Thought (formerly Braintree Clothing) was set up in Australia by friends David and John, whose aim was to design natural, cool clothing to cope with the Australian heat. The range started out as a small selection of men’s clothes including shirts and beach wear made from sustainable ramie and hemp. In 2002 the company expanded to the UK, starting with pop-up shops on the Portobello Road and Camden Lock market. By 2005 the company had its first website, office and warehouse and soon developed a womenswear collection plus a bigger team, including designer Rachel. In 2008, she developed the range further and now leads the design team.

The collections use fabrics from naturally grown bamboo, cotton, wool and hemp which are free from harmful chemicals and pesticides, are soft and strong, and kind to the environment.

A strong sense of ethics drives the company, from the choice of fabrics used to the design, manufacture and delivery of garments. Careful consideration is given to every impact the business makes, with the greater aim of minimising its environmental footprint.

The team at Thought believes in the Slow Fashion movement, designing clothes that are made to last. ‘Wear me, love me, mend me, pass me on’ is their mantra – an ethos which they actively encourage their customers to follow.

Today, Thought’s collections can be found in stores world-wide, and we at Fair Trader are happy to be one of those stockists.