“At prAna, we’re guided by the idea that a brand should give much more than it takes from the world,” said prAna’s Director of Sustainability, Nicole Bassett. “This year, we visited some of our suppliers in India and seeing what Fair Trade means to workers firsthand was very meaningful for me. When we work with a Fair Trade factory, they can count on our business, and we can count on their goods. That takes away a lot of the risk for both of us and we can do more together to support people and boost a community’s economy, all while making clothes that look good and feel good.”
PrAna was one of the first clothing companies in North America to produce and market Fair Trade certified styles. To help more factories make these positive changes, prAna partners with them long term. Factories that agree to go Fair Trade receive a premium paid directly to workers in the form of increased pay, education or community improvements. Workers have a direct stake: The more Fair Trade apparel they produce, the higher the premium they earn. At the factories prAna works with in Rajlakshmi and Esteam, India,employment turnover rates were under five per cent.
“If a product is Fair Trade certified, that tells you it was made in a factory that meets the highest standards when it comes to workplace safety and environmental protection,” said prAna’s founder, Beaver Theodosakis. “When you choose a piece from our Fair Trade collection, there’s a direct connection between you and the person who made it — you’re choosing to support a young family, a school for local kids or a community project like a park or library, and that’s a good feeling.”
PrAna evaluates its potential suppliers based not only on their capabilities but also through the lens of social and environmental due diligence. That means they choose to work with suppliers that share their values, and that are committed to making positive change. PrAna has three key priorities:
Continuously improve working conditions for people who make its products
Meet its obligations as members of the Fair Labor Association (a non-profit dedicated ending sweatshop conditions in factories around the world)
Increase the number of Fair Trade certified factories.
“By investing in Fair Trade, our intention is to help create the paradigm shift we need across the apparel industry,” said Bassett. “From the seeds in the ground to the shirt on your back, it’s an alternative way of doing business that empowers workers and strengthens their communities.”
To learn more about prAna’s dedication to the people who make their products, please visit http://www.prana.com/life/sustainability/people .
PrAna’s Fair Trade certified collection is available for men and women online at prAna.com.
About prAna
PrAna is a lifestyle brand that draws its name from the ancient Sanskrit word for breath, life and vitality of the spirit. Born from climbing and yoga, the prAna team creates mindfully-designed, purposeful and stylish apparel for free spirited people to pursue their passions on the water, mat, rock, trail, and street. From its beginning in 1993, prAna has been committed to weaving sustainable practices into its operations and supply chain, working to reduce its impact on soils, water supplies and other natural resources while promoting conservation. PrAna is also conscious of its impact on communities and has worked to include a growing number of fair trade styles every year. It is the first apparel company in North America to offer Fair Trade USA certified products and accessories.
PrAna is sold in five flagship stores, online at prana.com, and in 1,400 specialty retailers across the US, Canada, Europe and Asia.
For a list of prAna retailers, please visit http://www.prana.com/dealer-locator.html.
By press release
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