Apr 22, 2020

GPDGT: Adila Cokar

In honour of Fashion Revolution Week April 20-26th, it's our pleasure to share the story of Adila Cokar, founder of The Good Tee, who embodies the spirit of sustainable fashion so well. Her journey and experience shows that by making your core values of people and planet an essential part of your business foundations, creating a radically transparent supply chain is very possible!

Meet Adila Cokar: founder of The Good Tee

What is your company's mission?

The Good Tee’s mission is to be a positive example of a responsibly made product and set a precedent in the fashion industry.

The global fashion industry has a huge problem with pollution, waste and human rights issues. So, we believe that creating a product that supports the entire supply chain is extremely important: starting from the cottonseed, to the farmer, to the final product - all of it involves complete transparency. We source only certified organic Fair Trade, which supports the often neglected farmer, and allows us to create a product that has a minimal footprint.

What inspired The Good Tee to begin?

I have over a decade of experience as the author and serial entrepreneur behind Source My Garment: working closely with offshore factories, as well as partnering with and building businesses within the fashion industry. I’ve made countless trips overseas and developed many close relationships with factories.

On my trips, I often read about the ongoing problem of farmers in India committing suicide. Since 2002, nearly 300,000 farmers in India have committed suicide and very little attention has been given to this massive issue.

With high levels of illiteracy, many cotton farmers live in poverty and depend on middlemen who often buy their cotton at prices well below the cost of production.

I realized that it all wasn't right and that something needed to change.

I decided to utilize all my experiences and knowledge to create a brand that exemplifies responsibility, and so The Good Tee was born. We give 3% of their purchases to support farmer collectives, have a fully transparent fair trade supply chain and create a product with minimal environmental impact.

Wondering #whomademyclothes?

The Good Tee is fully transparent, mapping out each step and supplying names directly on their website. Wondering what the factory looks like? A video will walk you through the entire factory, which started in 1994, is run by Franciscan Nuns as a means to support their old age home and orphanage. Respecting the supply chain plays a critical role at every step and contributes to the good vibes each product emits.

What kind of superpower does your company possess and why should we care?

Our superpower is responsibility.

Every product has a life cycle that begins at research and materials, to production, distribution, consumer use and end-of-life. At each step, The Good Tee implements ways to create a sustainable product that cares for our planet and the people that put their hearts into each product.

What are your bestselling products?

Our classic unisex tee, is the perfect modern fit for both men and women. Consumers can enjoy the basic as is, and businesses have the ultimate blank canvas to print on.

Our two most popular women’s products are the women v-neck and batwing tee. Both are great additions to a sustainable wardrobe and have a bit of edge with little details that will still be fashionable years to come.

Last but not least our unique baby basics always seem to turn heads with the unfinished details and butt and elbow patches. Even for people without kids!

What are you working on for 2020 and beyond that you want us to know about?

I’m excited to say we are just a few steps away from becoming BCorp Certified which ensures we meet the highest standard of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. We are looking to grow our partnerships with retail shops, businesses that share the same values of balancing the need to profit while caring for our planet and people.

We want to make it easier for businesses and consumers to source the kind of supply chain which supports responsibly manufactured apparel. Together we can be a force for good.

Thank you so much Adila for being so strong willed in your pursuit for eco-fashion greatness! We admire you and your passion and hope you have enjoyed reading.

Visit www.thegoodtee.com for 25% off until May 4th, 2020.

Use code: CMC25