In October, BELLA+CANVAS (asi/39590) announced that it had earned accreditation from the Fair Labor Association (FLA), a process that took several years. The FLA works to evaluate company systems, ensuring that workers’ rights are protected throughout global supply chains.

With the accreditation, BELLA+CANVAS joins several other promo suppliers with similar credentials, including Counselor Top 40 supplier Gildan (asi/56842) and HanesBrands (asi/59528). Counselor Top 40 supplier SanMar (asi/84863) earned reaccreditation from the FLA last year.

“Accreditation is not a one-time achievement; it involves ongoing improvement and commitment to ethical practices.” Alejandro Caldera, BELLA+CANVAS (asi/39590)

In this Q&A, Alejandro Caldera, director of corporate social compliance at BELLA+CANVAS, discusses what the accreditation process was like, what was most surprising about the exercise and what the apparel supplier has on the horizon when it comes to ethical sourcing.

Q: How long did it take BELLA+CANVAS to earn accreditation with the FLA? And what does it mean for the company?

A: We began our journey with FLA at the end of 2019. Following a rigorous multiyear review of our business systems for compliance with international labor standards designed to protect workers in global supply chains, the FLA board voted to award us Fair Labor Accreditation in 2024.

In a market where consumers are increasingly concerned about ethical sourcing, FLA accreditation serves as a trusted signal of responsible business practices. Our work with FLA means that we’re a part of a global movement to protect millions of workers at every link of international supply chains. The accreditation builds trust and provides assurance to consumers, stakeholders and other parties that we’re committed to fair labor policies, sustainability in manufacturing and ethical business practices.

BELLA+CANVAS (asi/39590) uses automated cutting facilities during its apparel production process.

Q: Can you talk a little about the process? What are some of the policy and procedural changes you made?

A: In pursuit of accreditation, we rolled out new policies, strengthened our management systems and hired experienced social compliance professionals. We also conducted internal and partner trainings and engaged in social compliance audits to ensure the highest standards across our operations. Between 2021 and 2024, we completed four milestones to receive our accreditation, which included upgrading our policies, procedures and actions to align with the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct and the FLA Principles of Fair Labor and Responsible Sourcing and Responsible Production, and consistent auditing, remediation efforts and transparent reporting.

• We completed 41 compliance audits since 2021, all conducted by third-party auditors.
• We audited 100% of our Tier 1 suppliers on an annual basis.
• We have seen a 67% reduction in noncompliance instances from 2022-23.
• We delivered 15,000+ hours of compliance training to our employees.

Most BELLA + CANVAS garments are cut and dyed in the USA. The supplier notes that nearshoring helps it to more closely oversee its manufacturing process.

Q: What was the most difficult part of earning your accreditation? Was there anything about the process that surprised you?

A: The most challenging part of achieving the accreditation was ensuring consistency and alignment across our supply chain. Because we had different levels of maturity of our compliance program throughout our operations, implementing the management systems we designed required significant collaboration and adaptability from the executive leadership to the facility level. It was a challenge, yet an opportunity, to grow side by side with our supply chain.

What surprised us most about the process was the depth of the FLA review. While we expected a rigorous evaluation, the focus on ensuring that our remediation efforts were sustainable, and that the systems implemented were effective, pushed us to enhance our compliance program even further. This deepened our commitment to worker well-being and strengthened our partnerships across our suppliers.

Q: Why was becoming FLA-accredited an important step for you to take?

A: Achieving FLA accreditation is a powerful affirmation of our enduring commitment to upholding the highest standards of social responsibility. This significant achievement highlights our ongoing efforts to ensure fair labor practices and prioritize the well-being of workers throughout our supply chain. It reflects years of teamwork, dedication and a unified pursuit of ethical business practices. This accreditation honors the relentless work of our teams who are dedicated to maintaining a respectful and fair workplace.

BELLA+CANVAS says it’s meticulous about combing impurities out of raw cotton. The supplier uses long staple fibers, resulting in fewer impurities than other cotton fabrics.

Q: What comes next for BELLA+CANVAS?

A: Our work to attain Fair Labor Accreditation demonstrates our commitment to improving workers’ rights worldwide through transparent monitoring, fair labor practices and accountability in global supply chains. Accreditation is not a one-time achievement; it involves ongoing improvement and commitment to ethical practices. We’ll continue to establish processes and practices that strive to improve working conditions; protect workers’ rights; and identify, prevent and remediate workplace abuse. Through this important work, we’re confident BELLA+CANVAS will drive better working conditions in factories, better livelihoods for workers and better products for our customers.

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