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Toad&Co is a California-based clothing brand making relaxed, outdoorsy everyday clothes from organic cotton, hemp, TENCEL Lyocell, recycled fibres and non-mulesed merino. It started in 1991 as Horny Toad, when its founder made upcycled hats for friends, and it pairs its clothes with a social mission and a resale programme called ToadAgain.
Quick answer
Toad&Co suits people who want comfortable, durable casual clothes with clear material standards and an easy resale option.
Key takeaways
- Founded in 1991 by Jessica Nordhaus; renamed Toad&Co in 2015.
- Per the brand, all of its cotton has been organic or recycled since 2016.
- It says it stopped using acrylic, rayon and viscose.
- Returns start within 30 days of receiving your item, backed by its “Joy-Backed Guarantee”.
Who is Toad&Co?
According to its history page, the brand began in 1991 when founder Jessica Nordhaus made upcycled toque hats for friends in her Colorado garage, naming the company Horny Toad after a lizard she chased as a child. Gordon Seabury became CEO in 1996. The company moved its headquarters to Santa Barbara in 2002 and evolved its name to Toad&Co in 2015.
Social impact is part of the story from early on. While based in Chicago, the brand co-founded the Planet Access Company with Search, Inc. (now Search360) to support adults with developmental disabilities. It joined 1% for the Planet in 2013, and its About page says it donates 1% of sales to non-profits, with shoppers choosing which organisation their purchase supports.
What is Toad&Co clothing made of?
| Material | How the brand uses it | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Organic cotton | Tees, dresses, shirts | All cotton organic or recycled since 2016 |
| Hemp | Trousers and shirts such as the Taj Hemp range | Mostly rain-fed, no harsh herbicides, no GMO seeds; gets softer with wear |
| TENCEL Lyocell | Blended into dresses and knits | An early adopter after dropping rayon and viscose |
| Merino wool | Jumpers and hoodies | 100% non-mulesed merino on pieces such as the Merino Heartfelt Hoodie |
| Recycled fibres | Synthetics and blends | Says any synthetics it uses are 100% recycled |
Its certifications page lists standards it works with, including bluesign’s bluepass system, the Global Recycled Standard and the Responsible Wool Standard. Its hemp page says its hemp is processed close to where it is grown, in a factory that runs on solar power.
Toad&Co pieces worth knowing
- Merino Heartfelt Hoodie: a long-running knit in 100% non-mulesed merino, per the brand. A cosy travel and weekend layer.
- Camellia Tank Dress: a fit-and-flare dress with a smocked bodice in organic cotton and TENCEL Lyocell.
- Taj Hemp and Cascadia trousers: hemp-based pull-on and wide-leg styles listed on the hemp page.
- Flannels, tees and shorts across women’s and men’s ranges.
ToadAgain: resale and repairs
ToadAgain lets you sell pre-loved Toad&Co pieces for cash or store credit and buy past-season items at lower prices. The brand says it donates unsold clothes to charity and responsibly recycles post-consumer clothing when needed. Its Portland, Maine store is the ToadAgain base and, per the history page, began offering in-store clothing repairs.
Shipping and returns
- Express and expedited orders placed before 9am PST ship the same business day, per its shipping page; international orders need 2 to 3 business days to process.
- International orders ship through Global-e, with duties and taxes shown at checkout.
- Returns should start within 30 days of receiving your item. US refunds carry a flat shipping fee unless you bought the Easy Returns option, while returns for store credit ship free.
- Free exchanges are offered on US orders.
Flow Check: Toad&Co
- What it is: Relaxed everyday and outdoor clothing in organic cotton, hemp, TENCEL Lyocell and merino.
- Who it’s for: People who want comfy, durable basics from a brand with clear material rules.
- What to know: Check the returns page for fees; US store-credit returns are free. Visit Toad&Co
Packing for a trip? A Toad&Co knit pairs well with the tees in our merino base layers for travel guide, and its upcycled-hat origin fits right into our look at zero-waste clothing.
Meet more brands we have checked in our Brand Spotlights, including Christy Dawn and Unbound Merino.
FAQ
It publishes clear material standards: organic or recycled cotton, hemp, TENCEL Lyocell, recycled synthetics and non-mulesed merino, plus a resale programme. As with any brand, we report these as the brand’s own claims.
Its headquarters moved to Santa Barbara, California, in 2002. It also has stores, including one in Portland, Maine that serves as its ToadAgain base.
Yes. It uses Global-e for international orders, and duties and taxes are calculated at checkout.
The brand says that if you do not get a compliment within three wearings, or your clothes do not bring you joy, it will make it right. Start a return within 30 days of receiving your item.
Bottom line
Toad&Co is a good pick for easygoing, long-wearing basics with clear material rules and a resale programme built in. Start with a hemp trouser or a merino knit and see how it wears.