Knowledge Cotton Apparel have worked in Turkey for many years and develop long term partnerships with their factories there.

The hat is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified. All stages of production from fibre growers to processors and manufacturers are audited and must have systems in place to ensure social criteria based on the key norms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) are met.

Organic cotton helps farmers escape the health risks and financial burden of toxic chemicals involved in conventional cotton production. It also helps wider communities by maintaining (rather than draining) the local water supply and keeping it clean.

Knowledge Cotton Apparel's second and third tier suppliers (fabrics and raw materials) are based in the same geographical region as products are cut and sewn. The reduces the carbon footprint of their products compared to other fashion supply chains where it is common for inputs to cross back and forth around the world.

GOTS living wage policy currently only requires that national legal standards are met. We'd love to see KCA collaborate with an organisation like the Fair Wear Foundation to advance the complex topic of a real living wage for garment workers.