners & the artisans we have the honor to work with. You all should see me when I open an email from a partner and it includes a PO - THANK YOU JESUS! I will never not rejoice. We all play a role in the rejoicing and the weeping. But, the good news? We get to choose which side we land on. Our resistance is our intentionality in what we buy, where we buy, from whom we buy...” Thank you, Kayla, for sending words I needed to hear at a moment of sheer frustration and reminding me why we do hard things. I am incredibly grateful for a community of businesses who refuse to give up. Every life changed is worth it. Even when we’re constantly changing and adapting, our willingness to do it brings hope to our teams. And all of you, our community of buyers and advocates, bring us hope and joy. I echo Kayla’s words – I will never not rejoice with every order in the door! Thank you for choosing good – for choosing hope and life and freedom for people. Have thoughts or questions? Send them my way! And, as always, if you’re a praying person, send those our way too! With gratitude,Jessica
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The Exchange: Imani Collective
Hi friends and happy 2025! As we kick off the new year, the GOEX Team is excited to introduce you to our new wholesale partnerships. We are calling this collection The Exchange and you can find more information on our website. But over our next few newsletters, we’ll provide more information about each brand and why we chose to partner with them. Our goal with these partnerships is to offer our customers a wider range of customizable products conveniently available through the sales rep you already know and trust! In November we announced that we would begin distributing The Good Tee – that stock is expected to arrive in Kansas City by February 1st – we look forward to shipping out the first orders printed on these organic, fair trade tees! Now we’re excited to introduce you to The Imani Collective. Founded in Kenya by Jenny Nucio, The Imani Collective is the holding company for several brands. It exists to empower artisans through dignified work, opportunity, and community. As an artisan brand, Imani elevated industry standards to more than just fair trade, but to ethically made. They are committed to not only paying our staff ethical living salaries but also to providing many employee benefits such as in-house childcare, bonuses, chefs on location for daily meals, literacy classes, paid maternity leave, dream management and many more.Imani’s core value is to go beyond just a transactional exchange with artisans, but to create a work culture and community that allows for long-term job stability, career advancement, and sustainable change. GOEX will primarily offer printable items made in Kenya and decorated in our print shop in Kansas City. Now we can put your favorite graphics on banners, bags, backpacks and more! Click here to learn more about The Exchange and here to start a quote! In January, we’re offering one hour of free art time for a new design so get started today! As always, thank you for choosing to use your purchasing power for good – the work you provide to our team (and now those of our partners) is truly life giving! Cheers to 2025! Jessica
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What A Year! Reflecting on 2024 While Looking Towards 2025
Each year as we close one year and look to the next, I share reflections and goals as we begin anew. Today, as I read back through what I shared 12 months ago, I’m honestly struggling with what to say. A year ago, I thought the hardest times in Haiti were behind us (they were not!); I thought supply chain was dialed in and rolling (that didn’t last!); I thought we were full steam ahead (we were, but in unexpected ways!). Our team has long had the saying, “GOEX, we figure it out” – that has never been more true than in 2024. So, here are some things we figured out over the past months and some things we hope we have figured out for 2025! First, a look back… In 2024, our resolutions were Grow, Set the Standard for Sustainability and Educate. Despite the challenges in Haiti and in our US supply chain, we are incredibly grateful to say that we did grow this year! We will end 2024 outpacing the industry by about 10% in year over year sales which means you cared for more people than before through the power of your purchases! Thank you for your commitment to fair trade, sustainable apparel! We also achieved our goal of switching all polyester yarns in new fabric purchases from Repreve to Ciclo, setting a new standard for sustainability in our garments. Almost all sweatshirts in our inventory and about half of the triblend garments now contain Ciclo and each new shipment that arrives keeps that moving forward! Education was the most challenging but we did a number of speaking engagements and connected at trade shows and events. Look forward to more virtual events and workshops in 2025! But beyond those 2024 resolutions, we figured out new fabric and sewing suppliers, we figured out new product partners, new customer requests and developed a lot of patience. This team wore a lot of hats when we struggled to find the right team members over the summer – I even figured out how to load shirts on press at one point! We held much of this year with open hands while leaning in where we could. We are so grateful and incredibly humbled by everything that happened and we have incredible hope for the future and all of the families we can support through the dignity of work! So, here’s where we think we’re headed in 2025 – we’ll see what the year brings! Reopen Our Factory in Haiti – More details to come but we have a plan in place to adjust our operations in order to get our team safely back to work in the first quarter. Stay tuned! In the meantime, you can continue to support them by donating to our Haiti fund and we always encourage you to pray for their safety and for that of all of the people there. Continued Growth – Supporting our makers isn’t just about getting the factory open, it’s about sustaining the jobs of our team and adding more. We must continue to educate retailers and consumers, converting them into buyers and supporters! Want to help? Refer a customer here! And look forward to meeting a new GOEX Sales Rep in January! Expanded Offerings – We know you’re busy so we want to make sourcing custom, ethical products as easy as possible! Beginning in January, we’ll introduce you to a growing collection of products that you can now purchase through your trusted GOEX Sales Rep. We previously introduced you to Topiku and The Good Tee, our partners for hats and organic tees. Watch for additional intros in first quarter – we’re calling this collection The Exchange and we’re super excited about it! Lastly, we want to hear from you! Please fill out this form and let us know how we’re doing and how we can serve you better. In closing, thank you for this incredible year. I promise we literally celebrated with every order that came through the doors. Your purchase matters and is valued here! Merry Christmas and Wishing you Blessings in the New Year! XO-Jessica Ray
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2024 Warehouse Sale
Once a year we open the doors of our warehouse and offer you INCREDIBLE deals that are only available in-person.We will have limited edition samples, overstock, and clearance items will be available.12:30PM-2PM 3161 Wyandotte St.,Kansas City, MO 64111
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GOEX + The Good Tee: A New Fair Trade Partnership
GOEX and The Good Tee Announce New Partnership GOEX Becomes Exclusive Wholesale Distributor in the U.S. and Canada Kansas City, MISSOURI—GOEX and The Good Tee are excited to announce that GOEX will become the exclusive wholesale distributor of The Good Tee’s 100 percent organic cotton products in the United States and Canada. This partnership will be effective October 2024, adding The Good Tee’s trusted, sustainably sourced apparel to GOEX’s growing collection of fair trade, eco-conscious clothing. While The Good Tee will continue to sell directly to consumers through their website, GOEX will handle all wholesale orders, including blank and custom options. This partnership aligns with the shared commitment of both brands to providing ethical, sustainable fashion made with care for people and the planet. “We’re thrilled to bring The Good Tee’s high-quality organic cotton basics to our wholesale clients,” said Jessica Ray, Executive Director of GOEX. “The addition of these 100% organic cotton pieces strengthens our collection of sustainable apparel, providing even more choices for those seeking ethical, fair trade fashion.” The Good Tee's organic cotton products are known for their exceptional quality, certified sustainable practices, and commitment to fair trade. With this new partnership, wholesale customers in the U.S. and Canada can look forward to ordering these beloved basics through GOEX, with stock available by the end of December 2024. Interested wholesale clients are encouraged to contact their GOEX sales representatives for more information on orders and custom options. Stock will be available for sale at the end of October. About GOEX GOEX uses a simple tee to connect the customer and the maker. Our customers sustain fair wage jobs that liberate workers from poverty and empower them in their families and communities. We prioritize sustainability, evaluating materials annually to ensure the use of eco-friendly options like OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certified fabrics and Fair Trade labels. As a Fair Trade Federation Verified organization and a member of B Corp, the Fair Labor Association, and the Social Enterprise Alliance, we are dedicated to transparency, integrity, and fairness in every aspect of our business. Our ongoing commitment to fair wages and benefits ensures our U.S. and Haiti teams can care for their families, stay healthy, and plan for the future. About The Good Tee The Good Tee, launched March 2020, is on a mission to be a positive example of responsibly made fashion basics and to humanize the fashion industry. Made from Fairtrade organic cotton and certified eco-friendly dyes, our t-shirts are fully traceable from farm to warehouse. We celebrate all the good humans in the supply chain that make our products, so you can understand the positive impact you make. As a certified B Corporation, we aim to be a force for good. For media inquiries, please contact Nate Williams, Director of Marketing, The Global Orphan Project. Email: nate@goproject.org or (816) 536-8333.
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November News About Haiti & Production
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. 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. 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. 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! 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
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