Impact Mission and Garment Selection

Problem #1: Social Disconnection and Need for Healing

Social and political divisions and a global environmental crisis have people feeling disconnected and alienated. As communities drift apart, the ability to unite around shared values and connect with nature’s wisdom becomes increasingly elusive, limiting opportunities for collective healing.

Solution #1: Finding Common Ground with Art

Our brand creates human-designed graphic apparel that celebrates Earth Medicines—plants, mushrooms, animals, sacred geometry, deities, and other elements of natural wisdom—as a source of inspiration and unity. Each piece is more than just apparel; it forms a tapestry of shared healing traditions that invites our community to find common ground in a deeper respect for nature and humanity. We value art as foundational to a thriving society and a healthy planet. By wearing our art, customers embody the magic and medicine of these symbols, while directly impacting social and environmental projects. Together, we bridge a culture of connection, compassion, and purpose.

Problem #2: Poor working conditions in garment factories

Unfortunately, the apparel industry has long been associated with poor working conditions and unfair wages, especially in less developed countries where many garments are manufactured. 

Solution #2:  Sustainable and Ethical Production | SDG 12 Sustainable Consumption and Production 

Earth Medicine Apparel Co. takes great care in selecting environmentally responsible materials for our apparel without sacrificing comfort or durability. We source garments from ethically operated factories that provide living wages and offer outstanding opportunities for their local communities. You’ll find garments made with organic and/or recycled cotton, modal, and recycled polyester made with ocean-bound plastic. We plan to offer additional materials, such as hemp, in the future. We proudly partner with domestic, artist-led print shops specializing in less-toxic, water-wise printing techniques and inks.

We aim to provide clothing that withstands multiple washes and adventures, so you will love it for many years. We look to the future to foster a circular economy by launching a buyback/resell program as we scale, and have big dreams for ways to deepen our practice of even greater intentional sourcing. In the meantime, we work hard to ensure our customers select the best fit before completing their purchase to minimize exchanges. We pledge to continuously explore ways to reduce our environmental impact, carbon footprint, water consumption, and waste as much as possible with our apparel, shipping materials, and business practices.

Problem #3: Environmental Impact 

As consumers, finding apparel that aligns with conservation values is often difficult due to the scarcity of transparent, eco-focused brands. Textile waste, water consumption and pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions from traditional garment production contribute significantly to the climate crisis. Textile dyeing, garment production, and irresponsible waste disposal contribute heavily to water pollution and scarcity, especially in regions already facing clean water challenges. This impact can disrupt ecosystems, harm local communities, and lead to a shortage of safe drinking water.

Solution #3: Conservation + Clean Water Initiatives | SDG 6 Clean Water & SDG 15 Life on Land

Earth Medicine Apparel Co. is committed to sourcing garments that require less water to manufacture, are produced with sustainable energy and materials, and prioritize less-toxic, water-based printing methods or algae-based inks for screen printing. 

Conservation is at the heart of our brand. By purchasing from Earth Medicine Apparel Co., our customers join a community directly contributing to planetary health. Beyond using sustainable materials, we actively participate in conservation projects, donate to organizations focused on clean water and conservation, and strive to integrate low-impact practices into our process. 

Every purchase helps us fund water protection and conservation initiatives for vulnerable communities and ecosystems. We especially have a big heart for Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, so we prioritize support for organizations maintaining the livelihoods, ecosystems, and cultures of the First Peoples of the Americas. This includes organizations that bring clean water and sanitation services to remote communities, title and conserve land, preserve language and traditional medicine, preserve flora and fauna on ancestral lands, provide educational and upskill opportunities, and advocate in governance and policy for Indigenous sovereignty. 

Our pilot campaign partner is Ecomunidad Nativa Kambo Family - a healing center and nature reserve cradled by the Napo River Valley of Peru. This campaign connects to the subject matter of our pilot launch and strives to support the family and legacy of one of the greatest wisdom keepers of Amazonian medicine, the late Maestro Jhonny Javá. Supporting this mission supports cultural continuity and ecological stewardship, and is led by, and aligned with, our campaign partner.

Problem #4: Financial Barriers to Higher Education for LGBTQ+ Artists

Financial support for higher education remains inaccessible for many LGBTQ+ students due to various socioeconomic factors. Research shows that LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to experience financial instability and often face barriers when accessing traditional forms of financial aid due to discrimination or lack of familial support. This results in talented artists in this community amassing debt or losing opportunities to develop professional skills that unlock financial security.

Solution #4: Scholarship Fund for 2SLGBTQIA+ Artists | SDG4 Education

Earth Medicine Apparel Co. celebrates human gradience, and we firmly believe that intersectional identities should never limit access to higher education. Founded by a queer artist, our brand’s commitment to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community goes beyond words. To help students break down financial barriers, we are building a scholarship fund for 2SLGBTQIA+ creatives seeking higher education in visual arts. By purchasing our apparel, customers directly support scholarships that empower artists to achieve their educational and creative dreams, even in the face of growing adversity. Additionally, we are developing our brand into a profit-sharing platform that features other emerging LGBTQ+ artists and prominently features their stories alongside their designs, fostering a sense of connection between our customers and the creators.