Why
Apparel workers are among the lowest paid people in the world. Patagonia doesn’t own any factories that make our products, so we have limited control over how much workers receive. But through Fair Trade, we can provide workers with tangible benefits that improve their lives.
We care for workers
The number of workers supported by our Fair Trade program.
Where We Are
Through our partnership with Fair Trade USA™, Patagonia has been making Fair Trade clothing since 2014. Today, we are proud to offer more styles made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory than any other apparel brand—over 90% of our line. To date, Patagonia’s Fair Trade program has impacted more than 90,000 workers around the globe.
We pay a premium on every Patagonia item made in a Fair Trade Certified factory. This extra money goes directly back to factory workers in the form of a Community Development Fund that they fully control. Unlike traditional top-down programs, Fair Trade’s approach emphasizes worker engagement and empowerment, allowing the people directly impacted to make decisions that best suit their needs. In each factory, a democratically elected committee of workers gathers input from the workforce to determine how to use the funds.
Workers have put these funds to work in ways that matter to them—like investing in community needs such as health-care programs or child-care centers, purchasing essential items that they couldn't otherwise afford like laptops or stoves, or even taking a cash bonus. The Fair Trade program also promotes worker health and safety, strong social and environmental workplace standards, and encourages dialogue between workers and management.
What’s Next
We are continuing to search for a permanent solution to ensure all workers who make our clothing earn a living wage.
Even though 80 percent of people say they would pay more to ensure a fairer price for the people who make those products, only a handful of outdoor companies are committed to Fair Trade. In partnership with Fair Trade USA and our suppliers, there are now more than 50 Fair Trade Certified factories that specialize in outdoor clothing. We encourage other brands that do business in those factories to join us in the Fair Trade movement.
