Jackets really have their moment in Spring—especially when it comes to outerwear that battles rain and such.

Community Development Funds are a pillar of the Fair Trade program. For every garment produced in a Fair Trade Certified factory, we contribute an additional sum of money, known as the Fair Trade Premium, that goes directly into a worker-managed account. Each year, a democratically elected committee of workers meets to propose investment plans for the premium funds based on surveys and needs assessments. Project proposals that address the needs workers have identified as most critical are then put to an employee-wide vote. Importantly, brands and factory management do not select or vote for programs—that’s because workers know best what they need to support their families and communities.

Every year, workers have an opportunity to vote for new programs or continue to fund existing ones. Over time, projects tend to expand in scope and complexity. Tam Dao, field staff for Fair Trade USA, summed it up: “In the first couple of years of certification, workers often vote to take premium payments home as individual cash bonuses. After a few years, many workers realize that if they distribute the payment as cash, each worker only gets a small amount, but if they pool it together, they can make a real impact. For example, building a soccer field for the local community or covering all employees’ healthcare contributions for one year. They learn the best way to spend the premium is to invest in the community.” 

Community Development Funds are a pillar of the Fair Trade program. For every garment produced in a Fair Trade Certified factory, we contribute an additional sum of money, known as the Fair Trade Premium, that goes directly into a worker-managed account. Each year, a democratically elected committee of workers meets to propose investment plans for the premium funds based on surveys and needs assessments. Project proposals that address the needs workers have identified as most critical are then put to an employee-wide vote. Importantly, brands and factory management do not select or vote for programs—that’s because workers know best what they need to support their families and communities.

Every year, workers have an opportunity to vote for new programs or continue to fund existing ones. Over time, projects tend to expand in scope and complexity. Tam Dao, field staff for Fair Trade USA, summed it up: “In the first couple of years of certification, workers often vote to take premium payments home as individual cash bonuses. After a few years, many workers realize that if they distribute the payment as cash, each worker only gets a small amount, but if they pool it together, they can make a real impact. For example, building a soccer field for the local community or covering all employees’ healthcare contributions for one year. They learn the best way to spend the premium is to invest in the community.”