Pesticide Sweatshirt
This unisex statement sweatshirt is bold and eye-catching, serving up a taste of an 80s colour palette. But it's the vibrant embroidery that's a real conversation starter. At first glance it's deliciously fruity, but look a little closer for a visual representation of the pesticide residues found on a humble pepper when not shopping organically. Style with your favourite kicks for a casual day out.
All Gung Ho's garments come with a dinky mini-zine explaining the issue you are wearing, it's importance and what you can do to help. This means the next time someone compliments you on what you are wearing, you have more to say than just 'Thanks!'. Let's inspire and get people talking through design! Gung Ho call this, wearing your heart on your sleeve – after all, we're more than just a pretty face and fashion should showcase your values too.
10% of Gung Ho's profits go back to a charity that works with that issue, in this case SeedsShare, a London-based non-profit working to provide organic and in-season seeds to farmers and home growers around the globe.
Made in Bangladesh in a Fair Wear-certified factory and embroidered in Oxford supporting small local businesses.
FREE DELIVERY ON UK ORDERS OVER £75
Key Brand Points
This fit is unisex. Size guide as XS=8, S=10, M=12, L=14, XL=16. Charlie May wears an S.
Material:
85% Organic Cotton, 15% Recycled Polyester
Washing Instructions:
Versatile, machine wash at 30, hang dry. Iron if needed on the reverse.
Transparency & Ethics:
Gung Ho attend many different fabric shows and research what is the best fabric in terms of water usage, natural fibres (they avoid synthetics due to the microplastic pollution when these fibres are washed), chemicals as well as quality and fitting to the garment.
At the moment they are using Tencel (regenerated, sustainably grown, wood cellulose) which feels like a lighter/ finer cotton and a Silk Tencel (32% Silk, 68% Tencel blend that feels 100% Silk). Unfortunately, they have to source this from China, but they're continuously on the hunt more sustainable fabrics that are closer to home. The exciting thing about sustainable fabric is the new tech that is consistently evolving - watch this space!
Gung Ho then use fabric printers in Gloucestershire so that they keep things local and keep their carbon footprint as low as possible. It is important to them to build relationships with these smaller companies and they continue to support them collection after collection. This also means they're able to work to a smaller, more limited print run. Many companies have large minimum orders which means that smaller brands have to make a lot more than they actually need – resulting in excess fabric waste. Gung Ho's suppliers allow them to print exactly what they need, so they can produce realistic collections. After all, they can always reorder!
They choose to digitally print for a couple of reasons. It means that there are no screens or plates to produce, so less setup equipment, and printing directly onto the fabric also means less surplus ink. The inks used are Azo dye free and use less chemicals and water than traditional methods. The machines and inks are investments and the best quality that is built to last and make less waste.
Once the fabric is ready, it is sent to the manufacturers to transform into the finished product. This is a beautiful small studio in London, run by really great individuals. The standard is brilliant and Gung Ho love supporting them.
The second manufacturing process, specifically for the embroidered sweatshirts and T shirts uses 100% GOTS certified organic cotton (with the exception of one or two designs that are 85% organic, 15% recycled polyester), produced in a Fairwear Foundation certified factory in Bangladesh. This means the factory complies with strict standards – employment is a choice, there is no discrimination, no child labour, freedom of association, fair living wages, reasonable hours of work, with safe conditions and a legal contract.
The products are then embroidered or silk screened in Oxford. Their silk screen rule is to only use 1 colour in the design. This limits the screen prep, inks and water wastage for the design.
Packaging:
Packaging is 100% biodegradable and recycled. The clothing and accessories come with an educational mini-zine, highlighting the issue you are wearing, why it's important and what you can do to help – printed on recycled paper in the UK.
Gung Ho are a London- based, ethical brand that’s on a mission to create fashion that means more.
Born out of an ambition to push boundaries in sustainable fashion, their collections are not just handmade locally using sustainable fabrics, but they also weave more meaning into the prints by illustrating particular environmental issues. That way, you can not only wear what you love, but what you believe in.
Each collection is centred on a cause, or 'Talking Point', with our current focus on the importance of insects and the impact of pesticides. That's why every garment comes with its very own dinky minizine to give you a few key facts and info on the issue at hand.
For every item sold they donate to a charity that works with the cause in question.
