Gap to launch Fair Trade styles made in Sri Lanka

JSC: Gap Inc’s Athleta athleticwear brand is launching an assortment of styles made in a Sri Lankan textile factory and certified by Fair Trade USA, an organisation dedicated to creating social and economic opportunities for factory workers around the world.

The spring collection will include the latest designs in some of Athleta’s most popular product lines such as the Sculptek Stealth collection and High Neck Chi tank, as well as a range of additional tops and bottoms. The line will launch with more than 40 Fair Trade Certified styles but is expected to reach 100 items by the end of the year.

Working with Fair Trade USA enables Athleta to enhance its commitment to empowering women by supporting the female-dominated workforce in the manufacturing facilities with which it sources.

“Supporting women in their ability to come together to reach their full potential is core to our brand,” says Nancy Green, president of Athleta. “Partnering with Fair Trade USA is an important and natural step in directly enabling the women who create Athleta clothes to positively affect their communities and families.”

For every Fair Trade Certified product sold, factory workers directly earn an additional financial premium, which they collectively invest in the needs of their community. Previous investments, which are voted on and executed by the workers themselves, have included childcare, transportation, women’s health programs, and education – directly enhancing the lives of workers and their families.

The debut styles are produced by a newly certified facility in Sri Lanka, supporting more than 2,100 workers of whom more than 80% are women.

For a product to earn Fair Trade certification, it must originate from a facility that operates according to the social, environmental and economic standards set in place by Fair Trade USA.

Athleta products are manufactured by approved factories that are required to comply with the Gap Inc Code of Vendor Conduct.

The US specialty apparel giant recently published the names and locations of the factories which manufacture garments for all its brands.