You might have encountered Sherpa Adventure Gear as you browse for summer shirts or adventure wear with its distinctive patterns and bold colours. But the heart of the brand is bigger than you might think. 

Founded in 2003 by Tashi Sherpa, the brand is inspired by the rich culture of the Nepalese people and their welcoming nature towards everyone they meet. Not only did Sherpa want to create a range of adventure and lifestyle wear that would have broad appeal, he wanted to be able to do it in the most environmentally sustainable way possible. 

With that in mind, he set about sourcing organic cotton, which is free from pesticide use and offers natural, breathable fabrics for making high-quality, durable products. The Hemp Clothing Collection provides an eco-friendly alternative to cotton and has qualities that cotton doesn’t, such as greater durability and UV and abrasion-resistant properties. 

Sherpa Adventure Gear t-shirt back

Many of the t-shirts in the Sherpa Adventure Gear lineup are made using 100% organic cotton. They have a lovely soft feel to them, making them comfortable to wear. The quality is excellent, and they hold their shape well after a washing cycle, which bodes well for their longevity. They aren’t a cheap option, but as long as the colours don’t fade, the designs are timeless enough to make them stylish year after year. 

The collections use a lot of recycled materials, helping to reduce the amount of fabric waste that ends up in landfills. Recycled cotton fibres from old fabrics help breathe life into new garments, extending the life cycle further. 

Many Sherpa Adventure Gear products are made using 100% recycled polyester, which is made from old plastic bottles, helping reduce plastic waste. In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, Sherpa Adventure Gear maintains that the materials created from recycled polyester incorporate fabric technology, allowing the core temperature to be maintained and wicking away moisture from the skin to ensure the wearer remains dry and comfortable. 

The men’s shirts are all made from a mix of recycled cotton and recycled polyester. Feeling the quality of the shirts, there is no hint at all that the material is ethically sourced. It’s soft and inviting and feels lovely against the skin. 

Sherpa Adventure Gear t-shirt front

The women’s section boasts a Tencel & Modal collection, which is created using what Sherpa Adventure Gear describes as “an environmentally responsible and self-sufficient pulp to fibre production process.” The result is a lightweight yet long-lasting fabric that is also biodegradable at the end of its lifecycle. 

While its environmental conscience and ethical standards are to be applauded, Sherpa Adventure Gear’s most impressive goal is to provide 10 million school days for Nepalese children by 2030. 

Sherpa Adventure Gear’s vision is “to inspire lives of adventure by exploring new lands and opening minds through learning,” which it aims to do with every product it sells. Initially, Tashi Sherpa and the Sherpa family launched a scholarship program that funded educational scholarships for nine children in Nepal. The initiative enabled children from remote villages to access fully funded education in Kathmandu — something that would not have been possible without the scheme. 

More recently, the scholarship scheme has been superseded by Room to Read, which is run by the Nepal Education Program. This new initiative means that the donations made by Sherpa Adventure Gear can help even more children gain access to education, which can only be a good thing.

Sam Huff
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