Receiving the Fair Wear stamp of approval does not guarantee any existing quality of labour standards; instead it only demonstrates a stated interest in working toward improvement.

[4] The Fair Wear Code of Labour Practices is known for its strong provisions on freedom of association, hours of work, and a living wage.

Fair Wear encourages change by conducting brand performance checks, audits, training, and by operating complaints helplines in 11 countries.

[8] During a Fair Wear audit, a worker interviewer, a documents inspector and a health and safety specialist work toward discovering underlying problems.

When a garment worker lodges a complaint, Fair Wear launches an investigation and requires the brand to work with the supplier to remediate the problem.

[12] Fair Wear does not certify products, brands, or factories, relying instead on a "process approach" that claims to insist on constant progress toward the standards it supports.

Fair Wear works with a range of stakeholders and other organisations in order to develop sustainable systems for good workplace conditions.

Fair Wear works on enabling an influencing environment for multiple actors: governments, international organisations, UN bodies, and stakeholders.

Fair Wear brings different players together at every level – from boardroom decisions to workplace assessments – so that brands, business associations, trade unions, governments and NGOs all have a voice.