How does the accreditation process work?

  • The first step to accreditation is filling out our accreditation form in full. If you’d like to preview the form first, you can do so here.

    If you are not sure that you have all required information, or you have questions about the form, you can contact us for assistance at info@collectivefashionjustice.org before making your submission. Partially filled accreditation forms will not be accepted.

    The accreditation form is broken into five parts: company information, CFJ preferred materials and dyes, living wages and fair working conditions, responsible production and promotion, and assurance.

  • Here’s what the accreditation process will look like, from submission to successful accreditation:

    1. Apply – the first step to accreditation is to complete our application form in full. If you are not sure that you have all the required information, you can contact us for assistance at info@collectivefashionjustice.org.

    2. Initial assessment – Once you have completed the application form, you can expect a response from a dedicated CFJ account manager within 10 business days. Your account manager will review your application and let you know if any further information and documentation is required. They will be able to assist you with any questions you may have relating to required and accepted types and formats of documentation.

    3. Verification – following initial assessment by your account manager, the application and all supporting documentation will be verified by a dedicated accreditation analysts.

    4. Award - if your product, collection or brand has been successful in receiving approval, your CFJ accreditation analyst will formally notify you of your approval. If your product, collection or brand are not found to be eligible for accreditation at this point, your analyst can provide feedback on key areas for improvement and information about our consultation offerings.

    5. Licence fee & agreement – following official approval, your account manager will then provide your licence agreement and fee invoice.

    6. Issuance – upon receipt of payment and the signed licence agreement, CFJ will issue your formal accreditation together with detailed usage guidelines.

What support does my brand get?

  • Each brand working for CFJ’s base values accreditation will be supported by a dedicated account manager, as well as an analyst.

    Dedicated account manager:

    Your account manager will support you in your application and help you through the process of providing everything we need to get your product or collection approved. Your account manager will also contact and support you through your annual renewal process.

    Dedicated accreditation analyst:

    You will also be assigned an expert accreditation analyst who conducts all verification of your application and supporting documentation, and approves accreditation.

  • All approved products, collections and brands must be reviewed annually, and as a part of this review, brands will receive free consultation on how they can continue to improve their brand in order to protect people, animals and the planet.

What can a brand gain from accreditation?

  • Brands that achieve accreditation (whether for the entire brand, a collection or product), will receive a listing on our fashion directory, where we will regularly direct our community asking ‘where can I buy more responsible clothing?’.

    Our approved products, collections and brands, and our brand directory are promoted on other ethical and sustainable fashion websites.

    Further, a growing number of online marketplaces and retailers recognise our accreditation, promoting approved products and brands through their sites.

  • Once your product, collection or brand is approved, you will receive guidelines on how you can promote this achievement, as well as a media kit to use. This kit includes:

    • CFJ base value accreditation logos and a style guide for their most effective use

    • A draft press release to announce your accreditation, including x1 quote from our founding director, Emma Hakansson, on the importance of your brand to the fashion industry’s progression towards total ethics

  • All products, collections or brands awarded with our accreditation must pay a licensing fee to cover the cost of the detailed assessment and use of the accreditation. This accreditation and license fee must be reviewed and paid annually.

    The fees vary depending on whether you are seeking a product, collection or whole brand accreditation, and are assessed on sliding scale based on annual revenue. Below are costs associated with individual product accreditation for your revenue bracket.

    Collections and whole brands are quoted on a case by case basis, in order to protect brands with small collections and offerings from paying the same price as a brand with more products, which would require more assessment work. Our pricing for collections and brands is not multiplied by the number of products, but made to be as affordable as possible for your price bracket, based on required work for the variety of products being assessed.

    0 - $100,000 = $100
    >$100,000 — $300,000 = $150
    >$300,000 — $500,000 = $200
    >$500,000 — $750,000 = $300
    >$750,000 — $1,000,000 = $400
    >$1,000,000 — $2,500,000 = $600
    >$2,500,000 — $5,000,000 = $1,000
    >$5,000,000 = Based on size of your business: please reach out

    (USD)

    To receive a quote for collection or whole brand accreditation, email info@collectivefashionjustice.org

Ready to apply for accreditation?