Why “B Corp” Doesn’t Always Mean Fair Production

Many fashion brands claim ethical production through certifications like B Corp.
But in countries like Portugal, where much of Europe’s clothing is made, real fairness often depends less on logos and more on how production is actually organised.

This article explains why certifications alone don’t guarantee fair working conditions — and why transparency, scale, and direct relationships matter more than labels.

1- The Hidden Side of “Ethical” Fashion

Today, many fashion brands proudly display certifications such as B Corp.
They talk about transparency, fair wages, and sustainability — yet very few people know who is actually sewing their clothes.

In Portugal, a country known for high-quality textile production, most brands don’t work directly with small workshops.
Instead, they outsource production to large factories or agents, who then subcontract the work further down the chain.

The result is a system where the people doing the real work often have the least power.
Small workshops are left with tight deadlines, squeezed margins, and little room to improve working conditions.

(Image inside our small workshop in northern Portugal, where every Seapath piece is carefully made by local hands.)

2- When “Fair” Becomes Unfair

In practice, production often works like this:

A large brand hires a factory or production agent →
that agent distributes the work to smaller workshops →
the price per piece drops at every step →
and by the time it reaches the workshop, there is barely any margin left.

Many small workshops in Portugal can’t afford to pay much more than the legal minimum wage — which today is not enough to live decently in most cities.

This is the uncomfortable reality behind many collections that are marketed as “ethical”.

3- The Limits of Certification

Certifications like B Corp can encourage better practices, but they have clear limits.

They often evaluate:

• policies

• documentation

• high-level processes

What they rarely capture is what happens inside subcontracted workshops, where pressure, deadlines, and pay are decided.

Certifications measure systems — not day-to-day realities.

Fair production doesn’t come from paperwork.
It comes from direct relationships, fair pricing, and realistic production timelines.

4- Doing It Differently

Certifications can be useful tools — but they don’t replace:

• knowing who makes your clothes

• understanding how often products are restocked

• controlling production scale

• being present in the manufacturing process

This is why scale matters more than labels.

Large volumes and constant restocking create pressure — regardless of how many certifications a brand holds.
Small-batch production, on the other hand, allows for better quality control, fairer conditions, and real accountability.

5- What Real Ethics Means

At Seapath, we don’t work through agents or large factories.
We work directly with a small local workshop in northern Portugal.

We know the people who make every sweatshirt and T-shirt.
We agree on fair prices, realistic timelines, and long-term collaboration.

For us, ethics is not a marketing claim — it’s a daily operational choice.

This approach is part of how our clothing is, designed and sustainably made in Portugal, and how we work with responsible materials such as deadstock fabrics.

6 — What Real Ethics Means in Fashion

Fair production means:

• paying enough for workshops to remain viable

• allowing fair wages beyond the legal minimum

• respecting time, craft, and human effort

• building long-term partnerships, not one-off cheap orders

It’s not about having the biggest certification.
It’s about having the smallest possible distance between the brand and the people who make the clothes.

Final Thought

Sustainability is not just about organic fabrics or nice words.
It’s about fairness, transparency, and respect — from start to finish.

A logo can’t make fashion ethical.
People can.

👉 Learn more about how Seapath designs and sustainably makes every piece in Portugal.