BRITT HOWARD
Founder of Portland Garment Factory
What defines the modern factory? Is it technology and equipment? The ability to produce a quality product with a short turnaround? Portland Garment Factory founder Britt Howard believes that to be a truly contemporary manufacturing shop means taking a direction from a progressive compass. PGF is guided by feminist business practices, striving for diversity, family values, and conditions in the workplace.
Since 2008, the factory has been designing and hand producing top-quality fashion pieces, art, soft goods and installations for a wide range of clients. With a family of 15 employees in their zero-waste facility, they not only set a standard of quality construction but virtuous principles.
PGF was recently certified as a B corp for their dedication to people, planet and sustainable profits. They collaborate with community organizations, educators and artists, support Blue Sky Renewable Energy and donate five percent of their profits each year to initiatives they believe in.
And as any entrepreneur will tell you, moving toward more ethical policies is an awful lot of work. It means longer hours, attention to your employees’ fulfillment. “I believe in starting with my own company, using my platform to create the kind of world that I want to see,” says Howard, “And that creates an added layer of work. That’s what I appreciate about Danner. I won’t have the energy to go that extra mile if I’m hurting by the end of the day.”
Learn more about PFG at portlandgarmentfactory.com and @portlandgarmentfactory.