10/27/2026
BUYERS BEWARE.
SELLERS BE ETHICAL.
I've been involved in the clothing business since 1992. Back in the early '90s, I had two clothing lines in Northern California that did quite well. Clothing has been part of my life for a long time, and getting back into vintage apparel, building Shade Tree Supply Co., and establishing relationships with brands like Liquid Blue has only strengthened something I've always believed in.
INTEGRITY MATTERS. AUTHENTICITY MATTERS.
At Shade Tree Supply Co., we have very strict standards regarding what we sell and how we represent it.
Whether it's brand-new merchandise, true vintage, or simply older modern clothing, we take the extra steps to make sure we're accurately representing what we're offering.
We know what to look for. We do our homework. And when we can't verify something, we're not going to pretend we can.
One thing we have NEVER done, and absolutely do not condone, is taking someone else's copyrighted artwork, trademarked logo, or brand identity and pressing it onto a blank shirt, sweatshirt, or other garment to create something that appears to be an authentic branded product.
I don't care if that blank came from Walmart, a wholesale supplier, or a thrift store.
Putting a brand's logo on something doesn't make it that brand.
Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with creating your own clothing, designing your own artwork, or building your own brand. I've done it myself, and I encourage others to do the same!
But there's a big difference between creating something original and misrepresenting someone else's work as your own or selling unauthorized reproductions as authentic merchandise.
And buyers, PLEASE educate yourselves!
Most established clothing brands, and even smaller specialty brands, have identifying details that can help distinguish authentic merchandise from counterfeits. Labels, stitching, manufacturing codes, fabric composition, printing methods, and other details can tell quite a story.
There are resources online to help you research authenticity, and many brands provide ways to report suspected counterfeit merchandise or trademark misuse.
Take a few minutes to investigate before spending your money, especially when something doesn't look quite right.
I say all this because I understand something very simple.
We're all out here trying to feed our families.
I respect the hustle. I respect entrepreneurship. I respect anyone willing to put in the work to build something for themselves.
But I also respect the people who work hard every single day to earn the money they're spending.
Those people deserve honesty.
They deserve to know what they're buying.
And they deserve to receive exactly what they're being told they're purchasing.
There's room in this world for all of us to succeed without deceiving someone else to get there.
I'm not here to call anybody out, point fingers, or discourage anyone from making a living. I'm simply encouraging buyers to be informed and sellers to take pride in doing things the right way.
Build your own brand. Create your own lane. Respect the work of others. And never sacrifice your integrity for a sale.
That's my post for the day.
Buyers beware. Sellers be ethical.
Be good to yourselves, and whenever possible, be good to somebody else.
Much love! ❤️
Jay White
Amanda Hardee
Tim Greene
Emily White
Shade Tree Shirts n More
Shade Tree Supply Co.
