What We're Doing To Pay Our Fair Share

Our new Heritage tees have just landed and while they look like simple T-shirts, there is so much more to them than meets the eye. Read on to learn about how each of these unique garments speaks to our brand DNA and how we are paying a fair share to those in the production process who need it more than most.

A Heritage Collection...With A Conscience

Our new Heritage Tee collection is a celebration of the history of Mountain Designs, each design featuring a print that highlights an iconic moment from the company’s 45 years or illustrates the story of the brand itself. From the psychedelic 'Acid' logo which originally adorned products from 1975 and into the early 80s, to the image of company founder Rick White perched halfway up Yosemite Valley’s famed El Capitan, there is a story behind each T-shirt that tells of a long, rich and eventful past.

But there is something else within the threads of these cool tees, something that calls out to the eco-conscious design philosophy and social conscience of Mountain Designs. While we have always been about developing quality, functional gear to equip you for your next adventure, we also try to create products that are better for you as well as the environment and the community. So with that motivation driving us, we have introduced the first FAIR SHARE tees to the Australian retail market, a collection that looks great but also ensures that the garment workers that made it are looked after also.

What is The FAIR SHARE Initiative?

OCC Apparel and Continental Clothing Co, working together with the Fair Fashion Network and BSD Consulting, implemented the FAIR SHARE scheme on the 1^st January, 2016, with the aim of delivering a living wage for the garment workers at its factory in India. This living wage ‘should cover the basic needs of the workers and their families, allow for some savings and must be earned within a 48-hour working week’.

How Much Is A Fair Share?

To determine this amount, they calculated a benchmark for minimum earnings needed to provide a decent living for a typical family in the area where the factory is located, and took the difference between the current wages being earned and that living wage. This difference was then converted into the additional amount that needs to be paid for each garment produced at the factory. The final price you pay for one of our Heritage tees carries this price premium, which is passed directly back to the garment workers overseas.

EarthPositive® Tees

The Heritage tees are also EarthPositive®, meaning they have a minimal environmental footprint. To get this classification, they must adhere to the three regulations listed below:

• 100% Organic Materials – In this case, the tees are made from 100% organic cotton, which has been produced by a process that is controlled and certified in accordance with the latest version of the Global Organic Textile Standard. This standard is recognised worldwide and ensures the organic status of a textile from the harvesting of the raw material, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, all the way to labelling.
• Verified Ethical Manufacturing – The production process used to manufacture the tees complies with the Fair Wear Foundation’s Code of Labour Practices in accordance with the International Labour Organisation’s conventions.
• Climate Neutral – The tees are manufactured at facilities powered by green renewable energy, such as solar and wind, helping to significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

The Global Organic Textile Standard ensures the organic status of a textile all the way through the production process.