Armedangels
VerifiedArmedangels is working towards a living wage through its Fair Wear membership, which requires a living wage plan, with no serious warning signs. It just can't yet prove workers earn one.
Last researched 9 October 2026
Heading in the right direction. Workers are paid enough to live on, or the company is certified as working towards it, and there are no serious warning signs. One piece is still unproven. What this grade means
Good: 4 of 5
- Pays a living wage
- Respects worker rights
- Full supply chain audit, or made only in countries with rigorous labour standards
- No child or forced labour findings
- Publishes where its products are made (supplier list, named farms or its own factories)
Great: 2 of 3
- Pays beyond a living wage
- Finds and fixes problems, or invests directly in workers' communities
- Actively empowers workers
Needs all Good requirements plus two of these.
Red flags: 0
None found.
Where it's made
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal 47% | Strong protections | Below a living wage | Low |
| Türkiye 36% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Tunisia 13% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Morocco 1% | Regular violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy 1% | Strong protections | Slightly below a living wage | Low |
| Germany 1% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Romania 1% | Some protections | Below a living wage | Low |
Country conditions from the ITUC Global Rights Index, Global Slavery Index and living wage benchmarks. Certifications and audits can raise a company above its countries' baseline.
Why this grade
- Cotton is linked to forced labour (Xinjiang, Turkmenistan) and child labour in several growing regions. (partly offset by certification or direct sourcing)
- Fair Wear member: Independent factory audits, worker complaints helpline and a living wage roadmap.
- GOTS organic: Organic textile standard with social criteria; audits are announced and living wage is not required.
- Publishes supplier list
- Proves a living wage for part of its supply chain only
ARMEDANGELS has been a Fair Wear member since 2015 and was rated Leader in its 2024 Brand Performance Check (covering 2023). Most production is in Portugal, Türkiye and Tunisia, and 97% of production locations are disclosed on Fair Wear's transparency portal. Fair Wear found wages are on average still below living wages; the brand aims to pay 20% above minimum wage at all suppliers and has paid a living wage bonus at one Turkish factory since 2020, but has no dated plan to reach living wages across its supply chain.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fair Wear | Found | Fair Wear member since 2015, rated Leader in the 2024 Brand Performance Check covering 2023. View ↗ |
| OpenCorporates | Found | Social Fashion Company GmbH, registered in Cologne (HRB 59603), with no insolvency filings recorded. View ↗ |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Unclear | Does not appear to be graded in the Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report. View ↗ |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Unclear | Not shown among brands scored in the Fashion Transparency Index. View ↗ |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No supply chain labour allegations against ARMEDANGELS are recorded. View ↗ |
Unconfirmed reports
Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.
- In May 2026 Der Spiegel reported accounts from 16 former head-office employees of heavy work pressure and harsh dismissals; the company acknowledged that some managers had acted wrongly in the past and said consequences followed. The reports concern office staff, not factory workers. Source ↗
Sources (8)
- Fair Wear Brand Performance Check: ARMEDANGELS 2024 · archived copy · Leader category, benchmarking score 77 for 2023; production volume Portugal 48.23%, Türkiye 35.84%, Tunisia 12.84%, Morocco 1.32%, Italy 0.78%, Germany 0.7%, Romania 0.29%; 97% of production locations
- Fair Wear: ARMEDANGELS brand page · archived copy · Member since 2015; latest benchmarking score 85.
- ARMEDANGELS: Living Wage Project · archived copy · Living wage mark-up at Mergü factory in Türkiye shared with other brands; goal to pay 20% above minimum wages at all suppliers, no deadline.
- FashionUnited: Armedangels Action Report 2023 · archived copy · About EUR 182,290 paid in living wage bonus to around 120 Mergü workers, Dec 2020 to end 2023; suppliers in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Tunisia and Turkey.
- Good On You: ARMEDANGELS · archived copy · Rated Great for people; Fair Wear Leader; GOTS certified; some final-stage workers paid living wages.
- t-online: Ex-employees raise allegations against Armedangels · archived copy · Spiegel report (May 2026) on head-office working conditions and company response; about 185 employees and nearly EUR 90m revenue in 2025; no insolvency or financial trouble mentioned.
- North Data: Social Fashion Company GmbH · archived copy · No insolvency proceedings recorded for the operating company; six active shareholders.
- Wikipedia: Armedangels · archived copy · Founded 2007 in Cologne as Social Fashion Company GmbH by Anton Jurina and Martin Höfeler.
Last researched 9 October 2026 · details still being verified. Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Represent this company and think something is wrong? A right-of-reply form is coming soon.