What Tariffs Mean for a Small Business Like Treehouse (And Why It Matters to You as a Parent)

If you’ve ever bought organic cotton kids’ clothing from a small business like Treehouse, you probably did it because you care—about your child’s health, about the planet, and about the kind of world you’re helping to shape.

But behind every soft romper or breezy linen shirt is a story that rarely makes the headlines. Right now, one of those stories is tariffs. And today, we want to explain what a proposed 27% tariff—like the one being suggested by the current administration for clothing made in India—actually means for small businesses like ours…and for families like yours.

What Is a Tariff, and Why Should You Care?

A tariff is a tax placed on goods imported into the U.S. from other countries. In theory, tariffs are meant to protect domestic industries. But in practice, they can hit small businesses the hardest, especially those committed to ethical and sustainable practices abroad.

Treehouse, for example, partners with certified organic cotton and linen suppliers in India—not because it's cheap, but because it’s where we found the most responsible and transparent manufacturing options after years of research and vetting. Our GOTS-certified partners don't use child labor or toxic chemicals. We’ve spent years building these relationships to ensure that the clothing touching your child’s skin is as pure and safe as possible. These factories do not exist in the USA. They just don't. If you don't believe me, look for them and if they did, the tee we currently have selling for $34 would cost $94 or more, and our product would be a very different one as a result, with a very different customer base.

What a 27% Tariff on Indian-Made Clothing Really Means

If this tariff goes into effect, the cost to import our clothing would increase by 27% overnight.

Let’s break it down:

If Treehouse imports a $10 organic cotton shirt from India, we would now pay an additional $2.70 in tax—on top of existing import duties, shipping, compliance, and inspection fees.
Multiply that across an entire collection, and you’re talking thousands of dollars in unexpected costs.
For a large corporation, that’s more of a blip, one they can take from their incredibly large margins and partially share by increasing prices just a little bit. For a small, founder-led brand like Treehouse? It threatens everything—from our ability to offer fair prices, to our mission of bringing safe, ethical clothing to U.S. families.

Why Not Just Manufacture in the U.S.?

We hear this question often—and it’s valid. We do support local manufacturing where possible. But here’s the truth:

The U.S. does not currently grow enough organic cotton to support small brands affordably.
Textile manufacturing in the U.S. has been on the decline for decades, and currently no facilities meet the strict environmental and ethical standards we hold while specializing in childrenswear.
India is home to some of the world’s most advanced organic textile infrastructure, and it’s where we’ve built trusted, certified, transparent supply chains over the past 3 years.

How This Impacts You

If these tariffs are enacted, small sustainable brands will face three tough choices:

Raise prices significantly, making organic clothing less accessible to many families.
Reduce quality or certifications, which we won’t do—ever.
Shrink operations or shut down, meaning fewer trusted options for parents who care.

But here’s what you can do.

How You Can Support Sustainable Kids Clothing Right Now

Buy less but buy higher quality and directly from small brands like Treehouse who are honest about their sourcing.
Tell your friends why supporting ethical, certified clothing matters.
Contact your representatives and speak out against broad tariffs that punish small ethical businesses.
Educate yourself and others—share this blog post, tag us on Instagram @shoptreehousekids, and let others know what's at stake.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just a Shirt—It’s a Statement

Every time you buy from Treehouse, you’re not just buying a piece of clothing. You’re investing in a fairer system, cleaner materials, and a safer world for your children.

Tariffs like these threaten to make ethical choices harder—not just for brands, but for the families who rely on them. That’s why we’re speaking up, and why we’ll keep fighting to bring you the quality, transparency, and love you’ve come to expect from us.

Thanks for being part of our Treehouse family. Let’s keep growing together—no matter what challenges come our way.