Ethical Merchandise
What is ethical merchandise?
The word “ethical” had been banded around a lot lately. In reference to university merchandise we’re basically talking about using clothes companies that reject worker exploitation and have made positive steps to improving the quality of life of their workforce, the environment, and employees' rights.
The idea of ethical merchandise is not new, but the issue came to light in 2005 when people started to question the morals of using Fruit of the Loom, a widely known human rights abusing corporation1. Colleges, societies, etc. have since switched, but people have been unsure of who to use that is necessarily better. Many firms will bamboozle you with enticing blurbs about how much work they do for the environment and their workers but this may mean very little on the ground.
Fortunately there is help! UK charity TearFund has a website called “Lift The Label”2. They recommend a number of suppliers in their Ethical Shopping Guide3. There are suppliers which sell at competitive prices, offer screen printing, and use organic and FairTrade cotton. Have a look through some of the companies we've listed, and you'll be able to find the right company to suit your needs.
Some Suggested Suppliers
Epona Sports
Epona Sports use 100% FairTrade Cotton and have been recommended by NUS Services Limited as the best supplier of ethical and environmental merchandise. Hoodies cost around £15 and tee shirts will cost around £8.
They offer womens’ hoodies, mens’ hoodies, womens’ tee shirts, womens’ tee-shirts (amoung other things) in these colours: black, grey, navy blue, white (tee shirts only) and lipstick pink (womens’ tee shirts only); and these sizes (men’s): small, medium, large, extra large, (women’s) 10, 12, 14, 16.
Contact Epona by emailing info@eponasport.com, calling 020 7095 1222. You can also contact juliet@eponasport.com (phone 020 7095 9888) who has been very helpful to HCSA!
To view Epona Sports clothing click here and then click on the Epona link on the right.
Ethical threads
Ethical and organic t-shirts (minimum order of 50). You can contact them via their website or email info@ethicalthreads.co.uk
Freedom Clothing Project
Ethical and organic t-shirts and hoodies. To have a one-colour design printed on 50 t-shirts would cost about £8 per t-shirt. Sizes S-XL. To have a one-colour design printed on 50 hoodies would cost about £15 per hoody.
You can email Freedom Clothing Project via their website here or telephone 01213 146204.
Finger Prints Co-Op
FingerPrints offer union-accredited sweat free, FairTrade, and oragnic screen printing in various combinations. They have a fashion range, and can provide sportswear, yogawear, sweatshirts and jogging pants to order.
Visit www.fingerprintscoop.com, email rob@fingerprintscoop.com, or phone 01274 565326.
Tshirt Printers
Ethical and organic t-shirts and can be contacted from the website or email enquiries@tshirtprinters.com
T-shirt and sons
Ethical and organic t-shirts, email sales@tshirtandsons.co.uk, visit their website
or telephone 01373 301645
Starworld
Thanks!
We hope you find using ethical merchandise is a great step for your organisation! Please spread the word, for more information please email environment@yusu.org or liftthelabel@tearfund.org.
Further Information
For more on this have a look at these links:
1http://www.itglwf.org/displaydocument.asp?DocType=Press&Index=81&Language=EN
www.oxfordstudent.com/ht2004wk2/news/oxford_profits_from_sweatshops
2 www.tearfund.org.uk/liftthelabel
3 http://youth.tearfund.org/webdocs/Website/Youth/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20LTL%20Ethical%20Shopping%20Guide%20UPDATED%20January%2006.pdf
Originally compiled by Ric Lander, Cathy Rushworth, Nina McKellow and Saffron Palmer.
Thanks to James Flinders (Halifax Merchandise), Rachel Cavill, Charlie (Derwent Merchandise), Sophie Cartwright, Helen Jones, and Suzy (Speak).
Last Updated: 12:17am on 5th Sep, 2008 by Environment and Ethics Officers
