Labour Lens

Briggs & Riley

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Clothing & footwear

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources

US luggage brand selling premium suitcases and business bags.

We couldn't confirm where Briggs & Riley makes most of its premium luggage and travel bags.

Also worth knowing

Most clothes and shoes are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, where pay is usually below a living wage and unions are heavily restricted.

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

  • Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
  • Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a hidden, unaudited supply chain, probably in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
  • 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.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 2 of 6

  • Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
  • Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere clothes and shoes are usually made, such as China and Bangladesh, unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
  • Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
  • Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
  • Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
  • Met: High-risk raw materials (such as cotton and leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range

Red flags 2

  • Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
  • Red flag: Hidden supply chain, probably mostly in countries with poor worker rights

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

Not confirmed

We couldn't confirm where Briggs & Riley makes most of its products, so this shows where clothes and shoes are usually made.

Where it's made, share by country, and conditions there
CountryShareWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
China30%No guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
Bangladesh20%No guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
Vietnam15%Systematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
India10%No guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
Cambodia8%No guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
Türkiye7%No guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageVery high
Indonesia5%No guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate
Pakistan5%No guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageHigh

Evidence

What we found

  • No high-risk raw materials (such as cotton and leather) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
  • Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)

Research notes Briggs & Riley does not disclose where its luggage is made, and publishes no supplier list, code of conduct, audit information or modern slavery statement. Retail listings suggest most products are made in China, but the company does not confirm this. Its range is mainly nylon and other synthetics, with some recycled fabrics in newer lines.

Sources and actions

Sources 4

Show all 4 sources
  1. Trust in transit: Richard Krulik (Travelling for Business, 2026) · search the archive · Krulik owns the company since 2000; newer lines use recycled fabrics; no factory information given
  2. Is Briggs & Riley worth it? (Expert World Travel) · search the archive · Company does not disclose where products are made; Amazon listings show China as country of origin
  3. Briggs & Riley Sympatico cabin bag - Selfridges Australia · search the archive · Briggs & Riley luggage can be ordered online with delivery to Australia
  4. Briggs & Riley - Wikipedia · search the archive · Private US company in Hauppauge, New York; bought in 2000 by Richard Krulik and U.S. Luggage LLC

Company details

Headquarters
United States
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Briggs & Riley ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/briggs-riley, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method
Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means

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Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.

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Something missing or wrong?

Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Briggs & Riley.

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