Earth Medicine Apparel Co. chooses every garment with intention. What you wear should feel good on your skin and align with your values. That’s why our clothes highlight materials that minimize environmental harm, support ethical labor, and create high-quality apparel built to last. Plus, each original illustration is screen-printed in Colorado with a water-based ink for a lasting feel that doesn't crack or peel.
Every supplier we work with has to earn a place in our value chain; there's no shortcut. As a bootstrapped, independent apparel brand, we vet each partner against a set of standards drawn directly from corporate social responsibility practices, adapted for a small operation that still wants to hold a big line.
Certified and accountable. We look for FLA and/or WRAP-certified facilities using water-safe dyes, with documented waste-reduction practices and a demonstrated effort to shrink their carbon footprint. Certifications are proof someone outside the company is watching.
Fibers sourced with a conscience. When a supplier sources fiber internationally, we require assurance that it isn't coming from regions with documented forced-labor risk, including the Xinjiang region of China. If we can't trace it, we don't use it.
Natural fibers first. We prioritize organic and pima cotton over synthetic alternatives whenever the design allows for it, choosing fiber that returns to the earth instead of outliving it.
Reclaimed over virgin. Any polyester in our blends is reclaimed, not virgin plastic. Our recycled tri-blend, for example, gives new life to post-consumer materials. It's not perfect, but it's a better option we can find while still providing tri-blend for those who prefer it.
Made in the Americas. Every garment we sell is manufactured in the Americas, with a strong preference for USA-made. Our pima cotton is grown in California and finished in Peru; our recycled tri-blend is manufactured in Honduras. We're transparent about that mix because we think you deserve to know exactly where your shirt has been, not just where it's grown.
Powered responsibly. Most of our garment suppliers run on renewable energy, which matters just as much as what the fabric is made of.
Social investment, not just labor compliance. We give weight to suppliers who go beyond minimum labor standards — facilities that offer workers education access, microloans, healthcare, or community philanthropy. A fair wage is the floor, not the ceiling.
Built-in circularity. We favor partners with active waste-reduction and recycling programs already running in their facilities, not just a policy on paper.
No single supplier checks every box, and we're honest about that.
Our ideal is 100% USA-grown, USA-made, but that infrastructure doesn't fully exist yet for a company our size, even with existing premium pricing.
Until it does, we make the closest call we can: USA-made with organic but imported cotton, USA-grown fiber finished in Peru, or a tri-blend backed by C-Free certification when a fully domestic option isn't available. Every one of these decisions costs more than the industry default, and we've chosen to build that cost into our pricing from day one rather than compromise later.
We're also dreaming and building toward something more direct: relationships with manufacturers themselves, and partnerships with community-rooted raw material suppliers. Like a rainforest-grown pima cotton collective in Peru, and Black-owned cotton growers in North America. This page will keep growing as those relationships do.
Sourcing responsibly is only half the story. Every design is also screen-printed within 40 miles of our home base, using exclusively water-based inks; no PVC, no phthalates, ever.
Our recycled tri-blend fabric combines 25% recycled polyester, 25% modal, and 50% organic cotton, striking the perfect balance between comfort, durability, and sustainability. Recycled polyester gives new life to post-consumer plastics, diverting waste from landfills. Modal, a fiber sourced from beech trees, adds softness while using significantly less water than conventional cotton. Paired with organic cotton, this blend creates a lightweight, breathable tee with a buttery feel, designed for long wear and reduced environmental impact. Plus, each garment is made with fair labor and renewable energy.
Organic cotton is grown without harmful pesticides, insecticides, or synthetic fertilizers—protecting farmers, water systems, and surrounding ecosystems. Compared to conventional cotton, it uses up to 91% less water and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The result? A healthier fiber that’s softer on the planet and on your skin. By choosing organic cotton, we support farming practices that preserve soil fertility, encourage biodiversity, and keep toxic chemicals out of waterways. Garments are manufactured with fair labor using renewable energy. As of 2025, our organic cotton shirts are 100% USA-made.
Our 100% ring-spun cotton garments are made using an Airlume process, which combs away impurities to create a smoother, stronger yarn. The result is an exceptionally soft and long-lasting fabric that holds its shape wash after wash. Our garment supplier produces these in a zero-waste, water-saving USA-based facility with fair labor standards and solar-powered manufacturing. This makes Airlume cotton not only one of the softest fabrics you’ll ever wear, but also one of the most responsibly made. Garments are made using bluesign® approved dyes, chemicals, and softeners, guaranteeing the fabrics are free from hazardous chemicals or environmentally harmful substances.
This is where it started
Central to our first impact campaign, our original, limited-edition screen-printed graphic apparel honors the life and legacy of the late Maestro Jhonny Javá (Kichwa).
From the Rockies with love
Our second collection features flora and fauna from our beloved Rocky Mountains, plus we're supporting community-led conservation in North America. All on 100% USA-made organic cotton.
