Holstee

Logo Each generation changes the world in a different way.  Not only as a nation but the entire world is in need of a greener way to live.  Be it manufacturing, growing sustainable products, cleaner fuel or less pollution, this is a concept that is being embraced far and wide.  We are seeing innovative ways across each industry to create a greener world. 

I had the pleasure of meeting with the group behind Holstee yesterday.  They take their passion for changing the world and giving back by creating clothes with a conscious.  They are working on growing an ecommerce business, merchandise driven made with fabrics that are recycled.  For instance, the fabrics in their t-shirts are made from recycled plastic bottles.  They are also working with another fabric that is made with plastic bags that are filling up our world.  Last and certainly not least, they put their money where their mouth is.  10% of their proceeds go to KIVA which is an organization that micro-lends to entrepreneurs in developing worlds. 

Of course, like all young hip websites these days, you can also listen to their favorite tunes of the day.  There is a social media piece to create a community for other people who are interested in their concept and products.

I really liked their energy, their drive and their desire to change the world one t-shirt at a time. 

Comments (Archived):

  1. Thianh

    wow, so glad you profiled holstee…I have worked with these guys many times and they are truly dedicated and extremely hard working.

    1. Gotham Gal

      Their work ethic and love for what they are doing comes across instantly. It is impressive how quickly they have scaled in a business that they have learned from the ground up.

  2. Omead Kohanteb

    Glad to see Holstee on here! Hoping they will grow, I see them as being a large part of helping to get people to become more sustainable in their personal lives.

  3. bwj

    Great write-up. The attitude and passion of these guys is infectious. Get to know them now because you’re going to be hearing a lot about them in the future.

  4. daverad

    Thanks for the kind post! It was a true pleasure meeting with you. In the short meeting we had, the three of us had a lot of takeaways – looking forward to learning more from your experience as we grow!@thianh @omead @bwj many thanks for the kind comments!

  5. Martin Hügli

    A company like Holstee really inspires – this is the kind of company I want to buy from and I want to see many more of!”I really liked their energy, their drive and their desire to change the world one t-shirt at a time. “Yes, that really describes the whole Holstee team! I have learned a lot from their passion and dedication and admire their energy and professionalism just as much as their ideas and creativity. In fact, they have posted a video that has greatly inspired me: http://www.facebook.com/hol…. After seeing it, I basically quit my safe and well-paying job to move from Europe to NYC and work for NYC-based startups. Thanks guys, it’s been awesome so far – and keep up the good work 😉

    1. Gotham Gal

      That is an impressive move. Bravo!

  6. Andreas Brenner

    I had the pleasure to meet the team when I was in NYC late last year. I have been friends with one of the co-founders for a few years. From that experience I must say the guys truly are up to change the world of clothing for the better and this mission truly is the thing which drives them. I have seen lots of people proclaiming to do something “green and sustainable” but what Dave, Michael and Fabian do, really is a good step in the right direction. They actually investigate the backgrounds of manufacturing and change the processes where they don’t meet their strict requirements. All that as a startup!

    1. Gotham Gal

      The investigation part is pretty impressive. Not only from the fabricationsbut down to the patterns to insure that there is very little waste. Theyare green from top to bottom.

  7. Andrew

    great concept! thanks for the insight! keep up the good work!

  8. Paul

    Great article! Holstee is exceptionally unique and it’s exciting to see their passion featured here. Their vision is as compelling as their products. The team has contagious energy and I’m confident we’ll be hearing a lot more about them in the coming weeks/months. “Life is about the people you meet and things you create with them.”

  9. bGreen lifestyle + building

    Gotham Gal, thanks from profiling Holstee. They seem like the kind of company we’d like to do business with and we’ll be getting in touch with them. There’s a great trend happening in sustainable & eco friendly clothing, and we’re hoping to be including more on our online store soon.We’d love to hear your thoughts on our site: http://www.bgreenlifestyle.com-bGreen Team

    1. Gotham Gal

      Will take a look

  10. Nettra

    The Holstee founders care about the people involved in the use of their t-shirts every step of the production and consumption line and in their daily lives. Their commitment to making a positive impact shines through in the way that only their small environmentally and socially business can. So glad to see them on here!

    1. Gotham Gal

      I just got one of their t-shirts. Really nice.

  11. Roohi Rad

    So happy to see Holstee on your blog. My husband Mansoor and I proud parents of the co founders Mike and Dave. We have a daughter, Ramesh.We are very proud of all 3 children. About the co founders: Their passion, kindness, enthusiasm, and hard work has been an inspiration for us. We have learn from them that less is more, and it is always better to give than receive. We believe that their dedication to Holstee will pay off. We are all looking forward for Holstee to grow, to Mike , Dave and Fabian”s expectation.

    1. Gotham Gal

      As a mother myself, I love that the brother work together. Great youngmen. You did good!

  12. paramendra

    I am a h-u-g-e fan of KIVA. Etsy is also great.

  13. picastr142

    I bought 2 shirts and the fin from Holstee, and I have to say that after only 4 washings, the quality of the shirts deteriorated – prints faded in color, and shirts became looser, ‘thinner’. The fin is useful, but quality of it is also terrible after only a few washings. I want my money back since I paid so much for these expensive shirts and fins. There are other better brands out there besides this one – so I’m looking elsewhere when I’m buying eco-friendly t-shirts in the future. Don’t buy Holstee, save yourself the hard-earned money also, period.

    1. daverad

      Hi Picastr, really sorry to hear you didn’t have a good experience with your purchases from Holstee, I can assure you this experience is not the norm.When it comes to customer satisfaction, we have one motto; If our products don’t make your life better, we are not doing our job.We have never experienced such a quality issue with our fins or shirts, and would like to get to the bottom of this. I would like send you a prepaid envelope to return the items for quality inspection, and regardless of our findings I would like to replace, and at your option refund your entire purchase.Please send me an email at [email protected] or call my mobile phone directly at 228.222.2845. There are enough stresses in life, and buying sustainable products shouldn’t be one of them – sorry for your unfortunate experience, we will get to the bottom of it.Thanks, DAVECo-Founder, Holstee

      1. Gotham Gal

        Dave, huge thanks for responding. True customer service from owners, as I said, that care about their product

    2. Gotham Gal

      Wow. I am really sorry to hear this. Knowing the owners, I am sure they will be too. They only strive to create a fantastic product with a brand that is making a change

  14. funny t-shirts

    recycled what??? 🙂

    1. Gotham Gal

      plastic bottles