howies is a clothing company originally based in Cardigan Bay

Cardigan Bay

Cardigan Bay is a large inlet of the Irish Sea, indenting the west coast of Wales between Bardsey Island, Gwynedd in the north, and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire at its southern end. It is the largest bay in Wales....

, Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

.
The company was founded by Clare and David Hieatt in 1995 and produces eco-friendly T-shirts, jeans and sportswear, and aims to have ethically correct practices. howies sometimes use natural fabrics as alternatives to petrochemical-derived modern fabrics. Examples include organic cotton

Organic cotton

Organic cotton is generally understood as cotton and is grown in subtropical countries such as America and India, from non genetically modified plants, that is to be grown without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides. Its production also promotes and...

, Merino

Merino

The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep...

 wool and recycled cotton. howies T-shirts often have images or slogans with political or environmental themes.

Brand and Identity

The howies brand has a strong brand identity within many UK active sports, notably mountain biking

Mountain biking

Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...

, surfing

Surfing

Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...

 and skateboarding

Skateboarding

Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...

. This identity has been reinforced by the sponsorship of a number of athletes in these disciplines over the years. It has also generated a number of special edition products associated with the howies brand, notably with Curtis Bikes who continue to offer howies blue as a standard colour option on many of their bikes.
The company is particularly well known for its t-shirt designs, many of which have become known as classic designs, notably the classic logo design as well as 9 bikes, CCTV, Life*, Blood Donor and Home Work. Many howies customers become repeat customers, possibly due to the personal nature of their catalogues and website and excellent customer service.

History

• howies was founded by Clare and David Hieatt in 1995. The name "howies" is derived from Clare's maiden name of "Howells".

• In 2001 the company relocated from London
  London
  London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
  
   to Wales
  Wales
  Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
  
  . The company's first proper mail order catalogue is produced.

• In 2003 Levi Strauss & Co.
  Levi Strauss & Co.
  Levi Strauss & Co. is a privately held American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. It was founded in 1853 when Levi Strauss came from Buttenheim, Franconia, to San Francisco, California to open a west coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business...
  
   threatened to sue howies over the placement of a logo bearing tab on the rear right buttock pocket of their jeans. The Howies Tab is grey, the Levis Tab is Red.

• In December 2006 the Hieatts sold the company to The Timberland Company
  The Timberland Company
  The Timberland Company is an American manufacturer and retailer of outdoors wear with a focus on footwear. Its three key locations are in Stratham, New Hampshire; Danville, Kentucky; and Ontario, California....
  
  .

• In November 2008 howies was cited as the 6th most 'recession-proof' company in the UK.

• In September 2009, David Hieatt, one of howies' founders, mentioned on Twitter that he was due to leave howies at the end of October 2009.