Pangaia Deemed an Ethical Sourcing Leader by Fair Wear Foundation

Kate Nishimura
·2 min read

London-based apparel label Pangaia has passed Fair Wear Foundation’s Brand Performance Check with flying colors.

The nonprofit awarded Pangaia with “leader” status for its work to promote ethical sourcing and improved working conditions across the apparel supply chain.

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Founded four years ago, the brand calls itself “a materials science company bringing problem-solving innovations to the world through premium lifestyle products and experiences.” Known for its basic apparel made with next-generation bio-based materials, the company offers its innovations to the industry at large. Flwrdwn, an animal-free insulation material, and C-Fiber, made with renewable wood pulp and seaweed, are among its marketed solutions.

The purpose-led enterprise received a total benchmarking score of 73—“outstanding results” for its first assessment, Fair Wear said in a statement. The group aims to elevate working conditions for apparel workers, and developed the Brand Performance Check as a comprehensive system for assessing labor practices. Over the course of its first year as a member of the organization, Pangaia has established “robust procedures and systems” to ensure social compliance throughout its value chain.

It has also committed to maintaining long-term supplier relationships, evidenced through extended contracts. The company uses a detailed onboarding procedure and supplier evaluation framework to ensure that its partners comply with its established labor standards.

“Pangaia’s country risk scoping, though not exhaustive in terms of prevalence and severity, is notably detailed and includes a gender lens, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity,” Fair Wear Added. “Additionally, the company has collected an impressive amount of data from its suppliers, extending up to non-CMT subcontractors, presented in a user-friendly overview.”

The men’s, women’s and children’s brand has initiated preventative actions across its supplier portfolio and Fair Wear has recommended that it develop a prioritization process to inform its timelines moving forward. According to the non-profit, Pangaia has already begun promoting living wages, sharing that roadmap with its manufacturers, and identifying benchmarks around the issue.

The group praised the retailer for laying a foundation for growth and contributing to the sharing of industry best practices. “Despite being a first-year member, Pangaia’s commitment to ethical practices positions it as a leader in the fashion landscape,” Fair Wear said.

Fair Wear introduced a new performance check methodology in 2023 which aligns with Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). The group counts 140 multinational brands as members, connecting them with factories, workers, trade unions and NGOs.

“Our approach is to closely collaborate to build a critical mass for change, providing active and practical support to ensure that workers are in the driving seat of improving and monitoring their own working conditions,” the group said. “We envision and actively work towards a situation where garment workers are well informed, well represented and have the means to raise concerns when their rights are violated.”