2025 marks the 15th anniversary of Recover, a milestone that fills us with gratitude and excitement. From our humble beginnings to where we stand today, our mission has remained steadfast: to Help Earth Recover by outfitting everyone with apparel and gear for the biggest positive impact possible.

From the start, Recover was built on the principle of being part of the solution rather than the problem. Our innovative 360° process—from design to manufacturing to fulfillment—repurposes recycled plastic bottles and upcycled cotton, minimizes dyes, reduces water, energy, and chemical usage, and eliminates plastic packaging entirely.

In 15 years, Recover has made a tangible impact: saving 1.45 billion gallons of water, 1,413,376 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions, 2,810,031 kWh of fossil fuel-based energy, and diverting 2,360,544 plastic water bottles from entering the landfill. Beyond numbers, our initiatives, such as our 1% For the Planet Membership, RAD, Closed Loop, and Zero Waste Online Store Fundraisers, have brought communities, artists, and organizations together to protect and preserve our planet.

As we celebrate 15 years, we reflect on the journey that has brought us here and look forward to the road ahead. None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our partners, customers, and the Recover community. You inspire us every day to push boundaries, create meaningful change, and dream even bigger.

Recover Over The Years

2009:

• Bill Johnston, a recent college grad, and John Riddle, a veteran textile manufacturer reconnect serendipitously when Bill is looking to buy a road bike and John has one to sell. The two begin riding together in the foothills of Western North Carolina and talking about the possibilities of making apparel out of recycled plastic bottles and upcycled cotton. While spinning wheels, the idea for Recover is born.

It all started with this bike

2010:

• In early 2010, Bill and John decided to take their idea and officially start Recover with the founding principle to be a mission-driven sustainable apparel company that works to create the best, most environmentally friendly, and socially responsible products possible, and to educate and inspire those around us to live and work for a sustainable tomorrow.

2011:

• Recover uses its unique, proprietary process combining 100% recycled PET and upcycled cotton to make the lightweight, soft, durable Recover Tee (now the “Classic Tee”). The Recover process minimizes dyes, completely eliminates plastic packaging, and significantly reduces the use of chemicals, water, and energy.

Product testing on a backpacking trip in Costa Rica

2012:

• Recover products grow in popularity and Recover launches a wholesale program with custom designs and prints, building capacity to grow positive impact. 

• The company partners with a facility in Guatemala that’s powered by biomass from local forestry and coffee industry waste.

French Broad River cleanup in Asheville, NC

2013:

• Recover’s distribution expands to include all 50 states and internationally by launching a partnership with The Island School. Located in Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas, The Island School provides experiential education on its immersive and sustainable campus. Recover’s partnership with The Island School is still standing today. Check out the Case Study.

The Island School in Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas

2014:

• Recover launches a partnership with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., a craft beer pioneer, to deliver a wide variety of sustainable options to their robust branded merchandise portfolio at both the Chico, CA location and the newly opened Mills River, NC location along with their online store. Check out the Case Study.

Retail activation at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co

2015:

• Recover continues to grow and opens a new headquarters in Charlotte, NC with warehouse distribution, offices, and retail space. 

• Recover 100% recycled apparel expands to include new products such as the sport line, polos, fleece, accessories, and more.

Recover HQ in Charlotte, NC

2016:

• The new HQ provides a space to host community events, such as greenway clean-ups, RAD (Recover Artist Development) concerts, running clubs, and more. Recover’s RAD concert series hosts over 30 touring musicians over 4 years, including artists like Steve Gunn, Michael Nau, Floating Action, The Heavy Heavy, Futurebirds, Jake Xerxes Fussell, and much more. 

RAD concert series with Michael Nau

2017:

• Giving back has been ingrained in Recover’s brand DNA since day one. In 2017,  Recover joins 1% For The Planet and launches its Protect Our Parks Initiative. Protect Our Parks was established to protect the places we love by donating proceeds to the National Park Foundation for every Protect Our Parks tee sold.

Protect Our Parks campaign in Grand Teton National Park

2018:

• Recover launches long-standing partnership with Big Sur International Marathon, a world-class race leading the way in sustainable events. Check out the Case Study.

• Recover also responds to Hurricane Florence's relief efforts and launches a #CAREolinas Recover Tee and raises $130,000 for hurricane relief efforts.

 View of Bixby Bridge during Big Sur Marathon by Sharon Garber 

The Recover Van goes west

2019:

• Recover launches its Clean Water Initiative with World Vision in which a day of clean drinking water will be donated to someone in need for every product sold. 

• The company also kickstarts its Closed Loop Program allowing customers to send back their old Recover tees to be recycled.

Advocating for clean drinking water in Guatemala City

Highwater Festival in Charleston, SC

2020:

• Recover developed a 250-mile radius supply chain entirely within the USA. This HyperLocal supply chain reduces carbon emissions, supports the local economy, and allows the brand to make products faster because everything is localized. 

• In 2020, Recover responds to the global COVID-19 pandemic and launches an online Small Business Fundraiser that raised over $70,000 for small businesses.

HyperLocal fabric knitting in Statesville, NC

2021:

• Recover expands its USA-made products to now include a USDA Certified Organic Cotton Tee. Simultaneously, Recover officially partnered with Intradeco, a vertical manufacturing company with extraordinary sustainable facilities and practices in El Salvador.

Vertical manufacturing with clean energy in El Salvador

2022:

• To show just how local our supply chain is Bill and some friends of the brand set out to bike Recover’s entire US supply chain in a day. Check it out HERE. To continue to support clean water initiatives, Recover teams up with Catawba Riverkeeper and is the presenting sponsor of their Monthly Cleanup Series which aims to remove trash from the Catawba-Wateree River Basin.

Biking our supply chain outside of Yadkinville, NC

2023:

• Recover continues to grow and is focused on building infrastructure. The brand outgrew the Charlotte, NC HQ and moved into a new, larger warehouse and distribution center.

• Recover also goes live with a brand refresh breathing new life into the branding while maintaining their core values and roots. 

Race day at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC

2024:

• Recover expands its reach and production capabilities with large-scale events like the Marine Corps Marathon, corporate partnerships with brands like Rivian, and services to include a print-on-demand Zero Waste Online Store model, attracting new partnerships including 4ocean.  

• Recover responds to Hurricane Helene’s destruction in WNC by setting up online fundraisers, WNC Strong specific apparel, and donating 12,000 products to those in need to support relief efforts.

WNC Strong Hurricane Helene Relief Fundraiser

Stay tuned for exciting projects, collaborations, and innovations in 2025 as we continue to work toward a sustainable tomorrow—together.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to the next 15 years and beyond!