It started with $200 and a dream to create a brand with a social conscience, a place for intelligent shoppers to buy meaningful home grown products. This is the story of how Ethcs came to be...

A mis-understanding with the university administration, coupled with Shane’s stubborn pride led him to drop out. Left with a part-time job, a book full of designs, he wasn’t sure what to do. Someone says, “bro some of these would look mean on a t-shirt...” and ya know what? That sounded like a pretty choice idea.

A few weeks went by before Shane decided to get a couple of t-shirts printed. He wore them and to his amazement people would ask where he got them and if they could buy one. He decided to go into business. This time he got a box full of t-shirts printed and sold them on Trademe (New Zealands ebay). He quickly raised enough money to get his very own website.

Maybe you're wondering why we're called Ethcs? The name has always stood for the way Shane wanted to do business. Be ethical, treat people with respect and don't fuck up the planet. He dropped the 'i' from ethics as a reminder that this journey wasn't about him and as a mark of respect to the good friends that inspired him from the start.