Sustainability ↘ Organic for over 15 years
Merch that doesn't cost the earth.
We're pioneers in sustainable apparel & merchandise. We launched our first organic clothing range over fifteen years ago, working with the Soil Association, the Fair Wear Foundation, Fairtrade & the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Organic fabrics, water-based inks & compostable packaging aren't an upgrade here. They're how we work.
The standards we work to ↘
The Global Organic Textile Standard. Organic fibre, processed responsibly, from the field to the finished garment.
The UK's leading organic certifier. We built our very first organic range with them.
The Fair Wear Foundation. Better conditions for the people who make our clothes, independently checked.
Fair prices & a premium for the farmers who grow the cotton, so the people at the start of the chain get a better deal.
Mailers & bags that break down, not plastic that hangs around for centuries after the event.
Phthalate-free printing that soaks into the fabric instead of sitting on top of it.
Sustainable before it was a selling point.
Brandhut started in 2006 in surf, BMX & skate, communities that live outdoors & notice what they leave behind. A few years in, we launched our first organic clothing range, working with the Soil Association, the Fair Wear Foundation, Fairtrade & GOTS to get it right. That was over fifteen years ago, long before "sustainable" was something brands put on a slide.
Our background is in manufacturing & supply chains, so we know exactly where the impact in this industry sits: the fibre, the dye house, the print shop, the packaging & every mile in between. That's where we make the changes, not in the small print.
2006
Brandhut starts out making apparel for surf, BMX & skate brands & events.
15+ yrs
Our first organic range, built with the Soil Association, the Fair Wear Foundation, Fairtrade & GOTS.
Today
Organic, water-based & compostable as standard, on runs of thousands of pieces for global events.
How we do it ↘
Six things we don't compromise on.
01
Organic fabrics
Organic cotton is our starting point, not an add-on. Grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers & traceable from field to finished garment.
02
Water-based inks
We print with water-based, phthalate-free inks. Softer on the skin, kinder to waterways & a better finish that lasts wash after wash.
03
Compostable packaging
Compostable packaging is our standard practice. No mountain of plastic bags backstage, no guilt in the bin when the boxes are opened.
04
Checked supply chains
We work with mills & makers who can prove it, with certifications we can check rather than promises on a spec sheet.
05
Made to last
The most sustainable tee is the one that gets worn for years. Better fabrics, better construction & designs people actually want to keep.
06
Made to order, not to waste
We plan quantities & size splits properly up front, so there's no pallet of leftovers heading for landfill when the event's over.
Choosing the right fabric.
There's no single "most sustainable" fabric. It depends on what the piece has to do, who's wearing it & how long it needs to last. Here's how we think about it, & we'll always recommend the best fit for your brief & budget.
Grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. Soft, breathable & certified to GOTS. Our everyday default.
Tees, hoodies, sweats, totes
Made from post-consumer plastic like drinks bottles. Tough, light & quick drying, so it's right when the kit has to perform.
Running & event kit, performance tees, bibs
The softness of organic cotton with the strength of recycled fibres. Holds its shape & lasts longer.
Hoodies, sweats, crew kit
Spun from factory offcuts that would otherwise be thrown away. A great second life for good fibre.
Totes, heavyweight tees
Print & finish, done properly ↘
How you brand it matters too.
Our default. Phthalate-free inks that soak into the fabric for a soft, breathable print that won't crack.
Tees & sweatsLifts the dye out of the fabric & replaces it with colour, giving bright prints on dark garments that you can barely feel.
Dark garmentsNo inks at all & built to outlast the garment. Premium, subtle & perfect for logos that need to look sharp for years.
Caps, polos, hoodsLike the crest patches on our Red Bull Soapbox caps. Durable, detailed & easy to apply to almost anything.
Headwear & bagsHow we build a sustainable range ↘
01
BriefWhat you need, who it's for & how it'll be used. Sometimes the greenest answer is making fewer, better pieces.
02
SourceWe match fabrics, makers & print methods to the brief & the budget, with the certifications to back it up.
03
SampleYou see & feel it before anything goes into production. No surprises, no wasted runs.
04
DeliverThe right quantities, packed in compostable packaging & on site on time. Every time.
15+
Years making organic merch
1,700
Organic tees for Red Bull Soapbox
100%
Organic cotton, designed & printed in the UK
Sustainable at scale ↘
Sustainable merch, explained ↘
What does GOTS certified mean?
The Global Organic Textile Standard is the leading standard for organic textiles. It covers the whole journey, from how the cotton is grown to how it's processed, dyed & made, with environmental & social criteria at every stage.
What is the Fair Wear Foundation?
An independent organisation that works with brands & factories to improve conditions for garment workers, from fair wages & safe workplaces to reasonable hours, & checks that it actually happens.
Fair Wear or Fairtrade, what's the difference?
Fairtrade looks after the start of the chain: a fair minimum price & an extra premium for the farmers who grow the cotton. The Fair Wear Foundation looks after the factories where garments are cut & sewn, from fair wages to safe workplaces. Between them, they cover the people at both ends.
Organic or recycled, which is better?
It depends on the job. Organic cotton is soft, breathable & ideal for everyday tees & hoodies. Recycled polyester gives plastic a second life & is better for performance kit that has to stretch, wick & dry fast. We'll recommend the right one for each piece.
Why water-based inks?
Traditional plastisol inks are PVC based. Water-based inks are phthalate-free, soak into the fabric rather than sitting on top of it & give a softer, more breathable print that looks better for longer.
Does sustainable merch cost more?
Sometimes a little, but less than most people expect. Because we plan the range, the fabrics & the print method together, we can usually find a sustainable option that fits the budget. Ask us & we'll show you.
Can you do sustainable at event scale?
Yes. We regularly deliver thousands of organic pieces for global events, on time, every time. Sustainable doesn't have to mean small.