Authentic and Socially Responsible - B Corporations in the Fashion Industry

I often get asked the question– how can I be sure a fashion brand that markets itself as socially responsible is actually doing good? There are numerous listings of socially responsible fashion brands – some of the listings are curated and some are based on what is on a company’s website. One listing that is based on a set of stringent standards is B Corporations™ or benefit corporations.  B Corporation™ certification is overseen by B Lab , “a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.”  B Lab certifies companies that meet the “standards of verified, overall social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability .” 59 apparel, footwear, and accessory companies are currently certified as B Corporations. Examples include Eileen Fisher, Indigenous Designs Corporation, Oliberte Limted, Patagonia, Inc., Olukai, MUD Jeans, and Threads 4 Thought. Some of these are large companies and others are small. Regardless of size, these companies exemplify some of the best industry practices around sustainability and corporate social responsibility. You can find a full listing and links to the company websites on the B Corporations™  website – under “find a B Corporation” and “apparel, footwear, and accessories” industry. Great brands using business as a force for good!