Toad&Co
Quick verdict: Toad&Co is the rare clothing company that tells you where its clothes are sewn and how much carbon its whole supply chain puts out. It’s a certified B Corp, it’s owned by the person who runs it, and a tee costs about $60. The catch is thin independent testing on how the clothes hold up. Our rating: 4.2 out of 5.
Who they are
Toad&Co started in 1991 as Horny Toad, founded by Jessica Nordhaus, according to the brand’s own history page. Gordon Seabury bought it a few years later and still runs it as CEO. The company’s own pages disagree on the year he took over (one says 1995, another 1996), so we’ll just call it the mid-1990s.
It’s based in Santa Barbara, California, and has been since 2002. We looked for a parent company, a private equity owner or an acquisition and found none. There’s no SEC filing under its name, and the only outside money on record is one small funding round. It’s independent in the plain sense of the word.
What they get right
The factory list is public. Toad&Co names its eight Tier 1 factories, with the country and how long it’s worked with each one. Egedeniz in Türkiye, Hemp Fortex, Hirdaramani and five more. Most apparel brands at this price won’t tell you any of that, and it’s the first thing we check.
It publishes the ugly number too. Plenty of brands will tell you their offices run on renewable power. Toad&Co’s 2025 impact report does that (Scope 1 and 2 come to about 106 tonnes of CO2e) and then prints Scope 3, the emissions from making and shipping the clothes, at 11,763.5 tonnes. That second number is more than 100 times the first. Most brands stop at the flattering one. Publishing it anyway is what honest reporting looks like.
The B Corp is real and recent. We read it at the issuer: Toad & Co. International, Inc. was certified in September 2025 with a score of 87.4. It’s also a 1% for the Planet member, per its impact report.
The materials mix is mostly the better stuff. About half of what it uses by volume is cotton, and 91.4% of that is certified organic or in conversion (the rest is recycled). Then there’s TENCEL lyocell, hemp, and polyester that’s 96% recycled. Its ToadAgain resale program gives worn pieces a second owner.
Where they fall short
Most of the certifications belong to the mills, not to Toad&Co. The organic cotton certificates are held by the fabric suppliers. The same goes for the “bluesign” styles: Toad&Co isn’t on the bluesign system partner list, and its bluesign fabrics are certified at the supplier. That’s normal in apparel and it still counts for something. But it isn’t the same as the brand holding the certificate, and here’s why that difference matters.
There’s no Fair Trade here. Toad&Co doesn’t claim it, and its factories page lists no Fair Trade certificate for any of the eight. If worker-level certification is what you’re shopping for, look at a brand that sews in Fair Trade Certified factories instead.
We couldn’t find much independent testing. No lab tests, no Wirecutter or OutdoorGearLab reviews. Retailer ratings are thin: the women’s Flextime Skinny pant sits at 4.5 stars from 26 reviews at REI, which is good. It’s just not much to go on. That’s why it gets 0.7 for performance rather than a higher score.
What they sell and what it costs
The range is big, over 300 styles, and it leans women’s. Think travel pants, flannels, knit tees, sweaters and dresses you can wear on a trail and then to dinner.
Pricing from its own store: tees run $48 to $75 and mostly land around $60. Pants run $65 to $135, with most around $110. That’s a modest step up from mall brands. Since you’re buying named-factory, mostly organic or recycled clothing from a company that tracks its whole footprint, we think it’s fair.
Who it’s actually for
Anyone who wants versatile everyday clothes and cares who made them. If you’ve been burned by brands that say “ethically made” and then won’t name a single factory, Toad&Co is a refreshing change. Owner-run matters too. It’s a solid pick if you’d rather your money go to an owner-run company than a private equity portfolio.
It’s less of a fit if you need technical gear for serious alpine conditions, or if Fair Trade certification is the thing you care about most.
Deals and discounts
No active codes right now. The ToadAgain resale section is the cheapest way into the brand.
Related reading
- The Best Sustainable Activewear Brands
- What bluesign Certification Actually Covers
- Is Hemp Fabric Actually Sustainable?
- Our Greenwashing Guide
Frequently asked questions
Is Toad&Co a B Corp?
Yes. Toad & Co. International, Inc. is listed in B Lab’s directory as certified in September 2025, with a B Impact score of 87.4. We checked it at B Lab directly rather than relying on the brand’s own badge.
Who owns Toad&Co?
Gordon Seabury, who bought the company in the mid-1990s and is still CEO. We found no parent company, no private equity owner and no acquisition. Jessica Nordhaus founded it in 1991 under the name Horny Toad.
Where are Toad&Co clothes made?
In eight named Tier 1 factories, listed on the brand’s factories page with country and length of partnership, including Egedeniz in Türkiye and Hirdaramani. Toad&Co says all of its Tier 1 suppliers follow its code of conduct.
Is Toad&Co bluesign certified?
Not as a company. Some of its fabrics come from bluesign-certified suppliers, but Toad&Co itself isn’t on the bluesign system partner list. The certification belongs to the mill that made the fabric.
How much does Toad&Co cost?
A bit more than the mall. Tees are mostly around $60 and pants around $110, which is a modest premium over mainstream brands.