Patagonia, an outdoor and activewear clothing company, is moving toward fair trade production for its merchandise. According to a video that the company made to highlight their initiative and the need for fair trade practices around the world, the 40 million workers in the garment industry hold jobs among the world’s lowest paid. The short film “Fair Trade: The First Step” explains why fair practices are important and describes a day’s work for an employee in a fair trade factory.
The industry that produces clothing provides little transparency into the work behind the product, the video says. Consumers don’t see the people who make garments, and it’s easy to forget about them, not questioning the practices that allow retailers to put low price tags on clothing. Conditions in production facilities can be dangerous, highly demanding, and low paid.
Fair trade ultimately means safe and reasonable factory conditions, human treatment of workers, and better wages. One of the first steps, the video explains, is the higher pay. In order to have a product Fair Trade Certified, the company pays an extra amount into a fund that the workers can control. The workers have the option to divide this amount as a bonus or to use it for beneficial services, such as a daycare at Hirdaramani Mihila, a fair trade factory in Sri Lanka.
“Fair Trade: The First Step” followed a typical workday for Upkesha Madushani, a sewing machine operator in Hirdaramani Mihila. Madushani was able to continue her job at the factory because of the daycare that the fair trade practices provided. She said that she hopes her work will better the future for her son.
Patagonia has been developing sustainable, fair trade products. In 2014, they had 11 items that were Fair Trade Certified. By fall 2016, they had 192 items, and by this fall they plan to have 300 different items, which represents 30% of their clothing.
“We look at fair trade as the first step in a very long journey towards getting wage equity in the supply chain,” said a Patagonia representative in the video. The ultimate goal is that all producers provide adequate pay and conditions, allowing all workers in the industry to participate in the success of production.
