Tillage Clothing: Clothing That Changes Lives

Tillage Clothing: Clothing That Changes Lives

Can your pants change the world? Abby Farr, the owner of Tillage Clothing, thinks so. 

Tillage Clothing began out of a desire to be an entrepreneur who built the kind of business that made a positive difference in every aspect, from manufacturing to the consumer. 

The word “tillage” means preparing land for cultivation. The long-term goal for Tillage Clothing is to not only make sure all its products are produced ethically and following fair trade practices but to support anyone who has fallen victim to unfair trade practices and human trafficking. 

The Woman Behind the Mission 

Farr grew up in Cincinnati and attended Miami University before heading to California. For 7 1⁄2 years, she enjoyed her time out west. It was while in California that Farr explored different ideas on the type of business she wanted to be. Farr spent years researching various opportunities, from direct trade coffee to fashion. 

Living in a communal apartment complex, Farr could share her ideas with others. Some friends in the fashion industry challenged her to make a pair of pants. Farr de- signed an athleisure pant made with sustainable fabric to be both functional and stylish. With the design in place, Farr was ready to create a business. 

It was essential to Farr that her pants be made ethically. Human trafficking runs rampant in the fashion industry. Cheap prices often accompany slave labor and poor work conditions in manufactured goods. “Tillage Clothing is not interested in the cheaper price without the proper working conditions from those manufacturers,” Farr says. “I want fair wages and good working conditions for anyone involved in the production of our clothes.” 

Farr says her life’s mission is to set the captives free. “I want to use my platform to educate and empower my team to shop consciously and give back generously to the same end.” 

Farr’s mission turned into the mission of Tillage Clothing: “To lead the movement against sex trafficking in the US by creating comfortable, sustainable apparel because consumers deserve to know how their clothes are made and have the opportunity to help set captives free whenever they shop.” 

The Launch of Tillage Clothing 

In 2015, Tillage Clothing was founded. By the spring of 2016, Farr had launched the brand’s website. But the business really took off once Farr returned to Cincinnati and relaunched in 2021. During COVID, athleisure became a staple in women’s and men’s wardrobes. Tillage pants fit that need. Tillage Clothing has since grown by 300% and expanded its line to include totes, T-shirts, headbands and tank tops. 

Farr’s clothing is sold online and now featured wholesale in stores in Alaska, California, South Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio. Most of Tillage Clothing is made in small batches in California, 

enabling the company to ensure the entire production process is paid fairly and in a clean, free and open environment. Shirt are made right here in Cincinnati at Sew Valley. A portion of the profits goes to global organizations ending human trafficking, such as The Aruna Project, Alabaster Jar Project, and BLOC Ministries. 

Farr has many goals for the future of Tillage Clothing. This fall, Tillage will launch a men’s line, continuing the production process in Cincinnati. Her 10-year plan includes building an aftercare home for survivors of human trafficking to help them rebuild and increase their self-worth. 

It’s all getting Farr closer to her long-term goal. 

“I want Tillage Clothing to be the brand that gives the most back.”

Need clothing that changes the world? You can buy locally at SoHza Sister Fairtrade Boutique at 610 Main St., Covington, KY, 41011. Visit tillageclothing.com or on social media @tillageclothing to learn more.

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