Ethleteco: Shirts for Social Change

Ethleteco is a company owned by a friend of mine. It is a great company and I think she is on to something big. Her designs are cute and send a message. They are working on more designs everyday, so make sure to follow Ethleteco on Facebook or Twitter for the latest. Anyone would be proud to wear one of the shirts. Instead of me explaining the message I am going to let them explain it. From their web site:

"Ethleteco Clothing Company was formed with the purpose of promoting positive social change by building local economies that are not dependent on "big business".  Not only are we "sweatshop free", but our shirts are made in the U.S. by employees that are provided with a healthy work environment and benefits such as retirement plans, paid vacations, and health and dental coverage.  We're helping the environment by using the most sustainable materials that we can source.  We offer organic cotton, bamboo/cotton blend and 100% recycled shirts.  All printing is done with environmentally-friendly water based inks, and even the normally toxic clean-up solutions are safe for our streams.

That's all just dandy, but we wanted to go one step further.  The current global economy is really hurting the people of developing countries and the practices of U.S. clothing companies are a big part of the problem.  Overseas and "overborder" production of the clothes and other goods in free trade zones, maquiladoras, and sweatshops contributes to the continued poverty of the people in the countries where these facilities are located.  We wanted to help them break the dependence on under-paid jobs at foreign firms by helping them to start their own businesses.  We've partnered with Kiva to fund microloans for entrepreneurs throughout the world so that they can build their own local economies and reduce their reliance on foreign jobs and foreign imports.  Kiva also funds microloans in the U.S. for entrepreneurs who may not qualify for traditional financing.  We think that helping people to start their own businesses, no matter where they are located, will help us all.  A portion of profits from absolutely everything that we sell goes to this important cause."