SPONSORED CONTENT BELLA+CANVAS Demonstrates Commitment to Fair Labor Practices by Achieving Fair Labor Accreditation LOS ANGELES-BASED apparel company BELLA+CANVAS upholds a 25-year legacy of making high quality, on-trend styles in the apparel industry. Not only setting new standards for innovation in the wholesale apparel space, such as with their signature Airlume cotton or latest Heavyweight styles, BELLA+CANVAS has long prioritized social responsibility and sustainability in their supply chain and production. Adding to its achievement, BELLA+CANVAS earned Fair Labor Accreditation from the Fair Labor Association (FLA) in 2024. Achieving Fair Labor Accreditation followed a rigorous, multi-year review of BELLA+CANVAS’s business systems. The FLA promotes fair labor practices globally by working with companies, organizations, and universities to improve working conditions and protect workers' rights across industries. This protection of rights is achieved by following a comprehensive framework for improving labor standards, including robust monitoring and assessment tools, opportunities to identify and address supply chain compliance issues, and a platform for continuous improvement in worker conditions. In a market where consumers are increasingly concerned about ethical sourcing, Fair Labor Accreditation serves as a trusted signal of responsible business practices at BELLA+CANVAS. In pursuit of accreditation, BELLA+CANVAS rolled out new policies, strengthened its management systems, and hired experienced social compliance professionals. BELLA+CANVAS also conducted internal and partner training as well as social compliance audits to ensure the highest standards across operations. Between 2021-2024, BELLA+CANVAS completed four milestones to receive accreditation: • Completed 41 compliance audits since 2021, all conducted by thirdparty auditors. • Audited 100% of Tier 1 suppliers on an annual basis. • Reduced non-compliance findings by 67% from 2022-2023. • Delivered 15,000+ hours of compliance training to employees. The above included upgrading their policies, procedures, and actions to align with the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct and the FLA Principles of Fair Labor and Responsible Sourcing and Responsible Production. Consistent auditing, remediation efforts, and transparent reporting were also all part of the process. “Achieving FLA accreditation is a powerful affirmation of our enduring commitment to upholding the highest standards of social responsibility,” said Alejandro Caldera, Director of Social Compliance. “This significant achievement highlights our ongoing efforts to ensure fair labor practices and prioritize the well-being of workers throughout our supply chain. It reflects years of teamwork, dedication, and a unified pursuit of ethical business practices. We are proud to stand with the FLA in our efforts to drive meaningful change and build a more sustainable and responsible future for all.” BELLA+CANVAS believes that fair labor should be the standard, not the exception. Accreditation is also not a one-time achievement; it involves ongoing improvement and commitment to ethical practices. That’s why the company plans to continue establishing processes and practices that work to improve working conditions, protect workers’ rights, and prevent workplace abuse. Through this important work, BELLA+CANVAS is confident it will drive true change for its employees, customers, and communities at large. “It reflects years of teamwork, dedication, and a unified pursuit of ethical business practices.” 62 • MARCH 2025 • PPAI
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