Beyond the Label: Patagonia's Fair Trade Revolution | Patagonia

What does it really take to embed Fair Trade into the DNA of a global brand—and why does it matter? In this powerful episode, Becca sits down with Wendy Savage, Patagonia’s Senior Director of Social Impact & Transparency, to explore how the brand grew from piloting just six Fair Trade styles to certifying over 90% of its product line—impacting more than 85,000 workers and distributing over $31 million in Fair Trade premiums. Wendy shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped her passion for ethical sourcing, from growing up in Peru with her activist mother to navigating global supply chains. Together, they unpack how Fair Trade became Patagonia’s first step toward living wages, why the company is openly sharing its model with other brands, and what it means when workers—not corporations—choose how to invest in their futures. Wendy also speaks candidly about industry inaction, the invisible dividend of Fair Trade, and why real change is never “one and done”—it’s forever work.

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