Fair Trade USA launches first ethical fashion certification label

Fair Trade USA have officially launched their Fair Trade Certification program for apparel and linens. A full range of Fair Trade Certified clothing items is now available in the United States as part of their two-year pilot test of the program. Fair Trade USA’s Fair Trade Certified label helps consumers and companies create jobs and sustainable livelihoods for garment workers and cotton farmers in India, Latin America and Africa. The following sustainable fashions are ready for the holiday season from pioneering brands working with best-in-class Fair Trade manufacturing facilities and cooperatives in Costa Rica, India and Liberia:

Liberty & Justice  is made by the Liberian Women’s Sewing Project, which creates sustainable jobs for women’s sewing cooperatives and provides workforce development training as well as health and education programs. Celebrity designed tees for men and women are now available online and in select locations. (Picture by Fair Trade USA: Heather Franzese of Fair Trade USA recently visited Liberia to meet with members of the Liberian Women's Sewing Project)

Good & Fair Clothing is a new fashion brand that strives to create clothes that are both good to the earth and fair to people. Men’s and women’s tees and underpants are now available online and at local Austin retail locations.

HAE Now, which stands for Humans, Animals and Environment Now, offers organic t-shirts and other blanks for wholesale, promotional printing and private label needs. All their products are made with organic cotton from the Chetna project, a farmer-owned collective in India.

Maggie’s Organics is one of the oldest eco-apparel companies in the United States. Bena Burda, its founder, has been involved with the Fair Trade Certified Apparel and Linens Pilot since 2005, when Fair Trade USA first began to explore the sector. Women’s dresses, Men’s shirts, scarves, wraps, hoodies and camisoles are available online, and at Whole Foods Markets locations across the United States.

Tompkins Point Apparel is a Fair Trade and organic clothing brand that creates classic American menswear while serving as a vehicle for social change. The brand donates 25 percent of its profits to education and economic development projects in the communities from which the company sources its products.

Fair Trade USA is currently working with the following brands to launch Fair Trade Certified clothing items, sourced from India (Picture: Fair Trade sewing facility in India), Liberia and Peru, in Spring 2011 and beyond:

prAna is an active living brand that offers a harmonious blend of functional design and progressive style. The brand will launch a women’s Fair Trade Certified graphic tee that will be available in February 2011.

Autonomie Project will offer Little Green RadicalsTM, a line of children’s Fair Trade and eco-friendly apparel. All of Little Green Radical’s Fair Trade products are made with the highest quality organic cotton. Little Green Radical’s Fair Trade products include quirky and cute playsuits, bibs, t-shirts and hoodies made with gentle, high quality organic cotton grown according to biodynamic standards, the highest level of sustainable agriculture.
 
Greenlight Apparel is an activist clothing brand that produces casual and technical apparel for marathons, sporting events, and corporate events. With a mission to eradicate child labor, Greenlight donates 10 percent of each sale to its Partners For Change, grassroots organizations that have helped rescue over 200 children from illegal child labor. Certified products will be available online and at Sports Basement starting in February.

Indigenous Designs is a leader in certified organic contemporary fashion. Founded in 1994, Indigenous pioneered a socially just cottage industry production model with over 300 knitting and hand-looming artisan groups and cooperatives throughout South America. Indigenous is sold in over 500 premium US retail locations and is available now online.

Jonano makes contemporary women’s sportswear, women’s and men’s lounge wear, baby wear, and spa products such as towels and robes. Their signature Fair Trade Certified robe will be available for Valentine’s Day.

Marigold Fair Trade (Seattle, WA) works with a cooperative of 300 women to produce organic apparel, accessories and house wares from traditional Indian block printed fabrics.

Fair Trade USA