prAna announced the official Fair Trade certification of its long-time factory partner, Colltex, a subsidiary of Eclat Textile Co. The moves represent the next step toward a change in the apparel industry that began 10 years ago when prAna became the first apparel brand to partner with Fair Trade USA on certification, said the company.
Since prAna became the first North American apparel brand to produce Fair Trade Certified clothing, it has given back more than $550,000 in Fair Trade premiums and has also directly sponsored the conversion of 11 factory partners. The process takes eight months to two years and includes prAna partnering with Fair Trade USA to host additional trainings and exploratory audits to find any gaps, said prAna. Fair Trade USA works directly with the factory and workers to support the work behind the certification which includes the upkeep of compliance standards and rollout of premium projects to promote success of the program.
“From farm to factory, we have a responsibility to create a better story for the people who make our clothing,” says Rachel Lincoln, director of sustainability at prAna. “Alongside the team at Fair Trade USA, we have created tangible, sustainable change that positively impacts the lives of our famers and factory workers, and the apparel industry as a whole.”
Colltex, a subsidiary of Eclat Textile Co., based in Vietnam, produces the majority of prAna’s Women’s Yoga and Active collection. They have been a partner of prAna’s for more than10 years. The process of certification at Colltex took two years.
Purchasing Fair Trade Certified products supports farmers and factory workers. Since 2010, prAna says it has contributed Fair Trade premiums that are equivalent to 100,000+ extra days worth of pay.
