What is your refund policy?
- We're committed to ensuring that you love every Project Repat product that you buy. If you're unsatisfied with your purchase, return it within 21 days from the day it was shipped and will refund 100% of the purchase price — no questions asked. Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns over 21 days after your item was shipped. Please contact us if you would like to return your product.
Why should I purchase from Project Repat?
- The benefits of purchasing from Project Repat are two-fold. First, Project Repat is upcycling t-shirts that might otherwise end up in landfills (along with the other 5% of material waste on Earth that is used textiles). Second, Repat products provide fair wage employment opportunities in the United States. Thus, Project Repat products have all achieved “double hero” status. Plus, these products are awesome and branded by the official Repat stamp for a truly unique and amazing t-shirt experience.
You're the company that brings t-shirts home from Africa and sells them to raise money for non-profits, right?
- In another life, yes. Our original model was all about raising money for non-profit organizations run by the co-founders of Repat. But the idea just took off on us - we realized that the concept of t-shirts traveling around the world was really fascinating to people. We decided to change up our model a bit and turn Repat into a scalable social enterprise. While bring shirts home from Africa was great, it was more of a cute idea that raised some good money for non-profits. What we were really noticing was just how many t-shirts there are out there in the world. People have so many t-shirts that they don't even know what to do with all of them. So, we thought about ways to bring value to those t-shirts and the world by upcycling them into new products here in the United States.
Africa? How did shirts end up in Africa?
- Let us answer your question with another question. Did you know that a huge percentage of shirts donated to non-profit organizations are never put into stores for re-sale in the United States? Instead, they are sold for pennies on the pound and shipped off for sale in developing world markets. When you look at it that way, it’s really no surprise your old t-shirt is over there. Think of it as a really far away Buffalo Exchange.
How can I help?
- There are several ways to get involved. First, you can buy one of our amazing products, which will support fair wage employment opportunities in the United States and keeps shirts out of landfills or from getting dumped in developing countries. Second, you can help spread the word about Project Repat to your friends. And finally, friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. We hear that's what the kids are doing these days.
- We also need college and university campus representatives! Conduct a t-shirt drive on your campus, sell our products, and raise money for yourself or your cause. Contact us today to find out more!
Is the abundance of inexpensive, secondhand t-shirts in the developing world destroying local markets?
- This is an interesting question, and one that we will continue to explore as we grow as a company. We’ve heard a lot of different arguments. On the one hand, an abundance of inexpensive secondhand clothing does prevent local entrepreneurs and textile companies from starting their own businesses. On the other, it has created millions of small businesses (from clothing vendors, to seamstresses, to those packaging the clothing), and provides inexpensive clothing for those who otherwise might not be able to afford it at full price. To further understand the debate, please read this blog written by Project Repat’s co-founder Ross Lohr upon his return from Nairobi.
Is Project Repat 'mom approved'?
- This is also an interesting question, and one that we will also continue to explore as we grow as a company. But for now, the answer is...yes.