ABOUT

About our softgoods

When we started Heresy, we were a bit naive, thinking we could rule the world using locally-made poduct. We've learnt a few lessons and now source stuff from all over the world, but try to use companies with high ethical ideals. This is why we now use an American company for our clothing and a company in Melbourne for our beanies.

We immediately fell in love with the US company and their ethos, and are absolutely committed to using them. This is a company started by a guy who wants to see workers getting their fair share. Their workers are paid at least USD$12.50 an hour, have excellent lighting, can take personal calls at their desks on their mobiles, have access to free phones to call home, free massage therapy, get subsidised health care, bus passes and food.

All their gear is cut and sewn at their factory in downtown Los Angeles. They plan to use organic cotton for 80% of their cotton consumption by 2008. in 2004, 20% of all cotton will be sourced from organic or environmentally sustainable cotton. The company recycles around 400,000kg (400 tonnes) of cotton per year for use in some of their garments.

The yarn used is made from combed cotton resulting in a softer, more consistent weave. Each thread is ring-spun from 30 single threads (30-gauge) giving a higher count and resulting in a stronger, smoother and finer thread. The yarn is woven on a 28 gauge machine, as opposed to most companies using a 20-gauge machine. This results in a much finer knit fabric that is very soft and light. Ultimately, this means you get an incredibly soft, light and finely knit t-shirt. Most other manufacturers will use carded cotton, in 18-gauge yarn and woven on a 20-gauge knitting machine. This gives a very coarse, heavy and loose knit thread.

Their clothing is a little more expensive than some of the stuff out there, but the quality is unmatched. From double needled, double stitched, taped seams, to their unbelievably fine knit and super soft cotton, their stuff is insane. We could get tees that are made in China or Mexico or something, and get almost the same features, but the quality is just not the same.

We figure it's a small price to pay to ensure you get the best gear, and someone on the other side of the world can afford to eat and have the Internet. You can sleep easy knowing these things.