Pico underwear is made by MILA a small fairtrade factory in southern India, using organic cotton sourced from fairtrade farmers’ cooperatives.

MILA is Faitrade certified and tailors receive a living wage which is far above the legal minimum wage in India. Others benefits for workers include interest free loans so workers can buy land and build their own houses.

Working as a cooperative with a fair trade mark ensures that the farmers get a fair and stable price for their cotton crop. In addition, the Fairtrade fund supports various projects within local communities, such as creating safe drinking water sources, funding further education and organising women’s self-help groups.

Organic farming methods are gentler on the environment and also farmers who may suffer ill health when coming into contact with the intensive fertilisers and pesticides used in conventional cotton production.

The dye is also Oeko-tex and the dye unit recycles all their dye water. The pools of dye water are used as solar panels to power the recycling process. 95% of the water goes back to drinking water and 5% is used as building material.

Elastane gives underwear a degree of stretch and durability. Whilst the production of elastane has significant environmental impacts we accept the use of high quality elastane in products where it is necessary for the function of the product.

Pico have created an exceptional Fairtrade supply chain. Brothers We Stand have been equally impressed with the commitment of the founders to continual development. Pico are exploring removing elastane, and using 100% organic cotton. Alongside this they are trying to find ways that they can transport all their shipments by sea.