SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Athleta is
introducing an assortment of styles created in a factory certified
by Fair Trade USA, an organization
dedicated to creating social and economic opportunities for factory
workers around the world.
Athleta's spring collection features more than 40 Fair Trade
CertifiedTM styles and more styles will be added
throughout the year. The offering is expected to approach 100 items
by the end of 2017. The Fair Trade CertifiedTM pieces
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
pieces are available in Athleta stores, through the Athleta catalog
and online at Athleta.com.
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. 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 percent are women.
"Supporting women in their ability to come together to reach
their full potential is core to our brand," said Nancy Green, president, 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 a product to earn Fair Trade certification, it must
originate from a facility that operates according to the rigorous
social, environmental and economic standards set in place by Fair
Trade USA. The Fair Trade
certification complements Gap Inc.'s Vendor Conduct standards. As
part of the Gap Inc. portfolio of brands, Athleta products are
manufactured by approved factories that are required to comply with
the Gap Inc. Code of Vendor Conduct, which sets forth rigorous
requirements for compliance with applicable laws, environmental
standards, labor practices and working conditions to help ensure
that factory workers are treated with dignity and respect.
"Fair Trade allows each of us to live our values through our
everyday choices--through a simple purchase," said Paul Rice, President & CEO of Fair Trade
USA. "When you choose a Fair Trade
Certified™ item from Athleta, you're not just getting an amazing
product; you're also helping empower and improve the lives of the
women who made it."
ABOUT FAIR TRADE USA
Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit
organization that promotes sustainable livelihoods for farmers and
workers; protects fragile ecosystems; and builds strong,
transparent supply chains through independent, third-party
certification. Its trusted Fair Trade Certified™ label signifies
that rigorous standards have been met in the production, trade and
promotion of Fair Trade products from over 80 countries across the
globe. Recognized as a leading social venture by the Clinton Global
Initiative, the Skoll Foundation and Ashoka, Fair Trade
USA also provides critical
capacity-building programs at origin, and educates consumers about
the power of their purchase. www.FairTradeUSA.org
ABOUT ATHLETA
Athleta creates versatile premium performance apparel designed
by women athletes to inspire a community of active, confident women
and girls to reach their limitless potential. Founded in 1998,
Athleta integrates performance and technical features across its
collection to carry a woman through her life in motion – from yoga
and training to about-town and travel. In 2016 the company launched
Athleta Girl mirroring its signature performance in styles for the
next generation. Based in Petaluma,
CA and a Gap Inc. brand (NYSE: GPS), Athleta apparel is
available at its 125+ retail stores across the country, through its
catalog, and at www.athleta.com.
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SOURCE Athleta