Here is a great example of a company in the textile industry who respects its employees. Free medical and dental care is provided to the employees at Denimatrix; this includes preventive care, prenatal care, and regular check-ups for their children. Educational opportunities are also available to them. This is a great example of fair trade reaching into the fashion industry.

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Denimatrix, located in Guatemala City, Guatemala, is a subsidiary of the Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA) in Lubbock Texas. PCCA “is a farmer–owned, cotton marketing, warehousing, denim manufacturing and jean production cooperative headquartered in Lubbock, Texas”. It is the jeans production leg of the business that recently was awarded the Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) in Washington, D.C. by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Launched in 1999, the ACE award recognizes U.S. companies abroad who do good through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. This year there was a record 78 companies nominated for this prestigious award, of which three winners were chosen. Denimatrix won in the small to medium size enterprise category.

Some of the apparel brands who purchase jeans from Denimatrix are Gap, Banana Republic, Rock & Republic, Guess, Buckle, and Abercrombie & Fitch. Here are a few brands of jeans that you can wear in good conscious.

Until next time…