It’s Easier Not To Ask - We Did Anyway
Someone asked us directly where our products come from. At the time, we didn’t have a confident answer. So we went and found one — and what came back changed how we think about everything we make.
What We Use And Why
Every supplier we work with has been researched. Not every one meets the same standard — and we think you should know which is which before you buy.
Tier 1: Union Standard
Independently verified. The full picture, not just the label.
Union Standard suppliers have been audited by third parties — not just on the finished product, but across the entire production chain. Labor conditions, environmental practices, material sourcing. Someone outside the company checked the work. We didn’t just take their word for it, and neither should you.
- GOTS or Fair Trade certified, or both — verified externally, not self-reported
- Full supply chain disclosed — we can tell you who made it and where
- Environmental standards applied at the manufacturing stage, not just the raw fiber
Current Union Standard suppliers: Stanley + Stella
This standard costs more to produce. Products made to it are priced accordingly — and marked clearly so you know what you’re buying.
Tier 2: Union Reviewed
The best of what’s available in this category right now.
Some product categories don’t have a Union Standard option yet. The supplier field is narrower, third-party certification doesn’t reach as far, and the best available options fall short of full verification. Union Reviewed means we’ve done the research, found the best choice in that category, and set a floor we won’t go below — even if it means limiting what we make. There are suppliers in we looked at and walked away from. Union Reviewed is what’s left after that.
- Known manufacturer — we can name them and tell you what we found
- Meaningful improvement over the category default on labor and environmental practices
- No full third-party certification — we’re working from disclosed information, not audited data
Current Union Reviewed suppliers: Otto, Yupoong
Products at this standard are priced to reflect what they actually cost — which is less than Union Standard. Every product page tells you which tier it comes from.
One example worth sharing: we wanted to carry fitted hats. The supplier most people would reach for in that category didn’t clear our bar. We haven’t yet found one that does.
What We’ve Moved Away From — And Why
We’ve stopped working with suppliers that don’t meet our Union Reviewed Tier. Some of that was straightforward — research caught up and the answer was clear. Some of it took longer than it should have. We kept certain things going while we assessed how we actually felt, then we figured it out and stopped.
The same is true of AI-generated imagery. Early on, some of our cover art involved AI image generation as part of the process — always with significant human direction, but still. The more we understood how those tools are built — what they borrow from human artists, and how — the less comfortable we became. So, we changed the practice. Some of that music is still on the platform with those covers or apparel items, and we’re not pretending otherwise. Finding exceptional human artist partners is a priority, and we’re working toward it.
We’re not saying these were the wrong calls at the time. We’re saying we wouldn’t make the same decisions again today, knowing what we know now.
Making It Make Sense
Knowing how something was made changes what you’re actually deciding when you buy it. That information belongs on the page — and on every product page too.
- Check the tier on every product page — Union Standard or Union Reviewed, it’s always marked
- Get on the list — we share what we learn when we learn it
- Tell us if something feels off. We will look into it.