Marley’s Monsters
Quick verdict: How many paper towel rolls does your kitchen go through in a month? Marley’s Monsters makes the washable version, cotton flannel squares that snap into a roll, and sews them in its own shop in Eugene, Oregon. It’s owned by the woman who started it. Two catches, though: nothing here carries a third-party certification, and new flannel doesn’t soak up much until it’s been washed a few times. Our rating: 3.6 out of 5.
Who they are
Sarah Dooley opened an Etsy shop on January 30, 2013, selling stuffed monsters she’d sewn for her daughter Marley, according to the company’s own ten-year history. The reusable cloths came later and took over. She left her interior design job in 2014, and the about page now describes a woman-owned US manufacturer in Eugene with more than 70 employees.
She’s still running it. The sustainability page signs her as Founder and President, and Oregon’s business registry lists Marley’s Monsters LLC at a Eugene address. We looked for outside investors, a parent company or a sale and found none. Unfortunately the registry page that names the LLC’s members sits behind a CAPTCHA, so we’re going on the company’s own statements plus the absence of anything contradicting them.
What they get right
It’s made by the people selling it. The FAQ says the fabric and wood products are made in Eugene, which is pretty rare for anything sewn at this price. You’re not paying a markup to a brand that outsources everything to a factory it won’t name.
The flagship swap replaces a real habit. A 12-pack of UNpaper Towels costs $45 on the brand’s store. If your house uses a roll of paper towels a week, that set pays for itself well inside a year, and the cloths keep going after that. The company claims 15 million rolls diverted so far. That’s its own estimate, not an audited figure, so treat it as a ballpark.
It tells you the downside up front. Here’s the thing though: the FAQ says plainly that the flannel isn’t pre-washed, so it’s least absorbent the first time you use it and gets thicker and thirstier wash after wash. Most brands would bury that. Not here. We’d rather know.
Organic is an option. Cotton flannel is the default, and organic cotton is offered on some items, including the towels, at $50 for a 12-pack.
Where they fall short
There’s no certification anywhere in the range. No GOTS, no OEKO-TEX, no B Corp, nothing on the Climate Label. The organic cotton option doesn’t name a certifier either. For a small maker that’s not shocking, but this is a category where OEKO-TEX or GOTS fabric is readily available, so the absence costs it points with us.
Not everything on the site is theirs. Marley’s Monsters also resells other brands, Bee’s Wrap and Redecker among them. Of roughly 670 listings in its store feed, about half are its own goods. Any certification badge you spot on the site belongs to one of those other brands, not to the cloths sewn in Eugene.
Standard cotton flannel is still conventional cotton. If that bothers you, pay the extra $5 for the organic version, though without a named certifier you’re taking that label on trust. Our guide to what an organic cotton label is worth explains why that matters.
What they sell and what it costs
The UNpaper Towels are the core: 12-packs at $45, organic at $50, refill six-packs at $24, and singles at $4.50. Around them sit cloth napkins ($14 for six small ones), reusable facial rounds ($10 to $18), washable sponges ($14), cloth wipes, bread and snack bags, and wooden holders and caddies from $40 to $58.
None of it is cheap for a piece of cloth. True. But it’s competing with something you’d otherwise buy forever, and that’s the comparison that matters.
Who it’s actually for
Anyone whose trash is mostly paper towels and cotton pads, and who’s fine with a small basket of laundry. It’s a solid pick if you want to buy from a maker that sews its own goods and is owned by its founder.
Skip it if certified fabric is your dealbreaker, or if you need a towel that absorbs like crazy on day one. Wash them a few times first. Then judge.
Deals and discounts
No active codes right now. The site occasionally lists “seconds” bundles with small flaws at a lower price.
Related reading
- The Best Zero-Waste Swaps for a Plastic-Free Home
- The Best Zero-Waste Kitchen Swaps
- Can You Trust an Organic Cotton Label?
- How to Spot Greenwashing
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Marley’s Monsters?
Sarah Dooley, who founded it in 2013 and is still its founder and president. We found no investors, parent company or acquisition. It’s registered as an Oregon LLC based in Eugene.
Where are Marley’s Monsters products made?
The company says its fabric and wood products are made in Eugene, Oregon, from a mix of domestic and imported materials. Some products on its site are made by other brands it resells.
Are UNpaper Towels absorbent?
Less so at first. The flannel isn’t pre-washed, so it soaks up the least on its first use and becomes more absorbent with each wash. Give them a few cycles before you decide.
Is Marley’s Monsters certified organic or B Corp?
No. Its standard cloths are conventional cotton flannel, and while an organic cotton option exists, no certifier is named. It isn’t a B Corp and isn’t on the Climate Label.
How much do Marley’s Monsters UNpaper Towels cost?
A 12-pack is $45, or $50 in organic cotton. Single towels are $4.50 and refill six-packs are $24.