Celebrity EDUN ONE Shirt Auction is Live!
October 31st, 2007 at 11:38 am | posted by Virginia SimmonsEDUN, the socially-conscious clothing company founded by Ali Hewson, Bono and NY clothing designer Rogan Gregory, launched an auction of celebrity customized ONE shirts - and all proceeds will go to ONE!
Head over to EDUNonline.com now to check out the shirts customized by Ben Affleck, Ellen Pompeo, Kerry Washington, Laila Ali, Chris Daughtry, Raquel Welch, Kirsty Hume, Donovan Leitch and their daughter Violet, Courtney Love, Gwyneth Paltrow, The Citizens Band, Rashida Jones, Liv Tyler, Michelle Monaghan, Julianne Moore, and Waris and to make a bid.
As I say every time, all of the EDUN ONE shirts are made in Lesotho Africa of 100% African cotton and $10 from every shirt purchase goes to ALAFA fund, a program to provide AIDS treatment to factory workers and their families.
October 31st, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I totally support the ONE organisation and the excellent work they
are doing in Africa.
October 31st, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I totally support the “One” organization but I don’t support $40 T-Shirts. Nice to see that the very benevolent EDUN can turn a nice profit and wrap it in social consciousness.
I work in the apparel industry and even after the $10 goes to the ALAFA Fund, that still leaves $30 to pay for a $5 T-Shirt. Maybe $6.50 if it is organic cotton.
Even if the blooming thing cost $10 (twice what I think and I import thousands monthly) EDUN is tripling their money on this “good deed”. How about donating all revenue over the landed duty paid cost and being happy with all the free PR you’re getting and by doing good!
October 31st, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Where do these funds really go?
Why should you auction the shirts anyhow? If you really want to make money for your organization, shouldn’t it be more accessible to the middle class?
I thought the sole purpose of one.org was to help…not campaign for help and then pull this crap!
October 31st, 2007 at 3:18 pm
I’ve got to agree with Peter. We pay for the fashion of being socially conscious and, in that one payment, could have actually been socially relevant. I work with community-based orphan care projects in Southern Africa. The $40 spent on one shirt could provide a school uniform, all required books, and school supplies for an 11 yo student in Mozambique. There would probably be money left over to buy food for the other children in the family. If we could encourage EDUN to go ahead and make their 100% on a $6.50 shirt and then donate the remaining $27 per shirt, the good they could do would be exponentially greater. I would even be likely to buy their stuff.
Food for thought.
October 31st, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Probably would be fair to find out what costs are associated with the creation of the shirts. It’s not cheap if to grow cotton in sub-Saharan Africa - mostly because growers aren’t subsidized like they are in the States. If Edun is actually supporting a sustainable economy by providing skills and training and —wait for it — a living wage, then the cost of $40 is no big thing.
I would like to emphasize the word “IF”. But to be fair, perhaps a bit of research is in order.
Peace
October 31st, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Probably would be fair to find out what costs are associated with the creation of the shirts. It’s not cheap to grow cotton in sub-Saharan Africa - mostly because growers aren’t subsidized like they are in the States. If Edun is actually supporting a sustainable economy by providing skills and training and —wait for it — a living wage, then the cost of $40 is no big thing.
I would like to emphasize the word “IF”. But to be fair, perhaps a bit of research is in order.
Peace
October 31st, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I love the work that ONE is doing. However this sounds like a good idea turned bad. $40 is mighty expensive for a t-shirt. I don’t buy concert t-shirts that are more than $25, I’m certainly not going to buy a t-shirt to be trendy. A $10 donation out of $40 means a 75% profit minus expenses for each shirt for EDUN. Seems more capitalistic than altruistic.
October 31st, 2007 at 4:57 pm
I agree with most of the previous comments. It would create a much better feeling for all involved if a simple statement of the costs and where the money is going would be made public. I wonder, is anyone from EDUN or ONE reading these comments? Would you like to say something?
October 31st, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I agree $40 seems a little excessive, but I’m sure the overhead of the One Campaign is’nt cheap. It tuff, but I think it’s good if we trust the leadership in place - I think we all have a hunch there hearts are in the right place. May seem naive, but I’m giving ONE the benefit of the doubt that their doing what they think is strategically best. If a $40 t-shirt helps give money to the campaign to forgive millions in debt from Africa… the math works out. I agree the price is striking and tuff to swallow though.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Nobody takes their wallet to the cemetery
October 31st, 2007 at 5:52 pm
EDUN’s mission is to build sustainable trade in developing areas of the world, especially Africa. EDUN is always looking for sustainable solutions that not only bring trade to areas that need it most, but also help to create initiatives such as the ONE tee program that help support the community. In this case, the EDUN ONE tee provides much needed ARV’s and prevention counseling to factory workers and their dependents in Lesotho (of which 40% of the workforce is infected). The funds ($10 from every tee PLUS an additional $10 from Nordstrom) go directly to ALAFA (Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS). EDUN is built on a TRADE FOR AID model, therefore, everyone along the chain must benefit. EDUN is not a charity, it is a for profit business that looks for sustainable solutions to help solve the issue of extreme poverty. We strongly believe trade is a long-term viable solution. It is also important to note what goes in to the cost of a garment – there is the cost of raw materials, which must then be spun, then cut and sewn, and, in this case, printed, shipped, plus relative marketing costs and all other direct and indirect costs of running the business. These are all factors that go in to the cost of a garment. Ten dollars is a significant amount to give back to the community, considering all costs involved in making the shirts and bringing them to the marketplace.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:10 pm
If you read the email, $10 goes to ALAFA (Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS), which provides life-saving AIDS treatment to factory workers and their family members. The remainder of the profits go to ONE and help us, among other things, to advocate for programs like ALAFA.
They have to pay the farmers for the cotton and the workers who make the shirts as well, “If they don’t it would be slave labor, Which would have nothing to do with Fair Trade,” . The RED campaign is questionable thow becouse they are Corperations not non profit orgs so they dont have to give fanancial documents to prove and or show how much they are realy donating.
If you realy wonted to suport families in under developed countries suport Fair Trade go to WWW.AGREATERGIFT.ORG
October 31st, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I agree with Peter. EDUN is makeing a substantial profit on each shirt at an inflated retail price. It may make better sense to lower the retail price and thus generate more byers. Personally, I can’t image bidding on a garment at an inflated price only because it was worn by a “personality” . A good product mix could be more effective.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:59 pm
The email explicitly said the rest of the profits go to “One”. They never ask for money - but they need to raise an operating budget somehow. I don’t get what the issue is!!
October 31st, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Like Barb said the remaining money is going to ONE.. Did anyone bother to read where the money will be going. It stated that clearly.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I support the ONE organization completely! However, I am not exactly interested in a shirt “worn” by a celebrity. I would rather see a larger selection of ONE shirts either from the site directly or by the ones made by EDUN. One with Bono on it wouldn’t be bad either!…..okay, that’s the one I WOULD wear….one worn by BONO!
October 31st, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Although Doris’ comments about an EDUN ONE tee with Bono on it makes me smile, I must also thank Bridget for getting into this discussion and trying to set a few facts straight about the EDUN ONE tees.
These tees are bringing much needed employment and much needed income to some of the world’s poorest people plus these tees also bring the People of Lesotho increased hope for their future.
How could anybody disagree with that - or with the fact that $10 goes right back to ALAFA to help the textile workers who make the tees?
If you can’t afford the $40 for a tee - I understand. But for those of us who want to purchase one of these tees, please allow us to do so without questioning this entire process.
THANK YOU, EDUN - THANK YOU BONO & ALI for all that you’re doing for the beleaguered people of Lesotho.
ONE t-shirt at a time. (smile)
Take very good care of each other, everyONE. Blessings always.
ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE - debbie
November 1st, 2007 at 1:19 am
Jeff-
$40 is a lot of money, even if Edun is providing skills and training. Further, even if an African worker was earning an AMERICAN living wage…say a living wage for a rich county in Maryland, the t-shirt cost shouldn’t neccessarily be so high. Additionally, African farmers arent subsidized in the way US farmers are…but good lord, it IS cheap to grow cotton in nonAfrica….that’s why they want Americans to reduce their subsides, because they know they will become better market leaders (and I hope they succeed). I can only hope the t-shirts are so expensive because there is limited SUPPLY…because ONE/Edun isn’t sure how many people will buy the shirts.
That said, I like the shirts and think ONE & Bono have done some great things. I might buy a shirt and not eat for a day.
November 1st, 2007 at 1:21 am
* in parts of Africa (not “nonAfrica”)
November 1st, 2007 at 4:26 am
I agree with Peter who writes, “I don’t support $40 T-Shirts. EDUN is tripling their money on this “good deed”. How about donating all revenue over the landed duty paid cost and being happy with all the free PR you’re getting and by doing good!”
As a Native of Southern Africa, I also find ONE organization taking advantage of the continent by tripling its profits on a T-SHIRT that costs less than a US$1 in Lesotho. The production and transportation costs will not even exceed $5, as from my personal experience with purchasing Lesotho’s upscale T-shirts.
In anyway, alll proceeds should go to Lesotho, why does Bono and crew need a $30 profit?
And if ONE has to be a trusted organization, STOPS using the continent for your earthly riches and guilty pleasures. Lesotho has better products to sell at $40 than that “so-called” organic T-shirt.
Will not buy, and will advise other ONE members not to, unless this sale has been revised.
November 1st, 2007 at 6:20 am
I call on EDUN to donate to One.org and ALAFA ALL REVENUE above their direct cost for this product. In the trade that would be the landed duty paid price plus a couple of bucks warehouse/pick and pack cost.
Based on 25 years in the apparel industry that should amount to about $8. Don’t saddle this good deed with carrying your NYC overhead or administrative costs. You have those things because your a for profit business. Besides you are getting tons of FREE PR form this gesture.
By my calculation that should net the needed $32 per T’shirt versus the pledged $10.
Show true philanthropy and I’ll buy all my friends the T’shirt for Christmas!
November 1st, 2007 at 8:06 am
So the way out of poverty for these people is to gather around them actors & rock stars with endless cash flows to help them create a product that they can sell for 4-5 times what it is really worth. wouldn’t it make more sense to manufacture a shirt that thousands of us could buy at a reasonable price, and spread the word thru-out the land of your cause.
November 1st, 2007 at 8:29 am
Hey everyone- just want to make sure you saw Bridget from EDUN’s comments above.
November 1st, 2007 at 8:31 am
EDUN ONE shirts are more than just a way to indicate you are a supporter of ONE, they are a way to make a substantial contribution to the lives of some of the people the ONE Campaign is working to improve. The shirt is 100% African, made in Lesotho from 100% African cotton. The T-shirt costs $40, of which $10 will be donated to the ALAFA fund (Apparel Lesotho Alliance for Africa). ALAFA provides life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to factory workers and their family members in Lesotho. In addition, Nordstrom will match the $10 donation for every T-shirt sold in the U.S., up to $100,000.
Since 2006, proceeds raised to support ALAFA have helped over 23,000 workers gain access to prevention programs and of these, 11,000 workers have had access to medicine and treatment. Over 150 peer educators have been trained so the local residents are more aware of how they can protect themselves and others against the danger of HIV. The initiative will help 45,000 Lesotho apparel workers – mostly women and one third of whom are estimated to be infected with HIV – fight back against a pandemic that claims the life of roughly 2,300 people in Lesotho’s apparel industry every year.
The special-edition shirt will again be 100% African, made in Lesotho from 100% African cotton. The T-shirt costs $40, of which $10 will be donated to the ALAFA fund (Apparel Lesotho Alliance for Africa). ALAFA provides life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to factory workers and their family members in Lesotho. In addition, Nordstrom will match the $10 donation for every T-shirt sold in the U.S., up to $100,000.
In this case, a $40 t-shirt is more than a fashion statement; it is a direct connection to a program that saves lives. You can spend money elsewhere, but it is unlikely the results of that purchase are as positive.
Kimberly Cadena
November 1st, 2007 at 9:01 am
Bridget, I still think $40 for a t-shirt is too much. You may get people to buy them now, with the hollywood types promoting them, but think long term. What happens when everyone moves on to the next cause. No ONE is going to buy a $40 t-shirt when they can go down the road and get it for $20. If ONE really wants to help, they must set prices that are closer to normal market value. Think about where your consumer base is going to be…middle class. Most middle class families don’t have the luxury of paying that price for a t-shirt. I appreciate all the hard work you guys do! Hope my comments help.
November 1st, 2007 at 9:56 am
Great work from The ONE Campaign and EDUN!
You can’t please everyone. If people are so upset by the price of these EDUN t-shirts they can purchase a $15 ONE shirt from the ONE store and donate $25 to ALAFA here: http://www.alafa.info/Pages/Donate.asp
November 1st, 2007 at 9:58 am
My read on the issue would combine Bridget and Peter’s comments. If you are interested in sustainable holiday gifts check out the White Earth Land Recovery Project [http://www.welrp.org]
The Cranberry Wild Rice is my favorite.
November 1st, 2007 at 10:11 am
omg - i can not believe the level of ignorance - I am supposed to remain upbeat and positive; however this time it is not possible. Last night i was going to post and did not because i hoped Bridgett said what needed to be said and it would end there.
Okay let ME try to explain.
First of all the $10 for ALAFA could be thought of as a direct donation with no relationship to the value of the shirt.
That means the shirt is $30.
For those of you who think that is too much when compared to “market prices” or “what a concert “T” goes for” you have to recognize that your pricing is relecting the earnings wage slaves that produced it. I promiss there is a much higher profit margin on your $20 concert “T” than on a Edun shirt.
I am willing to wager the maker of that same Bon Jovi “T” invested little or nothing in the infrastructure of the community when the shirt was made. By all accounts it seems that most times the companies who are “in the apperel indusrty” source their products from the CHEAPEST not the most Fair Trade oriented overseas firms. Has anyone heard of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company? That tragedy has only moved the problem underground. The word “sweatshop” is alive and well.
If you expect to REALLY take part in changing the world it will come at a price. However, eventually that Lethsoto garment worker will most likley learn about and want the things we have to offer and also be able to afford them. Subsequently he/she will make the purchase(s) thus completing the cycle of trade. This can only mean greater call for OUR skills and products and make us better off in the process.
It is also vital to remember ALL PROFITS GO TO “ONE”!!!!! So “calling for the profits to go directly to ALAFA” sounds like a call for justice but in fact really is asking ONE to keep paying its bills with promisses. btw to my knowledge there are no lavish NYC offices - if you look at the ONE pics on flikr you can see an occasional shot of the interior of the DC offices - they are pretty sparse.
I fully understand that $40 is a lot of money. Well it is to me. After all we are speaking out on behalf of those living on less than $1 a day!!! That being said $40 is alot to most of the people here in the USA; so if it does take a great sacrifice (like Dan’s idea of not eating for a day) do it. i fed my family of five three meals a day for $5 for the day for a week just to see if it could be done. True we baked alot of bread and ate alot of rice and beans but we never went hungry. In that one week we saved enough for almost three Edun “T”s.
I wish this blog had spell check
-m
November 1st, 2007 at 11:43 am
SUPPORT FAIR TRADE, NOT FREE TRADE THEY SOUND THE SAME BUT DON’T LET THOSE POLITICAL TYPES FOOL YA. FREE TRADE IS NOT FAIR. BY ALL MEANS WHEN ONE CAN BUY DERECTLY FROM THE SOURCE AND ELEMINATE THE,’ RED COAT TAXATION WITH OUT REPRESINTATION, MIDDLE MEN. WHO EASILY WE REPEAT HISTORY WE FLEE FROM IT AND THEN DO IT OTHER SOONER OR LATER EAVEN OUR SELVES. PEOPLE SHOULDNT WAIT FOR IT TO SHOW UP ON THEIR OWN FRONT DOOR BECOUSE THEN IT USEALY TO LATE AND THOSE TYPES SIT THERE AND WOUNDER WHAT HAPPEND WHEN MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN TELLING THEM. BUT PEOPLE DON’T CARE UNTIL IT EFFECTS THEM PERHAPS THE PHARM. CORPERATION LIKE MERK AND SO ON COULD JUST GIVE THE PEOPLE THE ANTI RETRO VIREL MEDS INSTEAD OF ONLY PULLING A LOOP TO WHERE THEY ONLY GIVE MEDS THAT WE THE PEOPLE PAY FOR AND NO MORE, WHY BECOUSE THEY GET THE MONEY SO IT STILL ENDS UP IN THERE POCKET. IF THEY REALY CARED THEY WOULD EXCEPT THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS AND JUST GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED AND NOT HAVE WORLDY MEANS TIDE TO IT. BECOUSE HONISTLY THEY ARENT GIVING ANY THING THEY ONLY USE WHAT WE THE PEOPLE PAY FOR. IT JUST ANOTHER MARCKETING SCEEM NOTHING IS EVER FIXED UNTIL EVER ONE JUST DESIDES TO GIVE WHAT IS NEEDED TO EACH OTHER WITH OUT A BORDERING SYSTEM TIDE TO IT. BORDERING SHOULD ONLY GO AS FAR AS SERTAIN ITEMS BUT WHEN ITS NEEDED IT SHOULD JUST BE DONE WITH NO STRINGS ATACHED.
WWW.AGREATERGIFT.ORG
November 1st, 2007 at 12:15 pm
There can be no argument against the wonderful work being done nor can anyone believe that the tragedy of poverty is not everyone’s concern.
I agree, however, with the “no buys.” $40 is a lot for a t-shirt only because so little is going to the cause. Stop profiting and lead by example. Minus basic manufacture and distribution (as Peter’s posting on November 1st, 2007, 6:20 am points out) the rest should go to the cause. Imagine how many more would be helped.
Lower the price of the shirt AND donate all minus direct costs - you can cast a wider net
or
Keep the current price AND donate all minus direct costs - smaller net
Either way, most of the money goes to those in need not self-congratulatory profit-makers as you seem to be.
November 1st, 2007 at 12:59 pm
urgh
November 1st, 2007 at 2:24 pm
This time to Michael, once again try to see the bigger picture…long term. While I commend you and your family for eating for a week what my family and I eat on a daily basis, most people are not going to change their eating habits to feed someone they don’t even know. The sad fact is, most people are willing to give only if doesn’t inconvience them. Say what you want we all know this is true. Being able to compete in the marketplace is the only way to sustain a viable business.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:28 pm
WWW.AGREATERGIFT.ORG
November 1st, 2007 at 2:43 pm
IGNOR THE ABOVE UNLESS YOU WONT TO COPY IT AND POST IT ON A BULLETIN LIKE MYSPACE TO EXPLAIN FAIR TRADE AND CONVINTIONAL TRADE.
The Conventional trade includes many middlemen who each take a cutof the money you spend leaving less for the farmers, and or the people.
$—-consumer—–store—–distributor—–company—-U.S. Broker—-Exporter—-Processor—–Middleman—-$ Farmer
Fair Trade eliminates middlemen so more of your money is paid to the farmer.
$—–Congregation—–Equal Exchange—-Farmer Cooperative—–$ Farmer
Put your faith into action:
Visit
WWW.LWR.ORG/COFFEE
November 1st, 2007 at 7:36 pm
THANK YOU VIRGINIA, BRIDGET, KIMBERLY & MICHAEL (amongst others) for weighing in during this discussion FOR EDUN - it is very much appreciated.
Michael - I feel your pain.
I simply don’t know what to say about this discussion except I have been wondering for a long while about some of the postings in the ONE Blog.
It seems like there are a lot of people who post in certain topic areas who appear to be coming into the discussion more to muddy the water than to provide clear thought.
I belong to a local organization in my area (Austin TX) which has a humanitarian relationship with Leostho. We raise money to fund certain programs for HIV+ women and their families.
Last year, the Ambassador from Lesotho came to our city to speak with business and other leaders in our community in an attempt to get more financial investment in her country.
I spoke with her for a long while and she noticed my white band that I was wearing. She asked me if I belonged to the ONE Campaign. I told her that I have been a faithful volunteer for ONE since its inception, going all the wayback to the start of DATA in 2002.
When I mentioned DATA, she smiled and told me just how helpful that they had been in trying to get more money put into programs to help her country.
I mentioned about EDUN’s work in Lesotho and the Ambassador smiled again and told me just how important ventures like EDUN are in bringing investment to her country and uplifting the standard of living of her people.
At the end of our discussion, I gave her a whiteband and we took several pictures together - proudly wearing our whitebands!
So when you SUPPORT EDUN or (RED) - you are supporting the People of Lesotho.
It is just that simple.
Take very good care,everyONE. Blessings - not just for those who kneel.
AS ONE, debbie
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:09 am
Thanks to everyONE who reads and understands that the remainder of the profits go to ONE!
Thanks to everyONE who continues to work hard to make poverty history!
November 4th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Thanks Debbie for your comments…
And this goes to the EDUN protesters:
If you don’t want to buy the bloody shirt - don’t nobody needs to know about it, but don’t try to cloud anybody else’s eyes with your own doubts…
Let’s feed the world together as ONE,
Lucia
November 4th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
To Liz and Lucia -
Thank you for your support of EDUN and her sister organizations - it is VERY MUCH appreciated!
Our movement to make extreme poverty history is not perfect - Bono and the others who are our founders and our spokespeople would be the first ones to attest to that.
But it can not be disputed that in the last ten years, the international movement to make extreme poverty history has been VERY SUCCESSFUL in alleviating the suffering of MILLIONS of the world’s poorest people and in changing the perception in the richer countries that extreme poverty CAN BE STOPPEDwhile mobilizing public opinion in these countries to support our movement.
Our movement is strong enough to welcome a different perspective on our issues as long as those who question us can offer something better to replace what we have to offer the world’s poorest people.
Take very good care of each other, my friends. Blessings - not just for those who kneel.~
ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE - debbie
PS: Please check out this website - www.whiteband.org
November 6th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I have a reservation for a thing like an expensive champagne dinner. It does not make sense of having such luxury and supporting poor people.
However, this one states that ‘All of the proceeds from this auction go to ONE’. And so, I do not see anything wrong. It hardly cost any more than original T shirts to get celebrity customize them. Thjose people, who are not interested, can just donate the money. Fans of celebrities do crazy thing. I am a G4 fan in UK and they sold their signed giant poster for 250 Pounds (almost 500 Dollars) to raise fund for a charity. Not a bad idea to involve celebrities, who can influence and encourage their fans to support the charities.
November 6th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I have a reservation for a thing like an expensive champagne dinner. It does not make sense of having such luxury and supporting poor people.
However, this one states that ‘All of the proceeds from this auction go to ONE’. And so, I do not see anything wrong. It hardly cost any more than original T shirt to get celebrity customize them. Those people, who are not interested, can just donate the money. Fans of celebrities do crazy thing. I am a G4 fan in UK and they sold their signed giant poster for 250 Pounds (almost 500 Dollars) to raise fund for a charity. Not a bad idea to involve celebrities, who can influence and encourage their fans to support the charities.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
It’s great to see celebrities step up and do something good for this world.That gives their fans something to think about.
ONE is an excellent organization.Lets the people with less know that we care very much.
April 19th, 2008 at 8:59 am
It’s great to donate yet, I would like to see more homes, hospitals, schools, built closer together so people from other countries who are extremely poor do not have to travel as far. I would like to see the GOOD work and done intelligently and logically. You always see people walking for miles. Can’t someone see that building homes, schools, and hospitals, stores, etc closer together would makwe sense. It’s just a thought. I understand not everyone would benefit but if a good portion does, ” Why not”. Thanks
May 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
i want to buy from your goods