What Does Ethically Made Mean?
You've probably heard terms like "ethically made", "fair trade" and "sustainably sourced" but what does that actually mean? What does it look like when a company implements these values into...
You've probably heard terms like "ethically made", "fair trade" and "sustainably sourced" but what does that actually mean? What does it look like when a company implements these values into production? In a world of fast fashion and a low standard for disposability, ethically making clothes is a challenge. Dedication to environmentalism, social responsibility and transparency are the key factors in how Patagonia is making change in the textile industry!
Photo Credit: Tim Davis
Sustainably Sourced
To sustainably source something means to source it in a way that is environmentally and ethically responsible. The ultimate goal is to make products in a way that mitigates the negative impacts on our home planet (including people and animals) as much as possible.
Whether it be natural or synthetic, the creation of textiles has the potential to damage our planet. Through testing, research and strict welfare programs, Patagonia has been able to to mitigate or almost entirely erase their impact on the environment.
Cotton: Every year, millions of pounds of chemicals (such as pesticides and soil additives) are used to grow cotton. This imposes severe consequences to the soil, water, air and living things in the area. To combat this, Patagonia exclusively uses organically grown and recycled cotton.
Wool: Producing wool is resource intensive, requiring vast amounts of land, water, chemicals, dyes and the often times the inhumane treatment of animals. To mitigate this, Patagonia uses virgin wool produced under the Responsible Wool Standard and recycled wool.
Down: To obtain down, birds are often subject to force-feeding and live-plucking. The down we use is certified under the Responsible Down Standard which enforces quality of life requirements for the birds we get these feathers from. Read more about down here!
Nylon: Lightweight, quick-drying and durable, Nylon is used to make tough gear that performs. Like most synthetic fibres made from petroleum, the production of nylon results in significant pollution. 92% of the nylon used in Patagonia’s Spring 2025 line is recycled, reducing pollution and keeping discarded materials out of landfills and oceans!
Spandex: Fast drying, stretchy and durable, spandex is often seen in clothing that see a lot of movement. Like nylon, the production of virgin spandex is detrimental to the planet with the pollution it produces. Spandex is one of Patagonia’s least used fabrics, with the spandex they do use being excess from production lines or recycled.
Polyester: High performance, quick drying and lightweight, polyester is found in many of the products Patagonia produces. Being derived from petroleum, it’s production has severe consequences to the environment. 92% of the polyester used in the Patagonia Spring 2025 line is recycled!
Read more about Patagonia’s strides towards sustainability!
Photo Credit: Theodore Kaye
Fair Trade
Behind every piece of clothing there is the person who made it. Regardless of what a garment is made of or where it was produced, there is a high probability that the person who made it was exploited. Only an estimated 2% of garment workers around the world are paid a living wage.
While Patagonia does not own any factories that make their products, they have partnered with Fair Trade Certified to work towards ensuring the people that make Patagonia products are paid a living wage. Patagonia pays a premium on every product made in these factories, which goes directly back to factory workers in the form of a community development fund that they control. This fund is used to invest in things like health-care, child-care centers, bonuses and purchasing necessities. Over 90% of the clothes Patagonia produces is made in a Fair Trade Certified factory - more than any other apparel brand.
Read more about what Fair Trade Certified means!
Photo Credit: Jürgen Westermeyer
The Result
Attention to detail, transparency and a love for our home planet has allowed Patagonia to make quality products that you can feel good about wearing. Despite already being a leader in the apparel industry for sustainability and ethical practices, Patagonia continues to work toward making strides in protecting the environment.
Header Image Credit: Tim Davis