Social responsibility and factory expectations

 

 

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE SOURCING

123 Bear sources our garments from small factories located in Southern Africa.  We strive to support the development of this region and its people through socially responsible commercial ventures.  These factories do not have the capital to support the mass market brands and typically struggle to survive financially.  123 Bear aims to support these businesses in Southern Africa by providing the technical assistance to produce high quality garments and also pay fair prices for the products they produce. 

 

QUALITY STANDARDS

All factories are required to meet strict international quality standards which include comprehensive raw materials standards, specifications and checks.  Garments are inspected inline and checked for quality.  All factories are required to have robust broken sewing needle policies to ensure that no needle fragments end up in infant garments.  These policies include the use of metal detectors.

 

LABOR, PAY AND SAFETY

123 Bear strives to protect the welfare of the employees that produce the garments we sell.  We require that workers are unionized or represented in collective bargaining.  If workers are not union members, union mandated wages must be paid according to the respective country.  Women must receive equal pay to men and factories cannot use any child labor.

Worker safety must be paramount and inspections must be conducted for areas such are fire safety and building structures.  All steam boilers must be independently inspected for safety and robust pressure cutoffs.

 

While the above steps may increase costs slightly, 123 Bear believes that the above standards help ensure that we are responsible global citizens.  After all we must set a good example for our children.