Foundational to GoLite is a mission to leverage company resources, materials, processes and partnerships to do good, while minimizing environmental impact.
SEATTLE, WA – The popular outdoor brand GoLite® relaunched under new ownership that will honor and extend the original brand’s purpose-driven legacy in far-reaching ways. More than just a technical apparel company, the new GoLite will pair powerful humanitarian and environmental initiatives with an earth-friendly clothing collection that marries outdoor performance and athletic functionality. As before, but with a fresh take on product direction, GoLite will produce sustainable performance products that enable active explorers to do more in the outdoors with less. But making good product that is light on the planet is just part of the new business model. Foundational to GoLite is a mission to leverage product sales – along with new company resources, materials, processes and partnerships – to power charitable and environmental impact.
GoLite’s key brand impetus, GoAid™, was born from the inspiration to go beyond just making great products and integrate humanitarian initiatives directly into the business model. In collaboration with leading International relief organizations, GoLite is utilizing company resources to manufacture and distribute medical uniforms and to jumpstart micro-enterprise programs that empower and protect local communities across the globe. GoLite officially launches spring 2019, however the brand has already donated 12,000 GoLite manufactured uniforms to Medical Teams International health workers as they care for hundreds of thousands of refugees in Uganda. Uganda is the first of many GoAid™ programs.
“We’ve been inspired by many companies doing serious philanthropic work around the world,” says Josh Clifford, GoLite Brand Manager. “When we set out to reintroduce GoLite, we knew we wanted to play a significant role in this movement. We decided the best way to demonstrate our commitment was to prove it before we sold a thing. The technical shirts we give away are the ones we are most proud of.”
Equally integral to the GoLite brand is its GoResponsibly™ commitment to utilizing the latest sustainable fibers, finishes and manufacturing processes throughout the line, while simultaneously working to develop new solutions. Core earth-friendly launch collections include the GoLite Re and ReGreen assortments made in collaboration with DA.AI, Taiwan’s first non-profit company dedicated to producing eco-friendly products and one of the world’s first non-profit companies which donates 100% of their net proceeds to charity.
“More than 80% of the introductory GoLite product line is developed from environmentally preferred, recycled and low energy production materials and processes,” shares Caroline MacMillan, GoLite Design Director. “We are fully committed to improving upon these percentages every season.” The Spring 2020 GoLite Collection will be made from 92+% recycled materials.
GoLite products merge outdoor performance and athletic functionality into a new category the team coined “Outletics.” The five key outletics focus areas include:
- earth-friendly
- lightweight
- active function
- outdoor/athletic
- systems approach
One standout product, the GoLite ReGreen Windshell, recently recognized with an Outdoor Industry Innovation Award for sustainability, was honored further with a coveted Backpacker Editors’ Choice Green Award.
For a quarter century, Backpacker editors and contributors have taken the most promising products hiking and camping around the world in search of the cream of the crop. Backpacker teams log thousands of hours of testing through extreme conditions in remote corners of the globe to uncover the few pieces of gear that outshine the rest to earn an Editors’ Choice Award.
“Backpacker gives out Editors’ Choice awards every year, but there are no set categories,” explains Eli Bernstein, Associate Gear Editor. “This means that we don’t have to give an award to a sleeping bag, or a tent, or a wind shell every year; a product truly has to earn our admiration for us to honor it. Green awards are how we designate products that are especially environmentally friendly, which the GoLite ReGreen most certainly is.”
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About GoLite
GoLite’s earth-friendly apparel designs merge outdoor performance with athletic functionality for active exploration.
Foundational brand pillars include the GoAid™ humanitarian and GoResponsibly™ environmental initiatives to do good, while minimizing environmental impact. GoLite GoAid™ collaborations with leading relief organizations consist of uniform and micro-enterprise programs that empower and protect local communities across the globe. Carefully chosen factory and mill partnerships ensure that products are manufactured in fair, safe, and non-discriminatory facilities. More than 80% of the introductory GoLite product line is developed from environmentally preferred, recycled and low energy production materials and processes. Company resources are dedicated to improving these percentages each season, while working to uncover newer, better solutions. GoLite – active outdoor gear that’s light on the path and the planet. Corporate headquarters in Seattle, WA. www.golite.com
Media contact:
Janine Robertson
Marketing/PR
GoLite®
janiner@golite.com
http://www.golite.com
Ph: 206 354-9093