About this user
JustShirts Clothing Worker Cooperative sells quality thoughtfully--designed clothing produced under sweatshop free conditions. Our business model is based on the pillars of social justice, non-profit, transparency, social re-investment, and stakeholder participation.
Profit-free clothing starts from the premise that clothing should be produced and worn with pride. Although worker cooperatives usually permit their members to share in the profits of the cooperative, we have decided that all after-tax profits will be returned to the producer cooperatives and their communities or re-invested in inventory and other infrastructure to permit the cooperative and our partners to grow and prosper.
JustShirts believes that trade should be beneficial for all parties and that it is possible to produce and sell clothing that is socially just. We do this by jointly sharing the risk between the producers and consumers as well as by eliminating the profit that is based on exploitation.
Our first producer cooperative is the Cooperativa de Madres Solteras located in El Salvador. It is a worker-owned cooperative that started over a year ago with support from JustShirts. The single mothers worked at one point for the traditional maquila industry in El Salvador but faced many pressures: increased and irregular hours; working far from their communities and their children; and the closing down and relocating of factories due to changes in the international textile market. As the main supporters of their family the mothers had an uncertain future as they absorbed many of the negative consequences of the traditional maquila industry.
Once the mothers organized as a cooperative they were slowly able to address some of the aforementioned challenges. They are now able to work better and flexible hours, earn better wages, stay in their community (their workplace is a few blocks away from their houses), and spend more time with their children. It is especially important to highlight that the mothers are now managing their own business. They are no longer the passive invisible women that were expected to contribute to global apparel industry; they are now active constructors of an alternative!
These women have years of experience working in the garment industry and have the skills to produce quality clothing at reasonable prices.
JustShirts is a cooperative that brings together producers and consumers. In contrast to transnational companies that are only beholden to their shareholders, we believe in linking together all of the individuals that are involved in the production-consumption chain.
Stakeholder participation occurs through constant communication with our Southern partners as well as with the Northern partner organizations and individuals that participate in the value-creation chain.
The Single Mothers' Cooperative produces an array of items; including: T-shirts, hoodies, pajamas and conference bags. The t-shirts come in both women and unisex models, short and long sleeve, and in a variety of colors. We also offer silkscreening for an extra cost. For more information on our products please visit our website www.justshirts.ca, at justice@justshirts.ca.
We are grateful to the following organizations and individuals that have helped make Justshirts a reality:
* Alternative Grounds, Toronto, Ontario * Calgary Dollars, Calgary, Alberta * CKLN Radio, Toronto, Ontario * CUSO, Calgary, Alberta * Trekfoto, Calgary, Alberta * CJSW Radio, Calgary, Alberta * Just US! Coffee Roasters, Halifax, Nova Scotia
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