ABOUT US
Our Story
The story of Travel Clothing by Half Moon started in 1982 with a partnership. One had fashioned a poncho from a wool blanket while hitchhiking the American landscape. The other had a business idea for an alternative to “fast” fashion and the typical retail experience. Living out of a tipi and then a repurposed school bus, the partners began designing and handcrafting heavy outerwear garments. They soon joined the Renaissance Faire circuit and would eventually show up at fairs and festivals all over the country. Their signature coats, cloaks and capes steadily gained notoriety.
Today, the company is still in the family. The second generation has brought Half Moon online, onto social media and to the Colorado Indian Market, the Western Design Conference, Denver Fashion Week, Small Boutique Fashion Week and the Longest Night Masquerade Ball in addition to maintaining shops at several Renaissance fairs. During the Great Plague of 2020, Half Moon was online only, with an Etsy store and custom commission model.
We are a small operation with a dedicated group of talented seamstresses and retail shop sales teams. We can be found with new collections and old favorites every fall at the New York and Maryland Renaissance Faires, and we accept custom orders online and over the phone.
New York Renaissance Faire
Maryland Renaissance Faire
Ethos
Half Moon doesn’t believe in “fast” fashion–we believe in the value of well-designed, well-crafted, beautiful clothing that lasts. We pride ourselves on creating garments that our customers will have and wear for many years. All of our garments are handmade at our shop in Colorado. We are proud to be a part of the “Made in America” fashion movement, and excited to be pursuing more sustainable practices in our production, including the use of alternative and recycled fabrics.
We offer a lifetime repair guarantee (see below in FAQs). Read more about our garments here.
Fabric
We’ve used wool since our beginnings because it’s water resistant, warm, and quiet in the woods. It’s also recyclable, biodegradable, and requires significantly less energy to produce than many man-made fibers. Since many wool mills are closing or shifting operations overseas, we have also started incorporating velvet, fleece, linen, and silk into our pieces. Sometimes, we use fur from recycled or donated fur coats to trim hoods.
Buttons
Most of our buttons are sourced from Ecuador via the Tagua Initiative from Conservation International. Tagua nut, or “vegetable ivory,” is a sustainable resource – by buying it we (and you) are supporting small communities in Ecuador and helping to conserve the Amazon rainforest. We also use antler, pewter, and wood buttons that we get from other small artisanal shops—largely on Etsy. We love building and fostering trade relationships between small business owners.
Community
If you have a used Half Moon garment that you would like to pass on (or are looking for one), we have a Sell and Swap group on Facebook. Join the community and see what treasures are out there! We’re also on Instagram and our main Facebook page, both places where we share news, show off custom orders, and occasionally post sales and special events. Give us a follow!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Half Moon Garments Made?
All garments are designed and manufactured in Colorado.
When is the best time of the year to custom order, i.e. when is the wait time the least?
The wait time is the least from January through June–after that we are preparing for Renaissance Faire season and autumn/winter orders.
What is the best way to clean/care for a Half Moon garment?
We recommend dry cleaning for serious stains and soilage, and for all customs and pieces that are 100% wool or velvet.
For small stains, you can hand/spot wash with cold water and a little bit of mild detergent (Dawn dish soap also works great!).
Try to avoid getting any leather on the garment wet or soapy (it’s okay if it happens once in a while).
Lay your Half Moon garment flat to dry.
If absolutely necessary, you can put it through the washing machine, but use cold water and mild detergent. Do not use hot water.
Do not put Half Moon garments in the dryer! Wool will shrink.
I'm allergic to wool (or vegan) but love your pieces. Do you make your garments in anything but wool?
We often work with fabrics such as velvet, linen, and fleece. Reach out to us if you have something in mind!
I want to order a garment as a gift. Will you ship it directly to the recipient?
Absolutely!
From what time period are your designs based?
No specific time periods are considered in our designs…but we seem to do pretty well at the Renaissance Faires and in the LARP, SCA, and Steampunk communities, as well as with Colorado ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts. Our story and designs have evolved over the years as fashion senses have changed, but we are still making some of our very first designs.
If I showed you a drawing (or picture) of a garment style or design to put on a cloak, could you make a custom design for me?
We are always happy to consider custom designs and have often created pieces based on customers’ artwork. All new designs are contingent upon a review and approval by Half Moon.
Are the garment designs unisex?
Yes! All our garments are designed to be worn by everybody.
Are your garments water repellent?
Many of them are! Wool is water repellent because of its natural lanolin. You can wear our wool garments in weather that calls for a rain coat or umbrella. Wool is excellent for harsh weather conditions like snow and sleet–it retains its warmth even when soaked.
Other fabrics that we use—polyester velvet, linen, fleece, etc, are not as water resistant and should be worn with more care.
Will wool pill up or wear out?
Eventually all wool pills to some degree, however, we have found that the 85/15 wool blend fabric is extremely durable. Customers from 20 years ago come back with their garments and they still are in excellent condition. Of course, it depends how often you wear it and what you are doing.
How often do I need to clean my garment?
We suggest airing it out on a nice, breezy fall afternoon, and once again in the spring. No further cleaning is required other than any necessary spot washing or in case of serious soilage (see above).
Will the colors run if I wash it?
Not on the standard heavy wool or 100% wools, but this sometimes happens on the brighter wool/polyester blends like red. Rinse with cold water separately. Our polyester velvet fabrics should also be washed with care in cold water (and please don’t wear velvet in the rain!)
What is your return policy?
No refunds on CUSTOM garments made to specifications. If it is an error on our end, we will do our best to fix it, on a case-by-case basis.
There will be a 10% restocking charge for any items returned within 30 days. We do not cover return shipping, unless the reason for return is our fault.
NO returns after 30 days. Problems with orders MUST be addressed within 10 business days. If not addressed within 10 days, we reserve the right to refuse return.
Do you do repairs?
We pride ourselves on quality workmanship. Should your garment find itself in need of repair we are happy to help you out!
We will repair any defect in workmanship for the life of the garment. This includes normal wear/tear only (we reserve the right to determine normal wear/tear) and does not include replacement of buttons or other pieces.
We will determine the cost of repair on a case-by-case basis, and the customer shall cover shipping costs.
Over the winter, mice/moths got my Half Moon. Can it be repaired?
We need to see it (or see detailed pictures) to make that determination. We will do our very best to fix it, which may involve charges. We find that mothballs work well to avoid damage from either moths or mice.
EVERY GARMENT SOLD PLANTS A TREE!
