Why It Matters to Buy, Sell, and Wear Products That Make a Difference.
A conversation with Jeff Solomon from Why It Matters led me back to why the journey with Allmade and creating sustainable apparel isn’t just a business decision; it’s a personal mission. Selling, buying, or decorating products that make a difference is about rethinking the impact of the clothes we wear every day—on people, the planet, and the product itself. Here’s why that matters now more than ever. From Punk Rock to Sustainable Printing: The Personal Journey
I didn’t start out in sustainability, but it found me. My journey began with a punk rock band printing T-shirts for merch. I quickly realized I was a terrible screen printer—our shirts were fading, and they weren’t built to last. This was back when the industry relied heavily on harsh chemicals that were both dangerous to workers and harmful to the environment. My mentor in screen printing, Marvin Guillot, left a lasting impression; he suffered greatly from exposure to these chemicals, which ultimately took his life. Witnessing his experience was a wake-up call and a push to explore eco-friendly, safe alternatives in screen printing.
Building a Brand that Lives and Breathes Sustainability
As I dug deeper into sustainable practices, I realized the apparel industry’s environmental footprint was vast. We’re talking about an industry second only to oil in terms of pollution. I knew we had to build something that was better, safer, and more mindful of its impact. The more I learned, the more I understood the need to move from a culture of disposable products to one where each item’s journey is valued—from the materials sourced to the hands that make them.
In 2016, Allmade Apparel was born, grounded on three main tenets: People, Planet, and Product. For us, these pillars guide everything we do:
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People – Our shirts support living-wage jobs and positively impact communities like those in Honduras, where we manufacture. It’s not just about making shirts but ensuring our makers have a sustainable livelihood.
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Planet – By using organic and recycled materials, water-based inks, and Blue Sign certified inks, we minimize the harm on our planet. Our partnership with organizations like Green Story lets us calculate the impact of every T-shirt, empowering consumers to feel their impact—whether it’s conserving water or recycling plastic.
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Product – Quality matters. A well-made shirt means fewer items end up in landfills, as people hold onto the items they love and that last. This simple concept reinforces our mission: build products that withstand time and wear, ones people don’t want to toss.
The Impact Calculator: Seeing the Numbers Behind the Purpose
Our impact calculator isn’t just a cool feature; it’s a way to visually connect people to the difference they make with each Allmade shirt. A single T-shirt saves thousands of gallons of water, reuses plastic, and contributes to fair wages. It’s a tool that makes us stop and think: What if every item we purchased had this kind of positive impact?
Why It Matters in Today’s Market
As consumers, we’re constantly faced with options to buy more, buy cheaper, or buy fast. But what’s often missing is the story behind what we’re purchasing. Why does it matter if we invest in quality? Why do our choices affect the bigger picture? Buying better products means supporting companies that care about people, the planet, and quality. For the distributor, showing customers a product that feels right and comes with a meaningful story sets you apart.
In Jeff’s words, "Make money, sell good products, and do good for the planet." That’s the intersection where Allmade sits. Whenever we choose a product with a purpose, we support an entire ecosystem of positive change. So, here’s my invitation: feel your impact, know your story, and let’s build a world where every product we touch truly matters.
Connect with us at Allmade.com or follow us on Instagram to see more about our journey and how you can feel your impact.
- Ryan Moor, Allmade CEO
