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 [email protected].
You can buy our clothes at the following places:
-Haymarket Cafe and Books (101 Macleod Tr SE. Calgary, Alberta)
-Trend Fashion (120 10 Street NW. Calgary, Alberta)
-Outdoor Approach (735 10 Avenue SW. Calgary, Alberta)
-Manitoba Council of International Cooperation, Winnipeg, Manitoba
-Mondragon Bookstore and Coffeeshop, Winnipeg, Manitoba
-Fair Trade Clothing Cooperative, Toronto, Ontario
-SalvAide, Ottawa Ontario
Here is a sample of the organizations/bands that have used out t-shitrs:
* Alternative Grounds, Toronto, Ontario
* CKLN Radio, Toronto, Ontario
* CJSW Radio, Calgary, Alberta
* Just US! Coffee Roasters, Halifax, Nova Scotia
* University of Calgary Womens' Resource Centre, Calgary, Alberta
* Ravel Wear, Toronto, Ontario
*Axis of Justice, Los Angeles, California
*Propagandhi
*The Martyr Index
*Guerrilla Funk Monster
*Michael Franti and Spearhead
***GOOD NEWS!!! JustShirts made the SweatShop Watch 2007
Shopping Guide--click on the button or visit our blog
section for more information***
Read the cover story in the May 2006 Briarpatch on JustShirts. Click the magazine cover!!
For more articles on JustShirts visit our blog
**visit our blog for more information on prices and press coverage**
**Scroll Down and Click a Photo to Start Purchasing**
With our fairly-traded t-shirts you don't have to forsake style and comfort! All shirts are sewn by our partner cooperative, La Cooperativa de Madres Solteras, to the highest quality standards.
Women's long-sleeve t-shirts are 100% cotton and are available in black (5% spandex), chocolate, navy blue, green, olive, grey/olive, wine and pink in small, medium, large and extra-large sizes.
Price: $15
Colour
Size
Unisex long-sleeve t-shirts are 100% cotton and are available in small, medium, large and extra-large sizes.
Price: $15
Colour
Size
Women's short-sleeve baby t-shirts are 100% cotton and are available in small, medium, large and extra-large sizes.
Price: $15
Colour
Size
Unisex short-sleeve t-shirts are 100% cotton and are available in small, medium, large sizes and extra-large sizes.
Price: $15
Colour
Size
Unisex 100% velour cotton hoodies are available in red and black in medium and large sizes.
Price: $25
Colour
Size
Unisex 100% heavy weight cotton hoodies available in red and grey in large and extra large.
Price: $30
Colour
Size
Purchase $50 or more, and the shipping is free anywhere in Canada!
All prices are in Canadian dollarsOur payment system is operated by PayPal. PayPal accepts all major credit cards as well as PayPal accounts.
The shirts can also be purchased in Calgary from the CUSO office (403-283-2871) and in Toronto by calling (416-855-9615). If you are interesting in bulk order pricing please contact us at [email protected]. Also if you are a member of a community organization and would like to participate, we look forward to hearing from you!
**Scroll down to purchase our designer t-shirts**
Our designer tshirts have been designed and screened by local Canadian artists and artisans.
"Think" reminds us that democracy depends on people holding their leaders accountable and how leaders, whether dictators or democratically elected, prefer their charges not to think.
Available in women's long (black, chocolate, men's long (black) and unisex short (wine).
Designed by Michael Guilioni of Article 8 Clothing.
Price $25
Colour
Size
" Progress" is intended as a statement against autodominance in our society. Much of our society and economy is actually structured around the car and its requirements - instead of humans and their needs. (Our most popular design)
Available in men's long (navy) and unisex short (navy, olive and wine).
Designed by Michael Guilioni of Article 8 Clothing
Price: $25
Colour
Size
"Genes" is a depiction of the cellular model and how matter consists of inter-connected parts. It draws our attention to the holistic and interconnected nature of life from the smallest of cells to the largest of the world's ecosystems.
Available in women's long (olive/grey and orange).
Designed by Michael Guilioni of Article 8 Clothing
align="left"Price: $25
Colour
Size
"Flower" is a design that emphasizes that there is no beginning or end to life in that all parts are connected and that even the most disparate events will somehow contribute to the whole.
Available is women's long (ladrillo).
The design has been hand silk screened using a degradation technique to hand mix the colors. The result is that the coloring of each shirt is unique.
Designed by Oscar Quintanilla.
Price: $25
Colour
Size
" Fairly Traded recognizes that through our consuming habits, we can disrupt the status quo.
Available is women's long (olive/grey).
The design has been hand silk screened using a degradation technique to hand mix the colors. The result is that the coloring of each shirt is unique.
Designed by Anon.
Available in women's long t (navy) and men's long (navy).
Design: Ravelwear
Price: $25
Colour
Size
"Forgotten" is a design that defies description!
Available in men's long (orange)
Designer: Ravelwear
Price: $25
Colour
Size
Purchase $50 or more, and the shipping is free anywhere in Canada!
All prices are in Canadian dollarsOur payment system is operated by PayPal. PayPal accepts all major credit cards as well as PayPal accounts.
The shirts can also be purchased in Calgary from the CUSO office (403-283-2871) and in Toronto by calling (416-855-9615). If you are interesting in bulk order pricing please contact us at [email protected]. Also if you are a member of a community organization and would like to participate, we look forward to hearing from you!