50FIFTY Clothing started in 2004 after England beat Croatia 4-2 at the Euro Football Championships. On the train back to the centre of Lisbon for a celebratory drink (or ten) the initial euphoric exhuberance of the England fans turned to xenphobic and racist chanting.

We were a small group of multicultural Britons who were black, white and asian, the chanting made us feel embarrassed, ashamed and angry. A small minority of idiots wearing the Union Flag and St George's Cross had once again brought our country into disrepute.

Over couple of drinks we reflected on what happened and what the flag meant to each of our group and decided we had to do something to reclaim the Union Flag and St George's Flag from the far right who have hijacked these symbols of nationhood.

One of our friends who was on that train is mixed race, Father Jamaican - Mother British. After suffering racial abuse from his fellow countrymen whilst wearing an England shirt he decided he wanted a T-shirt that symbolised his own identity so we developed the United Kingdom of Jamaica design, as he said "I am half and half, 50 50... " The brand was born.

We made a few Tshirts and Hoodies and quickly sold them in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and London, pretty soon we were overwhelmed for requests to mix other national flags with the Union Flag, so we obliged. We now mix the Trinidad, Barbados, Poland, Nigeria, India, Pakastan, Bangladesh, Italy and many more national flags, with the iconic Union Jack. We produce quality mixed flags for the fashion and identity conscious.

We are a company that takes our Corporate and Social Responsibilty seriously. All of our designs can be printed on fairtrade garments and we are working to ensure our entire range is fairtrade by 2011. Please call us on 0871 595 5050 to place your fairtade order.

Before forming 50FIFTY we worked as informal educators, youth workers, teachers and graphic designers. Our previous careers have helped us develop a range of  Design and Enterprise Workshops and Alternative Education Projects and Start Your Own Business project for socially excluded young people, which is improving the life chances of young people, their local comunities and ultimately wider society.

Lastly, if you would like to read about our campaign to Stop Youth Violence on the streets of the UK please do so.