What RECOVER BRANDS does

Recover Brands is a privately held, founder-owned sustainable apparel manufacturer founded in 2010 by Bill Johnston and John Riddle in Western North Carolina. The company designs, produces, and sells apparel made from certified recycled materials — primarily recycled PET (rPET), recycled cotton, and US-grown organic cotton — organized into the Eco, Classic, Organic, Fleece, Sport Stretch, Impact Jacket, and L.A.B. collections. Manufacturing is delivered through a proprietary HyperLocal supply chain: a US Southeast network operating within a 250-mile radius and a fully vertically integrated facility in El Salvador operated by partner Intradeco within a 10-mile radius, supported by 37% on-site solar generation, 75% renewable energy, and ~60% water recycling. Sustainability claims are verified through third-party partner BCome, which audits Life Cycle Assessments across six core product lines and produces a 96% supplier traceability rate, 93% lower supply chain emissions, 62% lower fossil-fuel energy, and 58% lower GHG emissions versus industry benchmarks.

The company operates a hybrid commercial model: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store at recoverbrands.com selling individual SKUs and 20% bundle discounts above three shirts; a Recover Wholesale division offering stocked blanks and fully custom decorated apparel (screen printing, embroidery, dye sublimation) to universities, brands, corporate buyers, and event organizers; event-driven merchandise at running events including the Marine Corps Marathon, Big Sur Marathon, Charlotte Marathon, and Boulderthon; a print-on-demand fundraiser program supporting 17 environmental nonprofits; and co-branded collections with brand partners including Rivian, Sierra Nevada, 4ocean, Guy Harvey, Arizona Wilderness Brewing, and Vermont Green FC. Distribution reaches the collegiate segment via the ICBA partnership, and the company runs a 360° Closed Loop recycling program that collected 4,977 lbs of apparel in 2024 and over $400K in lifetime environmental giving through 1% For The Planet membership since 2017. In April 2026 Recover expanded its portfolio by acquiring management of the Headsweats headwear and accessories brand, signaling growth beyond apparel.

Name

RECOVER BRANDS

Website

https://recoverbrands.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Recover Brands is a privately held, founder-owned sustainable apparel manufacturer founded in 2010 that designs, produces, and sells 100% recycled and organic apparel — including tees, fleece, polos, and performance wear — directly to consumers, wholesale partners, running events, universities, and environmental nonprofits via a HyperLocal US and El Salvador supply chain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Apparel Manufacturing

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Merchant Wholesalers (424350)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Apparel Alterations, Repair & Circular Manufacturing (Remake/Upcycle) (CRAAAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Repair, Refurbishment & Upcycling Services (Industrial Scale) (IMAOAMAK), Textile & Apparel Recycling and Sorting (Non-E-waste) (BPALADAL), Sustainable & Certified Materials (Organic, Recycled, Traceable) (CRAAAMAK)

Keywords

• Sustainable apparel manufacturing
• Recycled PET clothing
• Eco-friendly t-shirts
• Custom wholesale apparel
• Closed loop recycling

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Retail product sales through recoverbrands.com. Products include t-shirts ($20-$35), fleece ($40-$50), polos ($35), athletic wear, and accessories sold individually or as bundles. Free shipping on orders over $60.
2. Wholesale / Custom Apparel: B2B wholesale channel selling stocked blanks and fully custom branded apparel with decoration and fulfillment. Customization includes screen printing, embroidery, and dye sublimation. Serves corporate merchandise, collegiate retail, event merch, and branded programs.
3. Print-on-Demand Fundraiser Program: Nonprofit and event fundraising program using print-on-demand model. Recover manages custom printing, fulfillment, and shipping of merchandise for environmental organizations, eliminating inventory waste and providing revenue share or direct fundraising contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Recover Brands manufactures and sells eco-friendly apparel including t-shirts, polos, button-downs, fleece hoodies and sweatshirts, athletic wear, and accessories made from 100% recycled PET (rPET), recycled cotton, and organic cotton. The company sells ready-to-wear apparel direct to individual consumers via recoverbrands.com and provides custom branded apparel, screen printing, embroidery, and dye sublimation services to organizations, events, universities, and brands through its Recover Wholesale division.

Product overview

Recover Brands is an eco-friendly apparel company offering a unified product portfolio centered on 100% recycled and certified sustainable materials. The core offering includes Eco Collection (EC-series t-shirts, polos, button-downs made from recycled PET), Classic Collection (US-made recycled cotton apparel), Fleece Collection (hoodies, sweatshirts, quarter-zips), Sport Stretch performance line (recycled PET with spandex blend), and limited edition L.A.B. pieces. The wholesale platform extends customization and bulk ordering capabilities to B2B partners, while the proprietary 360° Closed Loop Program enables apparel recycling and circular supply chain. Accessories including hats, socks, bags, and drinkware round out the product ecosystem. All products are manufactured within the company's HyperLocal supply chain in the US Southeast (250-mile radius) or El Salvador (10-mile radius), with third-party verified environmental impact savings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Recover L.A.B. Limited edition designs and specialty products including the L.A.B. collection featuring crewneck sweatshirts and pullover hoodies.
• Sport Stretch
• Eco Collection
• HyperLocal

Products and services

• EC100 - Eco Short Sleeve T-Shirt Men's short sleeve t-shirt made from 100% recycled PET (rPET), certified through Global Recycled Standard, available in 12+ colors. Part of the Eco Collection.
• EC200 - Women's Eco Short Sleeve T-Shirt Women's short sleeve t-shirt made from 100% recycled PET (rPET), certified through Global Recycled Standard. Part of the Eco Collection.
• EC102 - Eco Long Sleeve T-Shirt Men's long sleeve t-shirt made from 100% recycled PET (rPET), certified through Global Recycled Standard. Part of the Eco Collection.
• EC500 - Eco Polo Polo shirt made from 100% recycled PET (rPET), certified through Global Recycled Standard, available in 10+ colors. Part of the Eco Collection.
• EC650 - Eco Button Down Shirt Button down shirt made from 100% recycled PET (rPET), certified through Global Recycled Standard. Part of the Eco Collection.
• RS100 - Classic Short Sleeve T-Shirt Classic short sleeve t-shirt made from recycled cotton, manufactured in the USA within a 250-mile HyperLocal supply chain. Part of the Classic Collection.
• RC1093 - Unisex Fleece Pullover Hoodie Unisex fleece pullover hoodie made from recycled materials. Part of the Fleece Collection.
• RC1096 - Unisex Fleece Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt Unisex fleece quarter-zip sweatshirt made from recycled materials. Part of the Fleece Collection.
• RC1095 - Unisex Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt Unisex fleece crewneck sweatshirt made from recycled materials. Part of the Fleece Collection.
• RCY1093 - Youth Pullover Fleece Hoodie Youth-sized pullover fleece hoodie made from recycled materials. Part of the Fleece Collection.
• Sport Stretch Collection Performance athletic wear collection with blended fabric made from 95% recycled PET and 5% spandex, delivering 4-way stretch and moisture-wicking. Includes Men's and Women's Short Sleeve Tees, Long Sleeve Tees, Polos, and Sun Hoodies, available for retail and wholesale customization via dye sublimation.
• Impact Jacket Sustainable soft shell jacket made from certified recycled materials, featuring athletic fit, Men's & Women's cut, stow-away hood, drying hook, reflective details, dual snap chest ventilation, elastic cuffs, and water resistant fabric. Available for retail and wholesale.
• Recover L.A.B. Limited Collection Limited edition apparel collection featuring exclusive designs and premium materials, including the RC1095 Firefly Crewneck Sweatshirt and RC1093 Firefly Pullover Hoodie.
• OG100 - Mountain Lines Organic Short Sleeve T-Shirt Organic short sleeve t-shirt featuring mountain-themed graphics, made from US-grown organic cotton certified by USDA.
• Recover Wholesale B2B platform offering custom branded apparel and volume orders for wholesale partners. Includes customization services (screen printing, embroidery, dye sublimation), Recover L.A.B. design services, 360° Closed Loop wholesale program, and certified sustainable materials. Serves corporate merchandise, collegiate retail, event merch, and branded programs.
• Recover Accessories Collection Accessory products including hats, socks, bags, drinkware, and utensils, all made from recycled materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supply chain transportation emissions reduced by 93% vs. industry standard (verified by BCome LCA)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HeadsweatsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Recover announced management of Headsweats in 2026 (podcast Episode 64), expanding its athletic headwear and accessories offerings under the Headsweats brand.
• Arbor Day FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Environmental partner for tree planting initiatives. In 2025, Recover partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation and Asheville GreenWorks to sponsor tree planting events to rebuild the Hominy Creek Greenway in Asheville, NC after Hurricane Helene.
• Marine Corps Marathon OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Exclusive apparel partnership (announced 2023) with the Marine Corps Marathon Organization. Recover provides participant shirts, finisher items, volunteer and staff apparel, and race merchandise. The 2025 edition drew a record 40,000 runners, making it the 3rd largest marathon in North America.
• Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Outdoor and sustainability-focused brewery in Arizona. Merchandise partner since 2022. Best-selling Recover product is the Grey Trail Club Sun Hoodie. Recently recycled over 33 lbs of used clothing through Recover's closed-loop program. AZWBC also supports Recover's Earth Month fundraiser.
• 1% For The PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Recover joined 1% For The Planet in 2017. Since then has donated over $211K through the organization to environmental nonprofits across the country. Total lifetime environmental giving exceeds $400,000.
• IntradecocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing partner operating the state-of-the-art vertically integrated facility in El Salvador. Intradeco added 25 megawatts of solar energy capacity to El Salvador's national grid and 5 megawatts in Honduras. 37% of energy consumed in Recover's El Salvador supply chain is generated on-site from solar; 75% total from renewable sources. Facility recycles ~60% of water used during manufacturing.
• BComecoreTechnology or IntegrationSustainability data management platform partner. BCome verified Recover's LCA data and traceability metrics across 6 core product collections. Results: 96% supplier traceability rate; 93% lower supply chain emissions vs. industry standard.
• Material Return of North CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTextile recycling partner for the 360° Closed Loop Apparel Recycling Program. Collects textile waste from wholesale partners (in-store bins, excess inventory takeback, in-person event collection) and retail customers (pre-labeled mailers). Diverted 4,977 lbs of apparel from landfill in 2024.
• ICBA (Independent College Bookstore Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ICBA to lead sustainable collegiate apparel on college campuses nationwide. Helps colleges close the loop on apparel waste through the 360° Closed Loop Program, offer eco-friendly merchandise, and demonstrate sustainability commitments.
• Catawba RiverkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental nonprofit partner. Recover Ambassador Greg Nance serves as Mission Experience Manager at Catawba Riverkeeper. Recover supports river cleanup initiatives, including an overnight tactical cleanup that removed 2,000 lbs of trash from local waterways.
• Asheville GreenWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal environmental partner in Asheville, NC. Partnered with Recover and Arbor Day Foundation for tree planting to rebuild the Hominy Creek Greenway following Hurricane Helene damage.
• 4oceanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOcean conservation brand partner. Featured as a collection on recoverbrands.com, with co-branded sustainable merchandise to support ocean cleanup efforts.
• Guy HarveyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarine conservation artist and brand. Featured in Recover's product line (podcast Episode 59). Co-branded apparel featuring Guy Harvey's marine conservation artwork.
• Outdoor Gear Builders (OGB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative organization of gear manufacturers, outfitters, retailers, environmental organizations, and more focused on growing the outdoor industry in the Southeast. Has over 100 members. Featured in podcast Episode 26.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ecoalf: Spanish apparel brand whose core mission is turning marine plastic and recycled materials into fashion basics and outerwear. Closely aligned with Recover on upcycling recycled PET, recycled cotton, and a circular economy narrative.
• Allbirds: Sustainable consumer brand built around natural and recycled materials, with expanding apparel lines. Comparable to Recover on materials-led brand story, vertical integration, and verified LCA-based sustainability claims.
• tentree: Canadian DTC apparel brand that makes basics (t-shirts, hoodies, fleece) primarily from recycled and sustainable materials. Highly comparable to Recover on materials philosophy (recycled cotton, recycled PET), B-Corp positioning, and DTC+wholesale hybrid model, with a similarly mission-driven brand voice.
• Patagonia: Iconic sustainable apparel company with deep expertise in recycled materials, fair trade manufacturing, and environmental giving (1% For The Planet). Operates a similar DTC+wholesale model with apparel made from recycled fibers. A larger, broader competitor in the same core category.
• Pact: DTC sustainable basics brand focused on organic cotton t-shirts, sweatshirts and apparel for men, women, and kids. Closely comparable to Recover's Classic/Organic line, fair trade certified supply chain, and family-focused product range.
• Threads 4 Thought: DTC sustainable apparel brand offering recycled and organic basics (t-shirts, hoodies, leggings) with B-Corp credentials. Operates a similar DTC + wholesale + screen-printing customization model for corporate and team apparel.
• Cotopaxi: B-Corp outdoor and apparel brand producing jackets, fleece, and accessories using recycled and repurposed materials. Comparable to Recover on sustainability certification, custom event merchandise (Questival), and run-race partnership activations.

Broad incumbents

• Adidas (Parley / Sustainable Lines): Global athletic apparel giant with major sustainability programs (Parley for the Oceans, recycled polyester products). Competes with Recover primarily in the branded athletic/event apparel space through scale and mass-market distribution.

Others

• Headsweats: Athletic headwear and accessory brand now managed by Recover Brands as of 2026. Sister/portfolio brand within Recover, comparable on athletic customization and event-merch channel; included for adjacency rather than competitive overlap.
• Custom Ink: Largest US custom apparel and screen-printing platform serving groups, events, and businesses — comparable to Recover Wholesale's customized-branded apparel offering, though Custom Ink carries mostly non-recycled stock.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/recoverbrands
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RecoverBrands
• Facebookfacebook.com/recoverbrands
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recover-brands
• Instagraminstagram.com/recoverbrands

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RECOVER BRANDS