Innovation

TreeShirts developed a partnership with Reserva Ecologica de Guapiacu (R.E.G.U.A), ONNO shirt maker, and Cleveland-based printing company Jakprints to design stylish, comfortable t-shirts and plant one tree in the Atlantic Forest per purchase. The shirts are made by ONNO, using sustainably-sourced bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton, giving them a unique and cozy texture. Bamboo is grown without pesticides, rarely needs replanting, grows rapidly, and requires zero irrigation. It grows at a rate of 2 inches per hour and matures in 3-5 years in contrast with the 25-50-year maturation cycle of trees. It also is incredibly cool, breathable, and soft. Organic cotton is a sustainable alternative to traditional cotton, one of the most pesticide-heavy crops. It is a rotation crop and does not erode soil like traditional monoculture cotton. The shirts are eye-catching and are designed to be the catalyst for a conversation about rainforest restoration.

"We wanted to make a product that is wholesome from start to finish. Clean materials for a good cause that ultimately start a conversation. We want to leave a maximum positive impact, not just minimize harmfulness." said Tess.

Inspiration

Tess Barsody and RJ Hoover were two college classmates that shared a passion for the environment as well as entrepreneurship. After learning about the rapid rate of deforestation caused by urbanization and agriculture, the two decided to use business as vehicle to restore the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The idea for TreeShirts was born in a social entrepreneurship class at John Carroll University. "The assignment was to create an entirely sustainable business model. Afterwards we were left with a pretty good model that we wanted to make reality," explained Tess.

After plenty of hard work and an A+ grade, the business model was entered into a Cleveland-area entrepreneurship competition where it was awarded prize money that was directly invested to start up TreeShirts.

Overall impact

Through its partnership with Brazil’s REGUA, TreeShirts has planted hundreds of trees that are self-sustaining and protected in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. It has also begun a local conversation of conservation in the Cleveland area. According to Tess, "A TreeShirt is a reminder for its wearer to be mindful of his or her footprint in day-to-day life."

Business benefit

A TreeShirts order helps support an entire supply chain of sustainable businesses. TreeShirts informs ONNO of the order, which sends a shipment of bamboo shirts to Jakprints to have the design sustainably printed on the shirt. The shirts are sold at a profit with a percentage going to REGUA to plant a tree in the Atlantic Forest.

Social and environmental benefit

TreeShirts is a fashionable way to raise awareness about the endangered Atlantic Forest. A TreeShirts customer not only adds a super comfortable article of bamboo to her wardrobe, she also becomes a walking billboard and an ambassador for the rainforest. A Tree Shirt is grown without harmful chemicals and pesticides, making it a clean, healthy product to wear. The shirts are designed to be recognized as cause-driven, but ambiguous and eye-catching enough to get people asking questions. The Tree Shirt staff updates the community on the progress of the tree pledged through their purchases through emails and regular blog posts on the website. Deforestation of the Atlantic has been outlawed, but only 2% of the primary forest remains. Restoration will take an enormous effort. REGUA and Tree Shirts preferred to enter into a one-for-one restoration project. The five dollars given to the REGUA for each shirt sold ensures that a tree is grown in a nursery until it is strong enough to live on its own in the rainforest. This growing technique has a much higher success rate than pledges to plant multiple trees for every sale.

"Instead of scattering seeds across the rainforest, we worked hard to ensure that one TreeShirt results in one healthy, self-sustaining tree." - Tess Barsody

"I would say that any effort, no matter how small, has a positive impact. We are not performing brain surgery. We are selling cool shirts, that look great and do great and in return we plant a tree in the rainforest. Even if we only planted one tree, that is one more tree on our earth that was not there before. If there is an area in our world that you want to make an impact, you can." - Tess Barsody

Interview

Tess Barsody, Co-Founder