Fashion is the third most polluting industry on the planet, after fossil fuels and agriculture. So turning our backs on fast fashion and the lure of impulse buys and taking a more mindful approach could be one of the best things we do for the planet. Ethical clothing brand tommy & lottie is a regular fixture at Harpenden Sustainability Market, helping shoppers make more informed choices about clothes that will last more than the next two (or ten) seasons.
At the market, you’ll find tommy & lottie’s capsule range of unisex sweatshirts, t-shirts and baby vests. Embroidered or screen printed with enduring wildlife designs, each item is made from 100% GOTS organic cotton and is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified. This means they’re free from harmful chemicals and dyes. The brand also sells organic cotton bags and plantable wildflower seed cards.
Founder Katie started the brand 10 years ago as a business she could run around looking after her two young children — Tommy and Lottie. But just as important as flexibility was ethics and sustainability. All products are made to last and are certified Fair Wear, which means workers are paid fairly and experience healthy working conditions, unlike many fast fashion chains. Tommy & lottie’s designs are made to order, so the designs are available in a range of colourways and sizes. As Katie tells us, this limits waste by only producing items that customers want rather than producing a batch and then having to get rid of it, a practice common to many fast fashion retailers.
Timeless designs
Katie’s timeless designs are inspired by nature. Growing up in rural East Sussex, she was surrounded by countryside. Her parents taught her about the importance of protecting wildlife and nature from a young age. Many of the animals featured in the designs are endangered, such as orangutans and polar bears, and Katie hopes to raise awareness of their plight and teach us how crucial it is that we look after them. And besides, animals never go out of fashion.
Each design begins life as a hand drawing. Katie’s graphic designer dad transforms them into a digital product. The designs are then embroidered or screen printed onto the garments by local businesses. Tommy & lottie doesn’t use the typical method of plastic transfer printing, which tends to crack and fade before long. This process is also non-biodegradable and can leech microplastics when washed. Instead, the brand uses better-quality printing processes that last longer and are less harmful. This makes it easier to pass things on when your child grows out of it or if you change clothes size.
Quality pieces at fair prices
Tommy & lottie takes a very definite stance on seasonal promotions. Seeing Black Friday promotions and other discounts as devaluing to brands, they choose not to partake. Instead, they offer quality pieces at reasonable prices all year round. In fact, tommy’s & lottie’s high-quality organic cotton at a fair price led local stylist Alex Standley of Luxe Leopard Lifestyle to recommend their organic cotton bee t-shirt in a recent Guardian article.
Katie has supported Sustainable St Albans since its very beginning and is proud to align her brand with it. She particularly appreciates Jefferson Eco CIC for all they do to promote sustainability and small businesses, and The Green House, St Albans’ new eco hub, for which Katie is part of the steering group. Katie also loves Indigowares, another Hertfordshire slow fashion brand crafting indigo-dyed garments.
Katie’s top eco tip? “Buy less, buy quality.” Do your research, ask your favourite brands who made your clothes and look into sustainability certifications. App Good On You is a great way to quickly check the eco credentials of your favourite companies. Tommy & lottie has just joined the app and been awarded one of the top scores, including top marks for environment.
Based in St Albans, Katie loves the green spaces our district has to offer, especially Heartwood Forest. There are always so many positive things going on in the community.
You can find tommy & lottie online and at various local markets. Keep an eye on their Facebook, Instagram and X accounts for the latest news.
Tommy & lottie hope to attend most of the Harpenden Sustainability Market in 2025. Join us at the next one on Sunday the 16th of March to browse local eco and food stalls that promote a more sustainable lifestyle. Visit our markets page for the full schedule of dates.