Image: Our Story

Our Story

The White T-shirt Co is a story of two partners with a shared goal.

We wanted to make the perfect white t-shirt. A wardrobe classic made without compromise to quality or style. A white t-shirt made with sustainability in mind, because don't believe in throw away fashion.

In 2002 The White T-shirt Co travelled to Denmark and met Green Cotton, the first company in the world to go organic way back in the 80’s. With a shared goal we talked, designed, tested and refined and after endless fittings this is our shared journey so far.

1983

Novotex Founded

Our Danish partner Novotex, the name behind the Green Cotton brand is founded by Leif Norgaard, an innovator in bringing sustainability and environmental awareness into the textile industry.

1991

Green Cotton & first organic t-shirt launch

Novotex becomes the first in the world to produce a t-shirt from certified organic cotton. To celebrate, Katharine Hamnett is asked to design a print, resulting in the iconic ‘Green Cotton Now’ t-shirt.

2002

A perfect white t-shirt

Our Founder Penny begins a quest to find the perfect white t-shirt. After failing to find one that was of high quality and ethically produced, she forms a partnership with Novotex to begin designing their own.

2004

The White T-Shirt Co launches

We become one of the first premium ranges in the UK using organic cotton under the Green Cotton label, to offer garments monitored from germination to production for their environmental impact.

2005

Front page of the Times

We make the headlines! In a front page article in The Times, Lisa Armstrong tells the world that The White T-Shirt Co make the ‘perfect white t-shirt’.

2010

We lose our organic cotton supplier

Our organic yarn supplier closes. Unable to find the same quality, and unwilling to compromise, Penny reluctantly decides to hold trading until new cottons of equal quality can be found.

2013

Relaunch of The White T-Shirt Co

Demand continues and the partners come together again to develop a new luxury range. A global project that meets the Global Organic Textile Standards [GOTS] certifiction. The highest organic standard in the world.

2015

Tailor Your Tee service

The White T-Shirt Co is determined to bring customers their perfect t-shirt. So for customers needing adjustments to body or sleeve length, a new bespoke Tailor Your Tee service is launched to provide an individual fit.

2017

Uniforms & Retail

The durable quality of our organic cotton t-shirts means that they stand up beautifully to daily wear and tear. The White T-shirt Co start to take on projects with customers looking for an ethical, transparent approach to their corporate wear.

2019

Buy Me Once award

We are very honoured to be a Buy Me Once partner. Buy Me Once champion brands that are designed and made to last. Our organic cotton t-shirts win the Most Sustainable category for their GOTS certification and lasting quality.

2020

The Hand And Flowers

At The White T-shirt Co we love companies who live their ethics. Tom Kerridge's pub The Hand & Flowers is currently the only UK pub with two Michelin stars. We are proud to have our organic cotton t-shirts as part of their new uniform.