BlogHer - Tees For Change: Comfy eco-shirts with a mission - Comments

Green gifts - save our planet

danielmdr — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:25:43 -0500

No matter what others do for our planet and global warming, we can start by protecting it ourselfs.
Trees instead, LLC is a company devoted to preserve the environment by planting memory trees and offset carbon footprint.
Why send flowers when you can plan a tree in memory of your loved one? or plant a tree instead of giving traditional gift that contaminate our planet?
Preserve life planting a tree instead of giving flowers that create waste soon after it is cut.
www.TreesInstead.com is to plant trees instead of giving traditional gifts.

NOT A FAN OF PREACHY

Anne A. — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:01:28 -0500

I agree with most of the opinions here. I am a big fan of bamboo, just don't feel I need to walk around and shove my personal messages in everyone's face.

I have found a great tee shirt company that has the same ethos, but they try to do more showing than telling. They use images, and mostly try to celebrate culutral contributions while promoting ethical business practices. Check out www.casadiculture.com.

customize?

amoration — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:28:09 -0500

I rarely wear a shirt that says anything, but I would love to have these shirts available on Zazzle or a similar site for use with my own designs. Think we can convince them to branch out beyond the oneliners?

Found other great bamboo clothes on Etsy, great to see more indie designers picking up the bamboo ball!

In the past I've been a

Amy Gates — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:37:54 -0500

In the past I've been a plain Jane t-shirt kinda girl myself, but more recently I've reviewed some eco-conscious printed tees (including the Tees for Change "Choose Happiness" shirt) and they are growing on me. I like the idea of spreading a positive message.

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

Why I won't buy them

OneOrganizedLife — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:30:48 -0500

I think they are a great idea and I will actually try to get the company into the weekly newsletter I edit each week for a company I work for. We like to highlight a different green vendor each week.

Two reasons why I won't buy them:

(1) I know it's a good cause, I but I have a hard time paying $32 for a t-shirt

(2) I don't tend to wear shirts with words across the front (or pants with words on the butt).

I do like the "today matters" and "seek balance" shirts. But those are things that for now, I will just say as affirmations or give as suggestions.

Maybe if it was on a messenger bag I'd be more likely to buy it....

-------

A.W.

One Organized Life

http://oneorganizedlife.wordpress.com

Plain Jane

iambrowngirlspeak — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:43:29 -0500

I tend to like my tees, like I like my burgers: plain. The eco friendly tees are a little too preachy for me. If I do sport a slogan on my tee, it's something basic. The colors are great however. I found a great website that features organic kids clothes: http://kee-ka.com/Merchant2/sfnt.html Keep blogging!

Tees For Change: Comfy eco-shirts with a mission

greenlagirl — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:59:10 -0500

So I've found the perfect bamboo T-shirt: eco-friendly, fairly made, quite affordable, with a perfect fit. I even have my color and size picked out.

But I'm not buying one -- yet. Read on --

First, here's why Tees For Change's Bamboo Raglan Sleeve Tee's perfect. Made of a 70% bamboo, 30% organic cotton blend under fair trade conditions in Turkey, these tees are soft and light -- perfect for summer -- and have raw edges to go with its modern cut.

Tees For Change as a whole's a very green company which not only plants a tree via American Forests' Global Releaf for every shirt sold, but also donates T-shirts to a variety of events and causes, including American Cancer Society Relay for Life and New Orleans Green Project. In addition to bamboo-cotton blend T-shirts, Tees for Change also makes 100% organic cotton T-shirts and tanks -- which are made sweatshop-free in the US!

Even better, the shirts are much more affordable than most eco-friendly fashions. Tank tops go for $28; T-shirts for $32. I have my heart set on the eggplant bamboo raglan sleeve tee -- especially because it matches this pair of purple plaid pants I have --

So why haven't I bought the shirt yet? My problem is the slogans. The eggplant tee has "practice kindness" emblazoned in white letters across the chest. And while I'm all for people practicing kindness, I find such messaging too -- didactic.

Unfortunately for me, these instructive messages seem to be part of the "point" of Tees For Change. Andreea Ayers, the woman who started the company, apparently got started by making herself a T-shirt with the slogan “Be Courageous” across the front, as a personal response to those who didn't support her home birthing plans for her first child. Thus, Tees for Change's tagline is "sustainable tees on a mission." Buy a shirt, and you have to wear a "mission" across your chest.

Mind you -- the slogans ARE nice affirmations. But messages like "live mindfully" or "today matters" are ideas I'd rather think or perhaps speak about than wear emblazoned across my chest. I could see wearing the shirt with the "practice yoga" message to, say, yoga class -- but that's 'bout it for me.

But maybe that's just me.... Other bloggers certainly think otherwise! Valerie of Zoë b Organic Weekly says the statements "are proof that you can look good, do good, and feel good, all at the same time." And Lorie Sigua of Poise says the shirts "reinforce your conviction to change your outlook for the better and encourage you to actualize your existence to the fullest."

How do you feel about such messages on your T-shirts? Do you wear affirmations on your chest?

Regardless of the affirmations, Tees For Change's business model's certainly inspiring in and of itself. You can hear Andreea Ayers chat about her eco-business in a podcast on Startup Story Radio.

Images from Tees For Change
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.