We work with the best factories in the world. And only work with factories that share our ethos. A factory isn’t just a building. It’s a group of people — making your gear, handling your materials, shaping your impact. That’s why we’re careful about who we partner with.

Every Alpkit supplier goes through a strict screening process. It’s more than a tick-box exercise. It’s a values test.

We start with the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code — a globally recognised set of principles based on ILO standards. No child labour. Fair pay. Safe conditions. From there, we apply our Code of Conduct, which sets out expectations for working hours, freedom of association, and no forced labour.

We check for modern slavery red flags, and we don’t allow subcontracting without consent. If we’re going to trust someone with your jacket, we need to know who’s sewing it.

We say no to cotton from high-risk regions, no to minerals from conflict zones, and no to hazardous chemicals — backed by our Restricted Substances List.

We also ask our partners to show us their own plan — how they protect human rights, reduce environmental impact, and promote social justice. This isn’t just about rules. It’s about shared values.

And yes — it’s hard. Supply chains are murky, especially for smaller brands. But we’re proud to work with some of the best factories in the world, many of whom also make for leading US and European outdoor brands.

If you want to build a better business, you have to start with better relationships. And we believe transparency is the best tool for trust.