Prana, the first major apparel company in North America to offer Fair Trade Certified styles in partnership with Fair Trade USA, announced plans to grow its Fair Trade Factory offerings to 45 pieces for Spring 2015, an increase of more than 400 percent from Fall 2014.
October is Fair Trade Month, and were excited to announce well be offering more Fair Trade styles than ever, thanks to investments weve made in two of our factories, said Pranas Design Director, Ellen Krimmel. Were going from nine pieces in Fall 2014, to 45 in Spring 2015, and that helps ensure more workers have safe conditions, are able to strengthen their communities, all while creating high-quality apparel and accessories for Prana.
Prana has been committed to expanding its Fair Trade Certified styles since its first Soul T in 2010. For men, Prana now offers six Fair Trade Certified T-shirts and three stylish tops for women, including the popular Therese sweater.
Fair Trade certification for apparel and linens is the first social, economic, and environmental standard that directly benefits the farmers who grow the cotton and the workers who sew the garments. It offers companies and consumers unprecedented opportunities to positively impact the lives of these workers. It is an empowering model for the entire supply chain: cotton farmers and factory workers trying to improve their lives, factory managers who want to do the right thing, brands like Prana who want to support these efforts, and conscientious shoppers who want to make every purchase matter.
For every Fair Trade Certified product sold, a percentage is paid directly to a special workers fund, explains Pranas Director of Sustainability, Nicole Bassett. Workers decide collectively how to spend these funds, based on their communitys greatest needs: from bonuses and scholarships, to medical care and transportation.
Every October, Prana celebrates Fair Trade Month with Fair Trade USA. The theme of this years campaign is Buy Fair, Be Fair. Join in the conversation on October 7 at 8pm on Twitter using #BeFair and be sure to check out http://www.befair.org to learn more about Fair Trade, giveaways, and find out how you can get involved.
