Deane Apparel delivers over 3 million garments to our partners every year. Today, each one is made in ethical workplaces, with an increasing number of them made from sustainably produced fabrics.
Our ethos of further together has driven many of these initiatives: the belief that with like-minded clients and supply chain partners, we can do more for the planet than we ever could in isolation. The Deane Apparel family has taken a staunch stand against sweatshops, child labour, human trafficking, modern slavery and unethical workplace conditions of every kind. We’re also proud to have been an early mover in the shift towards minimum standards for workplace conditions, first requiring Workplace Codes of Conduct from suppliers in 2009.
In 2018 we adopted a higher standard, ensuring all of our garment manufacturers comply with global Total Quality Assurance provider Intertek’s Workplace Conditions Assessment (WCA). The WCA programme audits workplace conditions including the freedom to work, zero tolerance for modern slavery and child labour, fair wages and reasonable working conditions.
We’re making progress when it comes to the environmental footprint of the fabrics in our apparel too. We prioritise mills and factories who have certifications and audits to show that they manage and dispose of chemicals responsibly. Currently 80% of the mills we work with have certifications for responsible and safe chemical management.
The WCA programme puts Deane Apparel customers on the right side of all relevant legislation. It gives all our customers the peace of mind that comes with globally-recognised standards and third- party auditing. Our long-term goal is end-to-end traceability of our entire supply chain.