Our Ethical Commitment at Mochipan
Ethical fashion can sometimes feel like a buzzword: something reduced to logos or vague promises. At Mochipan, we want to be very clear about what ethics actually mean to us, how we practice them, and where we are still growing.
We don’t currently hold a third-party ethical certification for our main factory (see below for certifications our other factories hold), and that's because we just started this factory up. We absolutely believe it’s reasonable, and even crucial, for customers to be cautious when a brand claims ethical production without formal verification, and we understand that same scrutiny applies to us. The term “ethical manufacturing” is often used loosely in this industry, and we think brands should be held to a higher standard. Ideally, a higher standard that is backed by third-party accountability.
That said, while we do not yet have a certification for our main factory, this does not mean we are not actively practicing and upholding ethical commitments. We have been pursuing certification for some time and fully intend to add third-party verification to our website by late 2026. In the meantime, we believe ethics shouldn’t begin or end with a badge. For us, ethical commitment starts with people, and with making real, tangible choices that prioritize fair pay, humane working conditions, and responsible production.
Paying People Properly, Always
The core of Mochipan’s ethical approach is simple: everyone involved in making our garments is paid fairly for their work.
We own our own factory. As a result, we have direct control over all of the factory workers' salaries, and ensure we are hitting above the average for their job title. Sometimes we outsource to other factories if our workload is too high. In these cases, we work with small, ethical manufacturers who do carry certifications (check the bottom of the page for those applicable certifications). We also ensure that every single employee at Mochipan, whether it is a customer service manager or a designer, is paid fairly for their work and is offered a minimum 6% raise every year.
Here are our commitments:
- Paying above minimum expectations for labor
- Respecting reasonable working hours
- Avoiding exploitative pricing pressures that force factories to cut corners or underpay workers
- Choosing smaller production runs so workers are not pushed into unsafe or unreasonable timelines
- Ensuring the working environment is as comfortable and worker-friendly as possible
Fast fashion often relies on razor‑thin margins that make underpayment inevitable. We choose a different path, even when it costs more. If the people who are involved with making our products are not happy and paid properly, we couldn't live with ourselves.
Small Batch & Thoughtful Production
Mochipan is a very small brand, run by a small team. We intentionally produce in limited quantities and rely heavily on pre‑orders to avoid overproduction, excess waste, and unsold inventory. While we don't consider ourselves "sustainable" per se (it's hard to be truly sustainable in this world), we do prioritize a lot of sustainability practices, such as biodegradable and compostable packaging for products, the previously mentioned small-batch production method, and choosing fabrics that reduce waste in landfills, to name a few.
This approach allows us to:
- Reduce unnecessary textile waste
- Plan production responsibly
- Pay factories fairly without needing to inflate volume
- Focus on quality and longevity rather than speed
Ethical fashion isn’t just about how something is made: it’s also about how much is made.
Why We Don’t Have a Certification For Our In-House Factory (Yet)
Third‑party certifications can be valuable, but they are also expensive, time‑intensive, and often designed with larger brands in mind. Our main factory just got started up this year, and we will likely have to move locations very soon, so the certification process is on pause for a little while.
Rather than diverting funds away from wages to pursue a certification prematurely, we prioritize tangible, real‑world impact right now.
That said, transparency matters to us. We’re committed to continuing these conversations openly, and as Mochipan grows, pursuing formal certifications is absolutely something we want to and intend to explore.
We don’t believe ethical fashion is about being perfect. It’s about making conscious choices, taking responsibility, and being honest about where you are.
We promise to:
- Be transparent about our production process
- Continue prioritizing fair pay and humane working conditions
- Grow thoughtfully and responsibly
- Never compromise worker well‑being for faster turnaround or higher profit
If you ever have questions about how something is made, we welcome them. Ethical fashion should be a dialogue, not a marketing slogan.
Thank you for supporting small, independent brands that choose people over shortcuts.
— The Mochipan Team
Certifications:
