Free Palestine T-Shirts in Australia: Where the Money Actually Goes
There are a lot of Free Palestine t-shirts for sale in Australia. Most of them are printed offshore by marketplaces taking a cut, and most of them are vague about whether any money reaches Palestinians at all. This is a guide to the ones that do, and how to tell the difference.
Browse the full Free Palestine charity collection, tees, hoodies, totes and hats, with proceeds going to the verified organisations described below.
Artist Shuturp wearing the Free Palestine Oversized Charity T-Shirt she designed.
The state of Free Palestine t-shirts in Australia
Search for "free palestine shirt" in Australia and the first page is mostly Redbubble, Zazzle, CafePress and a handful of Shopify stores. The shirts look similar. The prices are similar. What is almost never similar is what happens to the money after you pay for one.
The honest test is simple. Find the page where the brand explains, in writing, which registered charity receives the money, what percentage, and how often. If that page does not exist, the answer is usually that the brand keeps most of it.
This is not an attack on anyone selling a shirt. People are allowed to run businesses. But if you are buying a Free Palestine tee specifically to support Palestinians, it is worth knowing whether you are doing that or buying a graphic.
What to look for in a charity t-shirt
A few questions worth asking before you buy any cause-based shirt, not just Palestine.
Which registered charity receives the money?
"Proceeds donated" means nothing on its own. A registered Australian charity is listed on the ACNC (Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission) register, has an ABN, and publishes annual reports. If the brand cannot or will not name one, treat that as your answer.
What percentage actually reaches them?
"A portion of sales" can mean anything from 50 percent of profit to 2 percent of revenue. Profit and revenue are different. A shirt sold for $45 that costs $20 to make has $25 of revenue minus cost, not $45 of profit. Brands donating 100 percent of profit are giving everything after the blank tee, printing, and payment processing fees.
Where is it printed?
Marketplaces print offshore on cheap garments and take a 70 to 80 percent margin. The "independent artist" you bought from often receives a few dollars per shirt. None of that is illegal. It is just worth knowing.
Is the design original?
The same Palestine flag, watermelon and "From the River to the Sea" graphics appear on hundreds of marketplace listings. They are uploaded by sellers using stock vector files. An original design by a named artist is usually a sign that someone with a relationship to the cause is actually involved.
Our Free Palestine range
Lonely Kids Club is an independent clothing brand based in Sydney. We have been printing graphic tees to order since 2011. The Free Palestine range was developed with Palestinian artist Shuturp, who created the original artwork. Every shirt in the range is direct to garment printed in our Sydney studio on AS Colour blanks, the same way we make everything else we sell.
100 percent of profits from every Free Palestine product are donated directly to Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA).
About PARA
Palestine Australia Relief and Action is a registered Australian charity (ABN 65 673 466 549, ACNC registered) founded and led by Australian Palestinians. PARA supports Palestinian migrants and refugees arriving in Australia, providing case management, housing and food assistance, advocacy with government, and community programs. The board includes founder Rasha Abbas, Reem Borrows, John Karkar KC and Samah Sabawi.
PARA does not work in Gaza. It works in Australia, with Palestinians who have already arrived here and need help rebuilding their lives. That distinction matters. Money sent overseas through unverified channels often does not reach anyone. Money given to an ACNC-registered Australian charity working with Australian residents is auditable, accountable, and traceable.
You can verify PARA on the ACNC register and read more on their website.
The products
The full range covers a range of fits and price points so the cause is accessible regardless of budget or size. Every product in this range donates 100 percent of profits to PARA.
Free Palestine Oversized Charity T-Shirt — $55. A heavyweight AS Colour Classic Oversized tee with dropped shoulders and a boxy fit, printed with Shuturp's rainbow Free Palestine artwork. Available in black, white and ecru. The original and the best-selling piece in the range.
Free Palestine Charity Tee — $55. The regular fit version on an AS Colour Staple tee. Same artwork, standard cut.
Free Palestine Charity Hoodie — $80. The artwork on an AS Colour Stencil hoodie. Heavyweight midweight cotton, unisex fit, brushed fleece inside.
Free Palestine Charity Kids Tee — $35. Sized for children. The same design, scaled down for younger sizes.
Free Palestine Charity Hat — $30. An embroidered cap. For people who would rather wear the message on their head than across their chest.
Free Palestine Charity Tote — $25. The lowest entry point in the range. For people who would rather not wear the message at all but still want to support the cause.
Why we print to order
Every Free Palestine shirt is printed when you order it. There is no warehouse of stock waiting to be sold. This matters for two reasons. The first is environmental. Print to order eliminates the overproduction that defines fast fashion and the marketplace t-shirt industry. The second is financial. Print to order means we are not sitting on inventory we have to discount to clear, which protects the margin that funds the donation.
We print using direct to garment (DTG) Epson printers with OEKO-TEX certified inks in our Artarmon studio. The blanks are AS Colour, ethically manufactured with independent audits and workers paid above the local minimum. Lonely Kids Club is rated "Good" by Good On You, the industry standard for ethical fashion ratings.
Other ways to support PARA
Buying a shirt is not the most efficient way to give to charity. If your only goal is to get money to Palestinian refugees in Australia, donate directly to PARA at para.org.au. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
A shirt is for the people who also want to wear the position publicly. It is a slower conversation than a placard at a march and a longer one than a social media post. It works as a small daily act of advocacy. The donation comes with it, but it is not the only reason to wear one.
FAQ
Where does the money from Free Palestine t-shirts go?
For Lonely Kids Club's Free Palestine range, 100 percent of profits from every product in the range are donated directly to Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA), an ACNC-registered Australian charity supporting Palestinian refugees in Australia.
Are Free Palestine t-shirts legal in Australia?
Yes. There is no law in Australia prohibiting the sale or wearing of clothing expressing support for Palestine or calling for Palestinian liberation. Some workplaces and venues have their own dress codes that may apply.
Are the shirts printed in Australia?
Yes. Every Lonely Kids Club shirt is printed in our Sydney studio in Artarmon on AS Colour blanks. We do not use offshore print partners and we do not drop ship.
What is PARA?
Palestine Australia Relief and Action is an Australian charity founded and led by Australian Palestinians. PARA supports Palestinian migrants and refugees in Australia with case management, housing, food, advocacy and community programs. PARA is registered with the ACNC.
How much of the shirt price reaches PARA?
100 percent of profit after the cost of the blank tee, printing materials, and payment processing fees. There is no marketing markup, no margin retained by Lonely Kids Club on these products, and no offshore middleman.
Can I get one printed with a custom design?
Not within the charity range. Custom designs are available through the Badly Drawn Pet service but those products do not donate to PARA.
If you want to support Palestinian refugees in Australia, the most direct way is to donate to PARA. If you also want to wear the position, that is what these shirts are for.
