Table of Contents
- Why Licensed British Cartoon Apparel Is Worth Buying Online
- How to Spot Officially Licensed Merchandise Before You Pay
- Licensed Cartoon T-Shirts: Six Designs Compared
- Retro Cartoon Hoodies and Sweatshirts for Colder Months
- Roobarb and Custard Clothing: Caps, Layers and Care
- Sizing, Delivery and Returns: What to Check Before Checkout
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 17, 2026
Why Licensed British Cartoon Apparel Is Worth Buying Online
Buying licensed British cartoon apparel online gives you authentic designs printed on proper garments, with the money going back to the people who own the characters. At Roobarb and Custard, we sell official merchandise from the 1970s series, and we built this guide to help you buy licensed British cartoon apparel online without the guesswork.
The gap between official and knock-off is wider than most shoppers expect. Unofficial sellers tend to work from a blurry screenshot and a cheap blank.
That difference matters most with a show like this one. The charm of Roobarb and Custard lives in the wobbly line work and the animator's pencil marks.
Below, we'll show you how to check a product page in under a minute, which six T-shirt designs suit which mood, and where to layer up for winter.
How to Spot Officially Licensed Merchandise Before You Pay
Spotting officially licensed merchandise means checking three things: the licence statement, the fabric specification, and the seller's returns policy. If any of those is missing, walk away.
Most people get burned because they check only one.
Checks to Run on Any Product Page
- Licence wording: look for "Official" or "Official Licensed Merchandise" in the product title and description, not just in a banner
- Design source: official listings usually name the artist, studio or archive the artwork came from
- Fabric detail: "100% organic cotton" is a good sign; "cotton blend" with no percentages is not
- Print placement: front and back prints should be described precisely, not vaguely
- Care instructions: proper sellers tell you to wash cold and iron inside-out to protect the print
- Returns policy: a clear returns window is the clearest signal of a real retailer
Licensed Cartoon T-Shirts: Six Designs Compared
Licensed cartoon T-shirts from an official range should differ in artwork, not just in colour. Our six designs each use a different piece of original material, from expression sheets to action sketches, so the choice comes down to the mood you want to wear.
All six cost £19.99 and are printed on 100% organic cotton in the UK.
Custard Face Style Sheet T-Shirt, £19.99
The best all-rounder of the six. Fifteen hand-drawn Custard expressions run across the chest, from "Sneaky" to "Sarcastic", taken from the original expression sheet. It reads as a proper piece of animation history rather than a logo slapped on a blank. Shop the Custard Face Style Sheet T-Shirt
Custard Grid and Roobarb Grid Front & Back Prints, £19.99
Both use the same idea: the show logo on the front, a nine-panel grid on the back. The Custard version leans pink and cynical; the Roobarb version is greener and more chaotic. We'd pick these for anyone who wants the artwork to do the talking from behind. Shop the Custard Grid T-Shirt or the Roobarb Grid T-Shirt.
Running Roobarb Pose and Roobarb Face Style Sheet T-Shirts, £19.99
The Running Roobarb tee uses a black-and-white action sketch of the dog mid-sprint. The Roobarb Face Style Sheet tee goes further, printing genuine animator notes and measurements for his floppy-eared head, including the instruction to "keep it natural but controlled". That one is the pick for animation buffs. Shop Running Roobarb or the Animator Notes T-Shirt.
Custard Smile Left Chest Print T-Shirt, £19.99
The quietest option. A small left-chest print of Custard's big grin, nothing on the back. This is the one for wearing to work or under a jacket when you don't want to explain your wardrobe. Shop the Custard Smile T-Shirt
Official Roobarb & Custard "Custard Face Style Sheet" Retro T-Shirt →
| Design | Artwork | Print Placement | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custard Face Style Sheet | 15 expressions | Front | Everyday wear |
| Custard Grid | 9-panel grid | Front and back | Bold statement |
| Roobarb Grid | 9-panel grid | Front and back | Bold statement |
| Running Roobarb | Action sketch | Front | Classic character look |
| Roobarb Animator Notes | Studio notes | Front | Animation fans |
| Custard Smile | Single grin | Left chest | Subtle, understated |
Retro Cartoon Hoodies and Sweatshirts for Colder Months
Our winter layers use the same Custard expression sheet as the T-shirt, printed so the fifteen faces stay legible rather than fading into a blur.
The Custard Face Style Sheet Sweatshirt costs £29.99 and gives you a warm mid-layer that fits under a coat. The Premium Organic Hoodie costs £49.99 and steps up to heavyweight brushed 350gsm organic cotton, with a double-lined hood, metal eyelets and metal-tipped drawcords. It's a modern medium fit, so it sits closer than a traditional baggy hoodie.
Roobarb and Custard Clothing: Caps, Layers and Care
Roobarb and Custard clothing is easy to care for once you know which pieces tolerate a machine. The cotton T-shirts and sweatshirts are machine washable cold; the caps are not.
Both baseball caps cost £19.99. The Custard Outline Cap is bright pink with a black line drawing of Custard on his fence. The Black Logo Cap is Roobarb green with the show's title card in black. Both are 100% cotton with a pre-curved peak and an adjustable Velcro back.
Sizing, Delivery and Returns: What to Check Before Checkout
Sizing, delivery and returns are the three things to confirm before you pay, because they're the hardest to fix afterwards. Check the size guide against a garment you already own, confirm the delivery window if the item is a gift, and read the returns terms before the parcel arrives.
A few practical points from our side:
- Fit: the hoodie runs to a modern medium fit; the T-shirts are a classic cut, so size up if you like room
- Gifting: if it's a present, order with time to spare.
- Condition: check the parcel before you unwrap it fully, and photograph any damage straight away
- Exchanges: keep the tags on until you've tried it on
Buying authentic retro merchandise online still involves a leap of faith. We built our shop around that worry: every piece is official Roobarb and Custard merchandise, printed in the UK on organic cotton, with clear care instructions and a returns policy you can read before you buy. Start with a single T-shirt at £19.99, see how it feels, then work up to the hoodie. Browse the full Roobarb and Custard collection and wear a piece of animation history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy officially licensed British cartoon clothing online?
The safest route is the character's own official shop rather than a general marketplace. Roobarb and Custard clothing is sold through the brand's dedicated online store, where every item is listed as official licensed merchandise and printed in the UK. Prices start at £19.99 for T-shirts and caps, £29.99 for the Custard Face Style Sheet sweatshirt and £49.99 for the 350gsm organic cotton hoodie. Buying direct also means you have a clear returns route if the fit is wrong.
How can I tell whether cartoon apparel is officially licensed?
Look for an explicit official licensed merchandise statement on the product page, a named rights holder or studio, and a UK print or manufacturing location. Check that the design uses original hand-drawn artwork rather than a traced or redrawn image, and that the listing gives real fabric detail such as 100% organic cotton.
Are retro cartoon T-shirts available in different sizes?
Yes, but the fit varies by design, so read the listing rather than assuming. The Roobarb and Custard T-shirts are cut for a classic fit in 100% organic cotton, while the premium hoodie uses a modern medium fit with a double-lined hood. If you are buying as a gift and are unsure, check the care label, since all the cotton pieces should be washed cold and ironed inside-out to protect the print.
What should I check before buying a cartoon hoodie online?
Check the fabric weight, the hood construction and the washing instructions first. The Custard Face Style Sheet hoodie is 350gsm brushed organic cotton with a double self-fabric lined hood, metal eyelets and tipped drawcords, which is a noticeably heavier garment than a standard sweatshirt. It must be washed inside-out at a low temperature and never tumble dried. Also confirm the returns window before ordering, particularly if the hoodie is a gift.
What is the difference between licensed and fan-made cartoon merchandise?
Licensed merchandise is produced with permission from the rights holder, uses the original artwork and usually carries an official statement plus UK printing details. Fan-made items are made without that permission, often use redrawn or scanned images, and the print quality and fabric are unregulated.