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Organic T-Shirts For Peace
By Rebecca Sheir on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.
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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been edged out of the U.S. headlines in recent weeks, but the world turns there, too. Today, Israel will reportedly pull out of disputed areas in the northern corner where Israel borders Syria and Lebanon. The prime minister of Israel is being investigated for corruption. A U.S. presidential candidates still throw the occassional nod to support Israel in the face of brazen threats from Iran.
Peace may still seem a far way off. But a grassroots businessman in Boston has an idea for building peace and prosperity in the Middle East, while protecting the environment and defending workers' rights - just by buying a t-shirt.
Ask Adam Nieman what he does for a living, and he'll offer a response that's a little bit... different.
"Well, I make organic cotton t-shirts, at a Palestinian-owned factory, on Virgin Mary Street in Bethlehem," Nieman said.
How did a 51-year-old, Jewish-American, Harvard drop-out find himself peddling organic couture from the West Bank? It all started in 2001, when the longtime Bostonian sold his roofing business, took out a loan against his house, and founded No Sweat Apparel, a company that sells items made in sweatshop-free unionized factories in the United States, and in developing nations like Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina, and Palestine.
The “Made in Bethlehem” t-shirts in No Sweat's stockroom are made of soft-combed, Indian cotton – certified organic by a Dutch NGO -- and come blank, or printed with a Japanese proverb: "Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."
Nieman, a lifelong political activist, sees his shirts as a way to promote peace and prosperity in the Middle East, "because young men with guns, and without jobs is a recipe for violence," Nieman said. "And while economic development isn't a substitute for a diplomatic solution, no diplomatic solution can be sustained without a sustainable Palestinian economy."
And right now, that economy is anything but "sustainable." About half of Palestinians are without jobs. The once-thriving textile business is now stagnant. So when Nieman learned about this factory on Virgin Mary Street, where the workers all belonged to the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions, he quickly booked a flight there.
It was July 2006, and the war in Lebanon broke out while his plane was in the air. But Nieman landed safely, and was whisked past the checkpoints to the Arja Textile Company, which went sweatshop-free in 2005. Today, it employs 100 knitters, dyers and sewers, and about 50 subcontractors, all of whom receive above-minimum wage plus paid holidays and health care.
Since the factory can't compete globally against sweatshops in, say, China or Bangladesh, he's mainly done business with Israelis. Of course, working with an American businessman was not easy. The West Bank is landlocked, so they have to use Israeli ports, and at one checkpoint Israelis confiscated several shipments of fabric dye, which they suspected were ingredients for bombs.
It took a handful of Israeli government officials to grease the wheels, such as Nadav Tamir, Israel's Consul General to New England. "A strong economy for the Palestinians... more empowering for the moderates rather than the extremists," Tamir said, "is something that we see as important for us, for the Palestinians, for the region and for peace."
But Adam Nieman's having a bit of trouble with business. While the “Made in Bethlehem” line has received plenty of praise and customers, Nieman's had a tough time finding investors. As a result, No Sweat Apparel's been losing money for the last year and a half. But Nieman, who describes himself as more of a “progressive” Jew than an “observant” one, is keeping the faith.
"What we're doing, most folks consider slightly less risky than betting on peace in the Middle East," Nieman said. "But I would say it's a lot less risky! I mean, the fact that we've got common ground, for Jews, Muslims, Christians and aetheists, on Virgin Mary Street, in Bethlehem, it's what most people of faith would consider a miracle."
(Photos from No Sweat Apparel)
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Great story about an awesome concept. Thanks!
I've been buying NoSweat clothes for a couple of years now. I really feel good about the fact that they are not made in sweat shops. I also think the shoes are cool. I try to tell as many people as I can about the company. Thanks for running this story.
This is free enterprise as it was meant to be, profit in the service of justice. May the business prosper and its message spread.
I've been buying from NoSweat for years and it's felt like a really great investment. Now with the shirts made to help Palestinians, as well as to promote peace between Palestinians and Israelis, I feel even better about my purchases from NoSweat!
For clothing that is made without the use of sweatshops, the clothes are comfortable, reasonably priced, and last long. I would encourage anyone who has not to try them out! I think you will be more then happy with your purchase... you'll also feel better knowing you supported fairly paid workers!
Keep up the great work, NoSweat! :)
What a great and courageous idea! This is a concrete way for us plain folks to support the people working for peace in the Middle East.
I wish everyone could hear about this wonderful project. Over the past years, we've heard enough about bombs and torture. It's time to focus on positive contributions to society like this Jewish American who is creating decent jobs for Palestinians. Very cool! I don't know how to say tikkun olam in Arabic, but this is exactly what the world needs more of in order to heal the current wounds.
No Sweat apparel makes great stuff with integrity. It's well priced and makes a statement about who you are and what you value. I absolutely support this company and their mission, and think that more people should invest and shop with No Sweat.
Great story! Providing jobs in the Middle East seems like a great way to improve many families' lives.
What a wonderful story! This is truly an example of lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness. It's a small candle but all it takes is for other wicks to come forward and be lit by it. No Sweat is truly a company that cares for the welfare of its workers rather than boosting its bottom line.
Great story. More of this, please!
Awesome work on getting the word out on No Sweat Apparel. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT SWEAT SHOPS and about companies like No Sweat who are actually doing something about it.
IN Solidarity,
Mike K.
I like knowing about responsible ways to spend, and have been a fan of their No Sweat brand of sneakers for several years. (I have two pairs that I wear daily and recommend them highly.)
Please let us know about more small businesses that try to do good. And please buy from No Sweat -- they are good people.
No Sweat Apparel is a great company, with an amazing vision. If all businesses would follow their example, peace might just be possible!
thanks for running this story. "No Sweat" is a great company trying to build a transparent economy, and attempting to bring a little bit of peace to the world.
My wife and I have been buying their shoes and shirts for a couple of years now. I hope you can keep getting the word out.
Thanks for running this piece; I hope you'll run it nationally. NoSweat is a rare company that makes high-quality products in a truly principled way. It deserves the attention from NPR and other media -- and enthusiastic support from consumers, too.
I've been a supporter of No Sweat for a while now. I absolutely LOVE everything about them from the sweatshop free, to the organic, to the awesome styles! I hope that No Sweat keeps it up, amazing story!
I listen to NPR daily in monterey and love no sweat clothing. I would love to hear this piece on the radio. Great company.
Although I often listen to NPR, I live in Minnesota never knew Adam Nieman's story until I read Rebecca Shier's uplifting report online.
I have frequently bought items from NoSweat! apparel, despite the long shipping distance, but after reading about Nieman, I felt especially motivated to buy a T-shirt from Bethlehem bearing the image of a tree. Recently, I read Karen Armstrong's biography of Muhammad, in which she explained that in the arid Middle East, cutting down a tree on an enemy's property has long been interpreted as an act of war. Surely, I thought, to plant a tree ought to be regarded as an act of peace. And the same goes for supporting sustainable agriculture, fair trade, and union jobs.
This is a wonderful company that is true to the vision of creating a sustainable economy for the Palestinians, creating peace through practical means. It should be supported and we should all do what we can to spread the word. Please put this on national NPR. I love my organic made in Bethlehem shirts!
I am a loyal fan of both NPR and No Sweat. The fact that both appeal to me is due to the fact that both value the human condition over profit. That is why No Sweat Peace tees is a perfect story for NPR. Both represent the ideal that we live our values through the choices we make each day. This refers to everyday events such as the news we listen to or the clothes we buy. I'd love to hear more on this.
When my now 14 year old daughter and I started purchasing shoes and clothes from No Sweat, our interest brought on a change in thinking about who makes everything we wear and expanded our conversations about ethics and manufacturing. Now, whenever we buy almost anything, we try to investigate, and we make very different choices. Having a great company to send our friends and family to helps us convert money into action right here . We love No Sweat Apparel, and are so glad to see NPR taking notice through this story!
more people should hear about this silent little whisper
Thanks for airing this story. I own a couple of these tee shirts and have given some as gifts. They are comfortable, durable, good looking as well as politically correct. The company deserves this kind of media exposure.
Great reporting, intriguing article. I was glad to hear NPR do something on No Sweat, which I ran into a few years and order from several times a year. I believe we can vote with our purchases. Beyond what No Sweat's doing in Bethlehem, it's great to see they're having things made in the US, under good conditions for workers. A bit empowering to think we, Americans, can afford to buy items that are produced in our own country; and that feels like such a novel idea today.
Thanks for running the story.
Gina Anderson
Ohio, Singapore
I bought several of these shirts as gifts and they are very attractive and well-made; I think they will wear well. It's great when you take a chance to support a grassroots effort like this and discover the product is worth the investment.
I'm really glad to see No Sweat getting some publicity! I've been buying their stuff (especially their sneakers!) for quite a while, and NS is definitely a company that should be more widely known. For me, this is what business should be about--creating a good product by non-exploitive means and selling it a fair price. G'wan NS!
Great story, it proves the importance of conscientious consumerism. I've been buying clothing from No Sweat for several years and I hope this story reaches out to more potential customers.
I just bought loads of stuff from this project, it really is the perfect ethical choice; and the clothes are pretty nice too ;)
Please keep covering these guys so they can get investors and start making money and keep bringing development and peace to this region.
Thank you for giving No Sweat some air time. This world would transform if there were more companies like this - they combine the American ideals of capitalism and the market with compassion and social responsibility. Brilliant. The word needs to spread: it can be done!!!!
I found no sweat apparel this last year doing some sociology research. I try to by local and/or fair trade so I tried the company out. My first purchase was a Bethlehem shirt, and I have fallen in love with them. They have become a standard in my own wardrobe. The quality and fit is great. You not only feel good outside wearing the products. You feel good inside knowing you are supporting sweatshop free labor and a depressed struggling Palestinian economy. All politics aside it is the humanitarian and compassionate thing to do with regard to the Palestinian people. A person with income/work has greater self respect and hope. You also get to enjoy a great product.
I have bought other products from No Sweat and they have all been of A+ quality.
I hope they stay around for the long term and thank them for a great shopping experience.
Great story! I'm in the process of starting up an e-commerce website that will feature Christian apparel. I'm doing direct-to-garment digital printing on No Sweat Bethlehem organic T-shirts. The shirts are soft and beautiful and the company has been a true pleasure to work with!
Thank you for airing this story.
This piece is awesome! I'm a great fan of No Sweat and was thrilled to hear NHPR cover them. We need more exposure of positive and genuingely LIFE-CHANGING businesses like this report of No Sweat here in our Capitalist USA.
I Love what you guys @ no sweat are doing. PEOPLE, we need to start buying their clothes to make a difference. We don't want to see the business fail. Wait "fail" was a bad word, they have already succeeded a lot, but rather, we don't want them to go bankrupt!
This is an enlightening story. Thanks NPR.