Mountain Khakis will offer Fair Trade Certified apparel beginning with its Spring 2016 collections for men and women.
The company joins a small group of outdoor and apparel brands partnering with Fair Trade USA, including Patagonia and Prana. The partnership gives workers a voice and ensures rigorous standards that improve worker health and safety, gender equality and reduced environmental impact.
“Mountain Khakis is committed to responsible apparel manufacturing and our partnership with Fair Trade USA is an important step in our continuing efforts,” said Ross Saldarini, Mountain Khakis president. “Having the Fair Trade Certified label on our apparel lets the consumer know that Mountain Khakis is committed to workers earning fair wages, investing in their communities, working in safe conditions and protecting the environment.”
Mountain Khakis will launch four new styles for men and women in its Spring 2016 line that will be Fair Trade Certified, with additional styles planned for Fall 2016. The styles include long and short-sleeve Go Indie Shirts for men, made of 100 percent Indigo-dyed cotton, a women’s Contour Dress and women’s Wildflower Dress.
“As a design team, we are focused on bringing sustainable manufacturing practices to the forefront of the outdoor industry,” said Ned Hutchinson, product manager, Mountain Khakis. “At Mountain Khakis, we believe we can affect real change by making both our customers and our manufacturing partners aware of the critical importance of adopting sustainable apparel for the future. We hope to inspire and educate our outdoor and apparel brand peers to take similar steps.”
For every Fair Trade Certified style produced, Mountain Khakis will pay a portion of the garment cost to a designated fund managed by the factory employees. The employees then determine how to best use those funds– called Community Development Premiums– to address critical needs like education and healthcare.
“Today’s shoppers now have the opportunity to make a real difference in the world with their purchases of apparel from companies like Mountain Khakis,” said Maya Spaull, director of apparel and home goods, Fair Trade USA. “More and more, consumers want to know that their clothes are being made under safe, fair, transparent conditions. Fair Trade makes that possible. Just look for the label.”
Fair Trade USA is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable livelihoods for farmers, workers and fishermen, while protecting fragile ecosystems and building strong, transparent supply chains through independent, third-party certification. The trusted Fair Trade Certified label signifies that rigorous standards have been met in the production, trade and promotion of Fair Trade products from over 80 countries across the globe. Recognized as a leading social venture by the Clinton Global Initiative, the Skoll Foundation and Ashoka, Fair Trade USA also provides capacity-building programs and educates consumers about the power of their purchases.
