GANDYS

I love a company with an inspiring backstory and a dedicated mission, and Gandys fits that description to a T. Brothers Rob and Paul Forkan grew up with their parents and two siblings exploring and volunteering around the world as a family, but in 2004, they tragically lost their parents in the Boxing Day tsunami in Sri Lanka. Following this upheaval, the brothers embarked on volunteering trips around the world that would have made their parents, ever-curious adventurers, very proud.

In 2012, Rob and Paul created Gandys, a clothing and accessories brand famous for their round beach towels. 10% of the profits from every Gandys sale benefits their Orphans for Orphans foundation, which works to provide opportunities to underprivileged children, a mission that has touched many hearts, including those of Princes William and Harry. Since its inception, Orphans for Orphans succeeded in creating a children's home for orphans in Sri Lanka in 2014. Riding on this success and that of their first product, a popular flip-flop, Rob and Paul created their first full Gandys collection, with swim shorts, backpacks and their iconic round towels.

The unstoppable pair went on to open their first Gandys brick and mortar location in Spitalfields Market in 2016, and opened their second children's home in 2017, this time in Malawi. Now with five locations across London and an army of supporters, the Gandys co-founders pride themselves on their ongoing mission to better children's lives, while using their own creativity to create pieces with a wide appeal and always based on ethical trading. They ensure that all the factories they employ treat their workers fairly and humanely, paying them a living wage and providing a safe and hygienic work environment.