Fair Trade Certified Factory (Fair Trade USA)
The item was made in a factory certified to Fair Trade USA's Factory Production Standard 2.0.1, in effect since January 1, 2023. The label describes the factory.
What Does Fair Trade Certified Mean?
Fair Trade Certified on clothing usually means the garment was made in a factory certified for worker rights, safety and pay. Two separate nonprofits run these programs, Fair Trade USA and Fairtrade International. A factory seal covers where the item was made. Fairtrade International's cotton marks are the ones that make a claim about the cotton.
What Fairtrade checks
- Fair Trade USA: the whole building where final production happens, including common areas like dormitories
- Fair Trade USA: a Fair Trade Premium paid by buyers to a worker-run committee that decides how to spend it
- Fair Trade USA: no forced or child labor, no discrimination, freedom of association, health and safety, and wages increasing toward a living wage
- Fairtrade International: cut-make-trim (sewing) factories only, from September 1, 2026, with physical audits by FLOCERT
- Fairtrade International: a base wage of 55% of the regional living wage or 10% above minimum wage, whichever is higher, plus a living wage payment from brands
- Fairtrade International cotton marks: all the cotton in the product has to be Fairtrade certified, bought from farmers at a minimum price plus a premium
- Chemicals: Fair Trade USA bans AAFA Restricted Substances List and EU REACH candidate list chemicals in certified products by year six. Fairtrade International requires certified wet processing, naming GOTS and OEKO-TEX as examples.
What Fairtrade doesn’t cover
- The fiber, for a factory seal. Fair Trade USA's Fair Trade Certified Factory label describes where the item was made.
- Cotton, at Fair Trade USA. Its list of labels includes no cotton label.
- Spinning, dyeing and other steps before sewing, under Fairtrade International's 2026 standard. Those are handled through rules for suppliers instead.
- A living wage on day one. Both programs require wages to move toward one over time.
- Trims and accessories, which sit outside Fairtrade International's textile scope
Two organizations, four clothing labels
Fair Trade USA and Fairtrade International have their own standards, certifiers and labels. These are the ones you'll see on clothing.
FAIRTRADE Textile Factory Mark (Fairtrade International)
The item was made in a certified sewing factory under the Textile Standard. When the fiber comes from another approved scheme, the mark sits next to that scheme's label, and Fairtrade makes no claim about the fiber.
FAIRTRADE Textile Factory Cotton Mark (Fairtrade International)
Made in a certified sewing factory with Fairtrade cotton: either 100% Fairtrade cotton, or a blend that's at least 50% Fairtrade cotton (30% for workwear and uniforms) where all the cotton is Fairtrade.
FAIRTRADE Cotton Mark (Fairtrade International)
Covers the raw cotton, produced and traded on Fairtrade terms. A blended fabric can carry it only if 100% of the cotton in the blend is Fairtrade certified.
How to check a Fairtrade certificate
Start with the logo on the tag, since each organization runs its own program.
- Tell the labels apart. Fair Trade USA's clothing label says Fair Trade Certified Factory. Fairtrade International's marks spell FAIRTRADE as one word and name the textile factory, the cotton or both.
- Search Fair Trade USA's directory. Its Partner Directory lists factories and brands by name, country, role and product line, with a Fair Trade USA ID.
- Check the cotton claim. A factory label tells you where the item was made. If the cotton matters to you, look for a FAIRTRADE Cotton Mark or Textile Factory Cotton Mark, which require all the cotton to be Fairtrade certified.
Fairtrade questions
What does Fair Trade Certified mean on clothing?
With Fair Trade USA, the garment was made in a factory certified to its Factory Production Standard, where buyers pay a Premium that a worker committee decides how to spend. With Fairtrade International, it was made in a certified sewing factory under the Textile Standard.
What's the difference between Fair Trade USA and Fairtrade International?
They're separate nonprofits with separate standards, certifiers and labels. Fair Trade USA certifies factories with partner auditing bodies. Fairtrade International certifies sewing factories and cotton farmers, audited by FLOCERT.
Does a fair trade label mean the cotton is fair trade?
Only with a cotton mark. Fair Trade USA's Fair Trade Certified Factory label refers to the factory. Fairtrade International's cotton marks require all of the cotton in the product to be Fairtrade certified.
Does fair trade mean a living wage?
Neither program guarantees one at certification. Fair Trade USA requires wages to increase toward a living wage. Fairtrade International sets a base wage and adds a living wage payment from brands, with implementation due within six years.
Does fair trade mean non-toxic?
Both are labor standards first. Fair Trade USA bans chemicals on the AAFA Restricted Substances List and EU REACH candidate lists in certified products, with up to six years to comply. Fairtrade International requires dyeing and other wet processing to hold a valid certification, like GOTS or OEKO-TEX.