Size range: S-2XL
Materials: Coldplay’s merchandise is produced using “eco-friendly inks & 100% cotton.”
Cost: T-shirts are ~$30-45, hoodies are ~$90-95
How is the merch made? On Coldplay’s merch website, each piece of apparel is described as sustainable; the site also reads that “all products are sourced with vendors who prove ethical work practices including fair wages and good working conditions.” A sustainability tab shares info about using natural or recycled materials instead of plastics “wherever possible.”
Though these are broad, somewhat vague statements, Coldplay has the details to back them up, which makes sense given they practice sustainable touring and report on their reduced carbon emissions in detail.
When Teen Vogue reached out for comment, the band’s team responded with a detailed breakdown of how Coldplay clothing and other products are made, including eco-certificates. All clothing blanks are sourced from companies vetted by their sustainability officer: AS colour (styles used include the 5001 Staple Tee, 100% combed cotton, sourced in Australia and 5102 Hoodie, 80% cotton, 20% recycled polyester), Continental Clothing Co. EarthPositive (EP01 Organic Cotton Tee, EP51P Organic Cotton Hoodie), and Gildan (owner of Comfort Colors).
All three of those companies go into detail about their supply chain and specific sustainability practices. Comfort Colors, for instance, uses its Pigment PureTM process for dyes, which uses three times less water, “taking 40% less process time, consuming less energy, and requiring zero salt.”
As a result of Teen Vogue‘s reporting, the Coldplay store said it plans, moving forward, to include more detailed information online about the sustainability of its merch.
This level of detail shows that this kind of work can be done, at scale, for one of the biggest bands in the world — if people and companies are intentional, focused, and transparent about the steps they take to make high-quality, long-lasting clothing by people who are paid and treated well for the work. Hopefully, Coldplay’s success in sustainable merch will inspire other artists to do the same.
