Fair production: What really lies behind the term
Share
"Fairly produced" is one of those terms that you now find on almost every other clothing label. And to be honest, that sometimes makes me skeptical when I use it myself. Because "fair" can mean everything and nothing if no one explains what specifically lies behind it. That's why today I want to break down what actually happens at GeorgWerner before a shirt reaches you.
Fair means: We only produce when you order
First and foremost, the most important point, even if it sounds unspectacular: nothing at our company is done "on spec." Every shirt is created only after you have ordered it. No warehouses full of goods that end up being sold off at discounted prices or, in the worst case, destroyed. This is no minor detail—overproduction is one of the biggest drivers of resource waste in the fashion industry, and we have eliminated it from the very beginning.
But "fair" doesn't stop at production volume. Just as important are the conditions under which items are sewn, printed, and packaged. We work exclusively with print partners who commit to audited social and labor standards—this includes fair wages, regulated working hours, and safe workplaces. This isn't just a gut feeling; it is regularly monitored through certifications like GOTS, which examine both ecological and social criteria along the entire supply chain.
A point that often goes overlooked: local production. Because we work with a decentralized network of print shops, your shirt is printed as close to your home as possible instead of being shipped halfway around the world. Shorter transport routes mean fewer emissions—and, incidentally, faster delivery times for you.
Why we still don't promise a one-size-fits-all guarantee
I don't want to sugarcoat anything here: in reality, a completely zero-impact supply chain hardly exists, no matter what a label prints on the packaging. What we can do instead is remain transparent—ask questions, check, change partners if standards are not met, and tell you honestly where we stand instead of painting a perfect picture that doesn't exist.
For me personally, that was a basic requirement from the start, not an additional sales point. A shirt that looks good but was made at someone else's expense is out of the question for me—no matter how good the design is. That's why, for us, "fair" is not just a word on a label, but a decision we make anew with every single partner and every single shirt.
If you have questions about a specific production step, just ask. We have nothing to hide, and I would rather answer such questions in too much detail than not at all.
