FAQs

ABOUT MADE FREE® 


HOW DOES EACH PURCHASE CREATE FREEDOM?

Every MADE FREE® product helps fund a day of freedom for a maker. By providing safe, sustainable jobs, we help break cycles of poverty and exploitation.

 

IS MADE FREE® A BUSINESS OR A NON-PROFIT?

We are a low profit social enterprise company with a mission to provide life-changing jobs over profits. 

 

HOW DO YOU FIND THE MAKERS THAT YOU WORK WITH?

We partner with trusted organizations in South Asia that serve vulnerable communities. These partners share our values and help us connect with makers who benefit most from life-changing work.


HOW MUCH ARE THE MAKERS PAID?

Our makers earn wages at a level that meets or exceeds international fair trade standards and local wage requirements. In most cases, 5X more than what they would be paid without this life-changing job.


WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MAKERS?

Visit our Meet the Makers page to read stories of the makers whose lives are being transformed by your purchases.

 

WHAT STANDARDS DO YOUR FACTORIES FOLLOW?

Our factories are SEDEX Certified and meet or exceed World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) standards, including:

  • Livable wages & income security

  • Safe working conditions and the right to unionize

  • Community development and local economic growth

  • Sustainability & environmental protection

 

SUSTAINABILITY & MATERIALS

 

WHAT IS MADE FREE®’S COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT?

At MADE FREE®, we believe caring for people and caring for the planet go hand in hand. While our mission is to create dignified jobs that help prevent exploitation, we also work to reduce our environmental impact wherever we can.

We thoughtfully choose materials such as organic cotton, recycled materials, and eco-friendly vegetable-tanned leather whenever possible. We also design our products to last, encouraging long-term use rather than frequent replacement.

We know sustainability is about more than the materials used—it's about creating products responsibly, supporting the people who make them, and reducing waste along the way.


WHAT MAKES MADE FREE® BAGS SUSTAINABLE?

We use 100% organic cotton canvas, biodegradable vegetable-tanned leather, and recycled materials. Our lifetime guarantee encourages fewer, longer-lasting purchases, helping reduce fashion waste.

 

WHAT IS ECO-FRIENDLY LEATHER?

Eco-friendly leather is vegetable-tanned, chromium-free, and biodegradable. All of our leather comes from recycled byproducts, helping reduce waste.

 

PRODUCTS & CARE

 

WHAT TYPES OF BAGS DO YOU OFFER?

Our collections include:

  • Backpacks (for school, work, and travel)

  • Tote bags (everyday carry)

  • Hip packs (hands-free essentials)

  • Leather goods (duffles, clutches, totes)

  • Market totes (eco-friendly shopping bags)


HOW DO I CARE FOR MY MADE FREE® BAG?

Spot clean with water. A fabric or leather protector can be applied to canvas or leather to help guard against the elements and staining.

 

DO YOU OFFER A LIFETIME GUARANTEE?

Yes. Every bag is backed by our lifetime guarantee. If something goes wrong, we’ll repair or replace it—helping you buy less and carry longer.

 

If you have a question that is not addressed, please email us at:

 contact@madefree.co