Our Commitment to People & Planet

Who We Are

We are an independent fashion and homeware brand based in the UK. Our aim is to make products that will bring long lasting joy to our customers with high quality, natural fabrics and a passion for colour and pattern.

Being part of a larger industry that so often has a detrimental effect on the environment, here at H&B we are committed to doing things differently.

We proudly take responsibility for our social and environmental impact; through constantly considering how every part of our business affects people and the planet. We know there is always more work that can be done but we are committed to full transparency and responsible practices throughout our business. We are continuously striving for positive progress.

How We Design Our Collections

We currently release two collections a year, one in the Autumn and one in the Spring. However, we are beginning to introduce a more trans-seasonal approach with many of our pieces designed to be be worn across seasons by layering up or down as needed.

Every garment we make is carefully considered in terms of its fit and durability. Each detail from the suitability of the fabric, the trim and stitching to the printing methods used combine to ensure maximum love and longevity.

We don’t tend to follow fashion trends and shapes but focus on timeless silhouettes and follow our own rule book when it comes to colour and pattern - the brighter and bolder the better!

Small Batch Ordering

We make small batch orders with our production teams in India. The quantities are based on the numbers we think we will sell each season. If we run low or sell out, our close relationships with our suppliers can give us the flexibility to order a top up within a season. We sometimes offer a pre-order option for some items meaning that we will only make the amount we have sold. This gives us complete control over the quantities of fabric we have printed and stitched. By using these practices we reduce waste and avoid having surplus garments and fabric unsold and potentially ending up in landfill.

Fabric Selection

It is really important to us that we only ever use 100% natural fabrics in our collections. This means that at the end of what is hopefully a very long life your H&B garment will completely biodegrade or be able to be successfully recycled.

We use a range of fabrics, all sourced and produced ethically in India. From heavier weight, warm wool for our winter jackets to beautiful, breathable organic cotton for our summer dresses. We take the time to carry out sampling and testing to ensure we select the perfect fabric for each garment. We have recently begun to introduce more Cotton Flax into our trousers and dresses. Not only does this blend feel amazing with a slightly textured composition, but it is 3 times stronger than cotton, takes the colour of our prints extremely well and is known for its colour fastness qualities.

Pattern and Print

Our signature prints with bold, vibrant pattern and colour begin life in Alice’s watercolour sketchbook. She then cleverly digitally manipulates her designs into repeats and further explores the exciting colour combinations you see in our joyous collections. The prints are applied to natural fabrics mostly using a traditional Indian block printing method. We absolutely love the results of this technique giving the most wonderful depth to the print.

Each length of fabric really is a work of art, the slight variations and imperfections that occasionally occur are to be embraced and celebrated. Depending on the design we also use screen printing and occasionally digital printing to apply the design to our fabrics. All 3 of our manufacturers have their own printing team so they are able to work closely following the complete journey of each garment from print to cut to stitch.

The Whole Package

We use recyclable packaging to fulfil all orders, both sending out our postal orders and within our retail shop. Our swing tags contain zero plastic and can be completely recycled. We have recently been able to massively reduce the amount of plastic used in our stock deliveries coming from India. Currently we are investigating the possibility of using biodegradable or cotton care labels within our garments moving away from the polyester currently used for this mini label.

Who Makes Our Clothing

We use 3 small manufacturing teams all of which are based in Jaipur, India. You can find out more about how Alice and Robbie connected with each one and their long working relationships in the ‘Production Partners’ section on our website.

Each manufacturer handles the full production process from the printing all the way to the final stage of adding the swing tag when the garment is complete. The H&B UK team recently visited Jaipur and were able to see the factories where all stages of our production happen. It was very exciting to see our fabrics being printed on huge 30 metre tables by such skilled craftspeople. We were able to meet all the staff and see their facilities and working environment. The spaces were airy with lots of natural light, good ventilation and had additional fans to be used in the summer months. The three teams are made up of men and women and are based in locations where their employment supports the local community. The hours worked, breaks, holidays and rates of pay comply with Indian regulations. It was wonderful to be able to meet the staff and see everything in person so that we can be completely confident about how our products are being produced with full transparency and responsible practices.

This is Mala Didi she has been block printing for 15 years. She works for the 5 Stitch production team in a lovely print studio in Sanganer, Jaipur. We were able to meet her on our recent visit and watch as she printed one of the fabrics for our Spring /Summer 2025 collection

Zero Waste Aim

It's really important to us at H&B that we don’t waste any of our beautiful surplus fabric. We value every last fibre and put so much work and time into having it meticulously printed that we would never want to see any of it going to landfill.

We have come up with lots of exciting ways to use the off cuts. While visiting our manufacturer, Rakesh recently we were able to set aside surplus fabrics to be used for a whole new range of H&B accessories. From wash bags to scrunchies to neck ties and much more - we can’t wait for you to see the new collection coming soon. We have even thought of a clever way to use even the smallest of scraps - keep an eye out for the fabric tinsel coming next Christmas!

We also hold sample sales throughout the year to sell any surplus garments or items created at the sampling stage of designing a collection. These sales mean even more people can enjoy wearing our clothes and ensures that everything we make is being worn and loved.

How To Care For Your H&B

Wash Smart

• Wash less often and always make sure you put on a full load
• Wash on a cool setting, we recommend 20C or 30C for most of our items
• Spot clean if you can to stretch out time between full washes
• Preserve the print by washing items inside out
• Use natural, eco friendly washing detergents
• Avoid using a tumble drying as this can cause damage to fabric, fade prints and uses large amounts of energy. The ideal way to dry our garments is on a hanger, in a warm dry place out of direct sunlight

Repairs

We are happy to repair your Humphries and Begg clothing

We want you to enjoy your H&B pieces for as long as possible and we are more than happy to arrange any repairs you may need carrying out over the years. We can supply replacement buttons, stitch on loose pockets or look at fixing any holes that may appear in the fabric over time. Please get in touch with us to discuss your individual requirements.

Alterations

We can arrange alterations through Alex, our skilled sewist

It’s really important that everyone feels great in H&B clothing so if a few tweaks are needed here and there we can help with this. If alterations are needed because our sizing just isn’t quite right for you or you would like some tweaks made so that your garment can change with your body over time we will happily arrange for Alex, our skilled sewist, to take care of this for you. Please get in touch if you would like any further information on this service.