If you know a bit about DGH history, you may know that clothmaking has a rich heritage at the Homes. In fact, it goes right back to the 1890s, when Dr Graham’s wife, Katherine, created a craft school to help local women earn a living from embroidery, weaving and lace (their work even ended up in the palace of Queen Mary, no less).

So it’s particularly brilliant to hear about TheGiveBack Program – a new project from the OGBs (Old Boys and Girls of the Homes) that’s using T-shirts to help raise much-needed funds for the school and children.

Showing love for Dr Graham’s Homes… with T-shirts

Tees Only is an online retailer that was set up by a former DGH pupil. Selling artist-designed clothes – and more recently metallic posters and desk mats – they have just launched a design range for anyone who loves Dr Graham’s Homes and wants to contribute to a good cause.

The OGB Merch collection features branded T-shirts for each of the school’s Cottages, the family-style accommodation blocks that pupils join when they live at the Homes (for more on this DGH institution, see What is the “Cottage System” at Dr Graham’s Homes?).

So if, for example, you lived at Wiston, Grant or Mansfield, you can now showcase your allegiance with your very own Cottage-inspired tee. Each shirt also features its relevant Cottage motto: “fortitude” (Fraser), “united” (Murray), “perseverance” (Woodburn), and so on. You can see the full range here: OGB Merch 👕

A nod to the teachers

The range also features some original designs by “Mr Choudhari”, a former DGH art teacher. Shared by his son, Rahul, they include landscape paintings of the school campus and the view to Mount Kanchenjunga (the world’s third-highest mountain, visible from the school grounds). Those are available as metal wall posters.

And if you don’t have links to a specific Cottage, there are some great school-inspired T-shirt designs to choose from too, including:

👚 “Proud to be an OGB”

👕 “Thorough” (the school motto)

🥼 “Forward O youth, forever advancing, look to horizons far” (the school anthem!)

Giving back to the school 💙

The best part about the collection is that it directly supports the Homes. Fifty percent of every sale will go towards funding the children’s education (the other half goes to the artist, the manufacturer and the platform).

“Please support these beautiful and exclusive designs created by OGBs, and in turn help to give back to the school,” says the company. “This is the GiveBack Program – by OGBs for DGH!” It sounds like a great initiative as far as we’re concerned.

Can I buy a T-shirt or poster myself?

If you live in the UK, unfortunately not just yet. The T-shirts currently only ship within India. But, if you would be keen to buy some of the OGBs’ T-shirts or posters, let us know. If there’s enough interest from UK supporters, we may be able to arrange something with the company directly.