Fair Trade USA, which sets standards for, certifies, and labels products that promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers and protect the environment, first entered into a long-term partnership with Madewell last year, prior to the announcement of Madewell’s planned spinoff from J.Crew and IPO in September of 2019. As part of the deal, both J.Crew and Madewell launched a collection of Fair Trade Certified denim produced at Saitex, a Vietnam-based factory that became the first certified B Corp factory in Asia in June of 2019.  According to industry reports, Madewell has increased these efforts by adding three new Fair Trade Certified factories in the past two months, and the company now plans to release new Fair Trade women’s and men’s lines this year, starting with nine new denim styles launching this week.

In December, J.Crew Group announced that it had finalized an agreement with creditors to see the separation of its J.Crew and Madewell brands into two independent companies, and confirmed plans to pursue a “proposed IPO of Madewell” and “recapitalize the company’s balance sheet.”