About

Welcome to Mak Tee! I appreciate your interest in our brand. I would like to share my story about why I created this brand amidst the countless other t-shirt brands out there.

I had heard about the garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean and marine animals dying from ingesting plastics we dumped into the seas. However, it felt distant and not a pressing concern—until a couple of years ago when I came across an article about microplastics in our oceans, even in remote areas like Antarctica. It struck me that humans are not much better off than marine animals, as we drink and breathe in microplastics in our water and air. Medical research has even found microplastics in our organs and bloodstream.

I also learned that the fashion industry plays a major role in creating microplastics, including through the use of recycled fibers like recycled polyester and nylon. These recycled plastic fibers are more likely to shed microplastics when washed. This "greenwashing" in the fashion industry made me realize we are moving in the wrong direction.

Having been in the fashion business for nearly 30 years, I felt compelled to do something about it. This led me to dream of Mak Tee, a brand that produces products free of microplastics.

I made a list of materials used in clothing production and started replacing any plastic-based materials with alternatives. Did you know 99% of the sewing thread in garments is polyester-based? And spandex, another common material, is also plastic and produces microplastics. Even though replacing these materials raises costs and limits the types of products we can offer, I don't want to contribute to microplastic pollution.

This is why I am introducing Mak Tee to you. We are deeply entrenched in plastic culture; change won't happen overnight. But if you and I start moving towards zero microplastics, someday, future generations won't have to worry about it.