Working with brands

Fair Wear member brands are committed to improving the lives of garment workers worldwide. They are already going above and beyond the industry norm to improve conditions at their suppliers’ factories, and we’re here to support them every step of the way.

What it means to be a Fair Wear brand

Being a Fair Wear member means that you take the social side of sustainability seriously. It means that you are working towards the high bar that Fair Wears sets, in line with international standards and conventions to minimise risk for workers. It means that you are serious about protecting the rights of workers and making the factories you source from a safe and empowering place to work. 

Our one-on-one approach with our member brands is what sets us apart from other initiatives. We recognise that the needs and challenges that brands face can vary. Therefore, we work closely with brands providing tailored guidance and direction. Brands have the ability to influence conditions at the factory level and with this ability comes great responsibility. Our role is to hold them accountable, make sure they are continuously improving, and push them to raise the bar for social sustainability in the industry.

Our engagement with brands aims to make it easier for workers to stand up for their rights through social dialogue. We help brands identify how they can promote the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining in their supply chains at both the factory and national levels.

Respecting human rights and avoiding risk

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the crucial need for improved purchasing practices and for stakeholders within the garment industry – especially brands – to operationalise their human rights due diligence (HRDD). Fair Wear expects its member brands to respect human rights and have an HRDD process in place, one that is in line with international standards. 

Fair Wear is well-positioned as a knowledgeable multi-stakeholder initiative to help brands review their own practices to avoid harm to workers. We have a ‘risk-based approach’ aimed at identifying risks and acting proactive on them through prevention, mitigation, and remediation. This approach is captured in a step-by-step cycle that is based on the OECD due diligence cycle. Our role is to guide and support brands throughout this process. We use our expansive network to connect them with local stakeholders and assess their performance in our credible Brand Performance Checks.

Fair Wear has evolved over the years and now plays a major role in convening and knowledge sharing within the garment industry. Therefore, we are well-placed to share what we know from our work with our member brands; about what works and what doesn’t. 

Highlights

More impact stories

Resources

Fair Wear Member Guide

The member guide describes all of the fundamental requirements of Fair Wear membership. This guide aims to clarify the roles and responsib…

Brand Performance Check Guide 2020

The Brand Performance Check, conducted annually at all Fair Wear member companies, is the most important element of Fair Wear’s unique ‘sh…