About Apple Tree

Apple Tree Clothing Company is about ethical, organic, earth-friendly clothes for children aged 2-5 years old.

I had the idea to set something like this up whilst I was on holiday. I’d had to buy a bunch of new summer clothes for my daughter for the trip. She was 2 and a bit years old. Since she was a baby I’d always managed to find a good selection of organic or fair trade clothes for her. Now that she was toddler-sized, the supply seemed to have dried up. Some of the baby-focused companies had smaller ranges for older kids, but it was hard to find stuff that was really suited to her age. Frustrated by the lack of choice, and determined not to be forced back to the high street I decided to have a go at filling the gap myself.

Why organic cotton?

Cotton production typically uses more pesticides than any other crop. The chemicals used are toxic and have an effect both on the environment and the health of the workers that use them. They can harm wildlife and reduce biodiversity. By choosing clothes made from organic cotton you are supporting a more sustainable method of producing cotton, and ensuring that your children’s clothes are free from any residues of these harmful chemicals.

For more information see Pesticide Action Network North America.

Trying to do things right

I want to have a lower impact. But on a small scale, starting out for the first time, it’s hard to know which is the best way to do this. Rather than make grand claims about my environmental and ethical credentials, I’m just going to promise you that I’m trying to do things right. Here’s what I’ve done so far:

1. The t-shirts I’ve produced are made from 100% organic cotton. The cotton used is certified to the Oeko-Tex Standard. This means it’s been tested to check it’s free from concentrations of harmful substances.
2. Water-based inks are used for the t-shirt prints. These don’t use PVC or phthalate-based chemicals.
3. The company that supplies my t-shirts has signed up to the Clean Clothes Campaign Code of Conduct. This means they have a responsibility to make sure that the workers producing the t-shirts receive a living wage and decent working conditions.
4. I’ll keep packaging to a minimum and use recycled materials where I can.
5. I’ll keep looking for new and better ways to be lower impact.