Patagonia | Fair Trade Fleece
Just as you thought Patagonia couldn’t get any better at making the best product with the cleanest fabric and smallest footprint possible, it launches the Fair Trade Fleece program. A movement that supports the people behind the product. A refreshing strategy from a responsible brand.
Every time a Patagonia Better Sweater, Synchilla Snap T Pullover or a Retro Pile style is purchased money gets directed back to the factory employees who crafted them.
For every Fair Trade Certified item sewn, Patagonia pays a premium. The money goes into an account that the employees maintain (not the management), controlled by a democratically-elected Fair Trade worker committee. This group then decides how the funds are used, whether designated for social, economic and environmental community projects or as a cash bonus that helps employees get closer to a living wage.
Fair Trade’s approach generates both better pay and employee participation in the life of a community. It also helps create better working conditions and safeguards against the use of child labour.
All Fair Trade Certified factories have thorough health and safety standards, respect for the environment, zero child or forced labour, maternity and paid leave, a sense of empowerment throughout the community and drives additional money back to the workers.
This program has also improved dialogue between employees and management; another vital aspect of Fair Trade. In one factory, upon learning that Fair Trade committee were contemplating spending a percentage of their premium on building a kitchen, the management recognised this as a basic need it should provide and paid for a new kitchen.
3 real-life examples of Fair Trade at Patagonia
In Hirdaramani, Sri Lanka, employees voted to open a daycare centre that provided workers with free child care; this meant parents could continue working as opposed to staying at home, which improved financial landscapes for each family. In addition to this, employees also established a health and sanitation program that’s provided a place for employees to voice any health concerns plus resources that addresses basic health and hygiene issues (often considered a taboo in their culture). This amendment has had a drastic impact on the employees’ physical and mental well-being, resulting in greater personal comfort and improved productivity at work. To top this off, employees were also handed coupons to pay for a variety of essentials prior to their annual New Year’s holiday.
In the Nature USA factory in California a vote was made to take their share of the money (which equated to one or two weeks’ pay) as a cash bonus. The staff used the extra money for things such as healthcare, school fees and holidays. One of the reasons Fair Trade was established was to help employees earn closer to the minimum wage. At Nature USA, tangible results are evident.
At the MAS Active-Leisureline factory in Katunayake, Sri Lanka, employees voted to use the Fair Trade premiums to pay for household basics and medicine. Roughly 525 employees received their premium in 2016. They used this additional money to buy packs of essential household essentials including dry foods, toiletries, medicine and personal products. This would have cost them around two weeks’ pay, plus they benefited from 10% off the retail price as well as free delivery. This might not seem like an exciting way of spending a bonus but the money saved meant that they had extra money to be spent elsewhere. The first delivery of premiums arrived just before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year; a timely welcome before an important period of celebrations.
Overall, more than 15,700 employees have benefitted from the premiums Patagonia has paid through the Fair Trade Certified program. Not only have employees benefited financially, this program has improved lives and increased pride, dignity, hope and self-confidence.
As the program has been such a hit amongst employees, factory owners and customers interested in change and progress, Patagonia’s participation in Fair Trade has grown at quite a rate. In 2014 Patagonia started off by offering 11 Fair Trade styles via one factory. By spring this year, Patagonia offered 287 styles via ten different factories. Today, the Patagonia Fair Trade offering has grown to 480 styles including 94 fleece styles via 14 different factories.
All our Patagonia Better Sweater, Synchilla Snap T and Retro Pile styles are Fair Trade Certified crafted, through Fair Trade Certified sewing and crafted with bluesign approved fabrics. Bluesign technologies evaluate and reduce resource consumption in the material supply chain, managing the chemicals, dyes and finishes used in the process making sure the products are safe for the environment, factory employees and for the customers. Back in 2007 Patagonia was the first official partners to join the bluesign system network.
This is very inspirational stuff and certainly gives you another reason to invest in Patagonia. Like you needed one.
Next-Level Knits
As the chill is really starts to set in we thought there is no time like the present to round up our warmest, fuzziest, softest, most favourite knits of the season. This lot will carry you through the winter and as the temperature drops and drops you’ll be wrapped up warm.
The roll neck is making a comeback this autumn and rightly so, as it’s the perfect winter layer. This chunky Universal Works knit has been crafted from a lambswool / nylon blend that offers warmth, durability and lightness. The subtle fleck throughout provides a bit of oomph.
The Cable Knit is probably the most classic bit of knit of all time. A wear-forever style that will seamlessly add a layer of warmth and fit perfectly over your first layer and just right under your coat.
A bold addition to your winter wardrobe. This Norse Projects number has been crafted in Scotland from a fuzzy, tactile and soft, 100% lambswool with a striking Nordic fairisle pattern.
The crew neck knit is a necessity that’ll compliment any outfit. Universal Works has come through with a knitted pullover featuring an 80% wool, 20% polyamide blend that’s light and soft to touch with geometric patterned detailing at the sleeves.
Take a closer look at our full knitwear offering here.
adidas Originals by wings+horns AW17
adidas Originals and wings+horns collaborate for the AW17 season with a brand-new collection. This latest effort strengthens the connection between the two brands that marries the timeless adidas Originals sportswear design with wings+horns’ precise, contemporary aesthetic.
For AW17 we are presented with silhouettes both old and new, featuring fresh fabrics and natural tones through elevated production techniques. This understated collection has taken inspiration from old-world tailoring and classic clothing production to create a referential collection informed by contemporary fashion design. As always, the collection includes dual-branded logos and embroidered patches displaying the adidas trefoil encased within a circular frame.
Apparel-wise the offering includes a collection of jersey essentials; hoodies, track pants, sweatshirts and a t-shirt. Iconic 3-stripes designs transformed with unique materials and innovation approaches. Within the clothing are panel constructions, hand-stitch details, tonal textures and fading 3-stripes suede print motifs.
Beyond the clothing, four footwear styles are thrown into to the mix. A Campus, Superstar Pro Model, an NMD C2 and an NMD R2 PK.
The Campus is adidas’ headline silhouette for 2017. This colab elevates a classic style with paired-back design; the Campus has been crafted with a one-piece premium leather make-up with 3D molded 3-stripes and low-key, dual branding.
The Superstar Pro Model is the high-top version of the iconic Superstar. This iteration features an all-black waterproof leather upper, waxed laces, a gusset tongue and hand-stitched detailing on the heel with dual branding.
The NMD R2 receives two new treatments. The original design adopts a charcoal Primeknit wool blend construction with welded overlays and a black leather heel-patch to finish.
The NMD C2 is a brand-new shape that combines texture and tone through a felt upper in heather brown with tonal details including a decon leather heel patch.
adidas Originals by wings+horns is launching online on 26/10/17.
In Cord We Trust
With most of our autumn deliveries receipted in, it turns out, this season corduroy is back, in a big way.
A durable, comfortable warm fabric that we’ve also been fond of but are now seeing it used on some of our favourite styles. Scroll down to see how easy it is to introduce cord into your wardrobe.
Take this 100% Italian cord, overshirt-style jacket from Our Legacy. This is a great example of how to wear a stand-out piece of cord whilst remaining fairly low-key.
If you’re new to cord, a pair of pants is the easy option, take the Aston pants by Universal Works for example. Best worn with a darker coloured shirt, a plain white t-shirt or a basic Breton stripe. Always remember to tone it down and don’t mix too many textures in one fit.
Just like denim-on-denim, executed correctly, cord squared can look unreal. What’s key is getting slim cuts, a pop of colour beneath somewhere else and a style it up with some techy footwear.