Quality

The bar we hold every product to. Set when we picked the catalogue, enforced on every reorder.

Apparel

GOTS certified organic cotton on every tee, sweat, and hoodie. We do not stock blended polyester apparel. The minimum weights:

• T-shirts: 180gsm combed ringspun cotton.
• Sweatshirts: 350gsm brushed back fleece.
• Hoodies: 400gsm brushed fleece.
• Polos: 220gsm pique.

Cotton is woven in Portugal. Garments are cut and sewn in Portugal, Turkey, or the UK depending on style. Printing happens in our UK partner facility on machines we inspect annually.

The GOTS certification number for every supplier is on file. We share it on request and the buyer can verify it against the Global Standard public register.

Print

DTG by default. Screen print at volume. Embroidery for chest marks. We do not use plastisol transfers anywhere.

The print readiness check runs on every uploaded design before production. Resolution, colour space, transparency, bleed, and minimum stroke width all get verified. Failed checks block the order; the design tool surfaces the exact fix needed.

Drinkware

Ceramic mugs are lead and cadmium tested. Stainless steel bottles are food grade 18/8. Enamel mugs are enamel over carbon steel, rolled rim, no chips out of the box.

Stationery

FSC certified paper on every notebook and card. Hardback notebooks use 100gsm paper at a minimum (heavier than most competitors at this price). Letterpress cards use 600gsm cotton stock, hand pressed in the UK.

Packaging

100 percent of outer packaging is FSC certified kraft or recycled card. Paper tape only. No plastic polybags. No plastic void fill. No plastic mailers. The packaging spec sits on the same page as the product so finance can audit it without asking.

What we do not stock

The catalogue is curated by exclusion as much as by inclusion. Items we have looked at and turned down:

• Plastic pens, plastic keyrings, plastic stress balls.
• Apparel under 180gsm.
• Polyester apparel without GRS certification.
• Stationery printed on non FSC paper.
• Any product where the supplier cannot tell us the country of origin and the materials breakdown.

If a buyer asks us for something on this list we explain why and offer the nearest alternative we are willing to ship.

How we audit

Every product is reviewed once a year. Two questions: does the supplier still meet our weight and certification minimums, and does the cost still justify the price tier the product sits in. Products that fail either review are paused, replaced, or removed.

For new SKU candidates we order a sample run, photograph it, wear it for two weeks (apparel), use it daily (drinkware, stationery), and only then consider adding it to the catalogue.

Get in touch

For procurement teams who need the underlying certification numbers, audit dates, or supplier addresses, the procurement question pack at /b2b/procurement has the standard set. Anything missing, hello@normamade.com.

Certifications

Three certifications cover every garment we stock:

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certifies the full supply chain for organic cotton, from field through finishing. The certification number is on file for every supplier and available on request via /b2b/procurement. GOTS is not a self-declaration; it requires annual third-party audits.

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 tests the finished garment for over 100 harmful substances. Every garment we stock has passed at Class I (suitable for baby skin) or Class II (direct skin contact for adults). The test certificate number sits on the product page.

Fair Wear Foundation membership means our supply chain partners are audited against the Fair Wear Code of Labour Practices. This covers working hours, wages, safe conditions, and freedom of association. The Foundation publishes its audit results publicly; we link to our brand page from the sustainability section.

Factory visits

We visit our primary print and garment partners annually. The visits are unannounced. We photograph the facility, speak to the floor team, and review the output against our quality spec. Any facility that declines an unannounced visit is removed from the supplier list.

Buyers who want to visit alongside us can request a place on the next visit. We run two per year, typically in March and September. Contact hello@normamade.com to register interest.

Defect rate

Our target defect rate is under 0.5 percent of units shipped. We define a defect as any unit that a reasonable customer would not accept: print misregistration over 3mm, fabric holes, colour inconsistency visible at arm length, or seam failure on first wear.

We have shipped [X] units since launch. Our current defect rate is [Y] percent. We update this figure quarterly.

If you receive a defective unit, the reissue guarantee covers it without question. See /quality#reissue for the terms.