Fair Trade Certified™: One Way We’re Investing in Worker Well-Being
Fair Trade Certified™ is an investment in the well-being of workers and their communities. It’s an important step toward doing what’s right for the people who make our clothes.
When shopping online or perusing racks of clothing at your local retail store, it’s easy to forget that behind every garment is a talented team of dyers, knitters, patternmakers and sewers. The clothes we as consumers buy are connected to the livelihoods of others. That’s why we’ve partnered with Fair Trade USA™, a globally recognized certification program that’s dedicated to building resilient supply chains through transformative social, environmental and economic change. It’s part of our belief that business can be a force for good, creating meaningful impact for workers, their families and local communities.
What Is Fair Trade Certified™?
Essentially, it’s an agreement between a brand and a factory that’s made with support from Fair Trade USA, a nonprofit organization. Our Fair Trade Certified factories have agreed to meet rigorous safety, social and environmental standards; we’ve agreed to pay a Premium beyond the purchase price for every EILEEN FISHER garment produced. These Premiums are collected by Fair Trade USA and pooled into a Community Development Fund that directly supports employee well-being.
“Fair trade is an investment—and a choice,” says Susan Scow, EILEEN FISHER Sustainability Impact Specialist. “We are choosing to trade on fair trade terms because we believe it’s the right thing to do.” It's a choice that we're able to make thanks to ongoing relationships with our factories. As Susan explains, “You need that strong partnership between a brand and factory—that shared commitment to investing in workers and sustainability. This goes beyond compliance.”
How Do Premiums Support Workers?
Community investments are a pillar of the Fair Trade USA program. Each year, a democratically elected committee of workers meets to propose investment plans for the Community Development Fund based on a needs assessment. The initiatives vary widely, depending on the unique challenges and barriers workers face. They may include long-term development projects, such as funding an on-site daycare center, or quick solutions to urgent needs (for example, purchasing a bicycle for every employee so that they can more easily commute to work and get groceries).
Empowering workers—lifting up their voices and really listening to their challenges—is key to the success of the program. “This model supports collective positive change,” adds Susan. “It allows workers to make their own investment decisions and shape the future of their communities using funds from EILEEN FISHER.”
Our Factory Partners
As of February 2024, we have supported two of our factories in joining the Fair Trade USA program. Our aim is to continue deepening our relationships—and to support more of our factories in achieving certification in the future.
“We’re putting out a call to action,” adds Susan. “We want more brands to join us in trading on fair trade terms. More participation means an increase in Premium payments for workers. It’s a win for everyone.”
Nobland: A women-run cut-and-sew factory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, that combines technical expertise with a progressive workplace culture.
PT. Tainan: A cut-and-sew factory in Jakarta, Indonesia, that’s committed to social and environmental responsibility.
