PC Students Launch T-Shirt Company With Global Focus

Inspired by founder Jeff Stitz’s and head of charity Nathan Holterman’s four-month semester at sea, the company aims to foster understanding and collaboration between nations. After visiting 14 countries during the semester abroad, the team decided to make something out of their experience. “Each [country] brought out its own unique flair.” Holterman, a rising senior at Providence College, explained. “The Semester at Sea got us excited about sharing that.”

Local artists around the world

Each fabric for the pockets is created by local artists, and then imported by Serengetee to make the shirts. “It’s cool because you have an American made T-shirt, but a national-made fabric. It’s a cool collaboration between nations,” Holterman said. “The local artisans are the ones who should get the praise. They infuse their culture, tradition, and attitude into their work. All we do is select them.”

But that’s not really all Serengetee does. The company has a commitment to working with charities across the world. “For every tee or tank you purchase, Serengetee donates to a charitable organization in the region where the fabric is from. Furthermore, we give you the power to choose the issue you would most like to help tackle,” according to the team.

Collaborations around the world

Serengetee has paired up with charities and nonprofits around the world to spread their mission including Pencils of Promise, Simply Smiles, MWTS Mission Haiti, City of Refuge Ministries in Ghana, IPSAC-Vietnam, Reef Check, and a world more.

“We want to ideally focus on those areas that need the most help," Holterman said. "For instance, it is much easier to find a charity in Africa than it is to find one in Europe. There are certainly plenty of societal issues in Europe, but our focus has tended more towards those countries that live in more destitute situations."

Half and half

The company is currently working to expand the donation aspect of the line with their “half and half” mission, a model allowing each customer to donate half the proceeds from their shirt to their chosen charity.

“We're still a relatively new company so we don't have all of our kinks worked out yet. But it is exciting because there remains plenty of room for progression in the future,” Holterman said. “We're constantly learning and constantly developing.”

Where to find Serengetee tees

Serengetee will be promoting its line at various events this summer, so keep your eyes peeled for some wild designs from across the world here in RI. A quick favorite from RI, a fabric titled "Providence", sold out several weeks ago, but be ready for a new RI design to come out soon!

You can buy products by the company and learn more at their Web site here, or on Facebook.