Banana Republic
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Based on what Banana Republic publishes, with few independent checks. Researched with AI assistance against published rules. Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources · How we check
US fashion brand selling men's and women's clothing and tailoring.
Banana Republic can't show that the workers who make its products in Vietnam and Indonesia earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements, with 1 red flag.Open why it has this gradeClose why it has this grade
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in Vietnam, Indonesia and China.
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No confirmed child or forced labour findings or linksAn unconfirmed report of forced labour is listed below. It doesn't affect the grade.
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier list
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton and cashmere) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
| Star | Awarded for |
|---|---|
| Gives workers a real voice |
Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Vietnam 35%, Indonesia 24%, China 15% and 5 more countries.Open where it's madeClose where it's made
From Gap's supplier list, which covers Banana Republic and its sister brands. Banana Republic publishes no breakdown of its own, so these are group-wide shares. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | 35% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | 24% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | 15% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | 10% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | 4% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | 4% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | 3% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
1 unconfirmed report, 7 things we found and what 5 independent sources say.Open the evidenceClose the evidence
What we found
- Publishes supplier list
- Signed the International Accord on garment factory safety Source
- Modern slavery statement
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Actively empowers workers (ownership, worker committees, union agreements, training)
- Doesn't show where its cotton comes from. Cotton is linked to forced labour in Xinjiang and Turkmenistan, and child labour in several growing regions, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
- Uses cashmere in only a few products and doesn't show where it comes from. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Banana Republic's products are made by independent suppliers in Gap Inc.'s shared sourcing base of about 200 vendors in about 30 countries; Vietnam (about 27%) and Indonesia (about 21%) are the largest by purchase value, with other sources in South and Southeast Asia and Central America. Gap Inc. publishes a group-wide factory list but no Banana Republic breakdown, signs the International Accord and says all Tier 1 factories are assessed yearly. Gap Inc. scored 45/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, but has no public living wage target. Banana Republic began Fair Trade factory sourcing with one factory in 2024.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportAnother organisation's rating | Owner scored 45/100 | Owner Gap Inc. (brands Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta) scored 45 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5). View |
| Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (World Benchmarking Alliance)Another organisation's rating | Owner scored 37.5/100 | Gap Inc. scored 37.5 out of 100 in the 2026 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark. View |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution)Another organisation's rating | Owner scored 48.1% | Gap Inc. scored 120.3 out of 250 (48%) in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Statement filed | Covered by Gap Inc.'s FY2025 UK, California and Canadian modern slavery statement; it reports all tier 1 factories assessed and one unauthorised subcontracting case that led to termination. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | On file | Banana Republic profile records no response requests; Gap Inc. has a Global Framework Agreement with a global union and publishes its factory list. 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.
- The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's 2020 'Uyghurs for Sale' report named Gap among brands sourcing from factories in China that used Uyghur workers transferred from Xinjiang; the report did not say which Gap Inc. brands were affected (Baptist World Aid, 2020). Source
Sources and actions
7 sources, company details, and how to send evidence or a right of reply.Open the sources and company detailsClose the sources and company details
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- The Gap Inc. - Shop Ethical! (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Gap Inc. 45/100; brands include Banana Republic; CHRB 2026 37.5
- Banana Republic, part of Gap (BHRRC) · search the archive · No response requests; Global Framework Agreement; no evidence of living wages (Fashion Checker); FTI 2023 120.3/250
- Major fashion brands implicated in forced labour in China (Baptist World Aid) · search the archive · ASPI 2020 report named Gap among brands linked to Uyghur labour transfers
Published by Banana Republic or its owner
- Gap Inc. UK Modern Slavery Act / CA / Canada statement (FY2025) · search the archive · About 200 vendors in about 30 countries; Vietnam ~27%, Indonesia ~21% of purchases; 100% Tier 1 assessed; International and Pakistan Accord
- Gap Inc. ESG resources (factory list, February 2026) · search the archive · Gap Inc. publishes a group-wide factory list (February 2026)
- Gap Inc. 2024 Impact Report · search the archive · Banana Republic onboarded one Fair Trade factory in 2024; 98% of cotton from 'more sustainable' sources; wage tool pilots, no living wage target
- Banana Republic cashmere (bananarepublic.gap.com) · search the archive · Sells a dedicated cashmere range
Company details
- Owned by
- Gap Inc.
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Banana Republic ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/banana-republic, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Banana Republic.
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