Charles Tyrwhitt
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
London menswear company best known for formal and non-iron shirts.
There's no proof Charles Tyrwhitt pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it doesn't name the factories its amfori BSCI audits cover.
Better-graded suits and tailoring
Graded higher than Charles Tyrwhitt, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
No suits and tailoring brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far. Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record: the most serious problem on its record (forced labour link, last recorded in 2021) was a link through a supplier, which the company has acted on.
- 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 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, where 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, other than one it has put rightIts supply chain was linked to forced labour in 2021, which it has since acted on. That's listed below and no longer counts against the grade.
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton, leather, silk and cashmere) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From press and retailer reports; Charles Tyrwhitt doesn't say where its products are made. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| United Kingdom | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Portugal | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Modern slavery statement
- 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 leather, silk and cashmere in only a few products and doesn't show where they come from. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of them traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Products are made by independent suppliers: 30 Tier 1 suppliers running 49 factories in 12 countries (FY to July 2026), which are not named and no factory list is published. Press reports (2021) name Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Italy, Portugal and Eastern Europe for shirts, a shrinking share in China, and England for shoes and ties. 92% of Tier 1 factories hold a SMETA, BSCI or similar audit. It joined the Ethical Trading Initiative in 2026 as a foundation member; there is no living wage plan or wage data.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | Not rated in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (latest edition); its ethical.org.au profile shows no Ethical Fashion Report score. View |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Not covered | Not among the large brands reviewed in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, which covers brands with turnover above US$400 million. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Publishes annual UK modern slavery statements; the FY2026 statement reports 30 Tier 1 suppliers with 49 factories in 12 countries, 92% holding a valid social audit. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Listed | Company profile lists no allegations and no response requests. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Problem found | Mail on Sunday (2021): company cutting China production and ending Xinjiang cotton supplier contracts from July 2021. View |
Confirmed issues 1
Only confirmed problems are listed, and old ones drop off after 10 to 15 years. A problem the company has fully put right no longer counts against it, and nor does one it finds and is fixing itself. How problems are counted
| Last recorded | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Link through a supplierIn January 2021 Charles Tyrwhitt said it was ending contracts with cotton suppliers in Xinjiang, a region linked to state forced labour, showing it had been sourcing Xinjiang cotton until 2021 (Mail on Sunday, 2021). Source · search the archiveActed on The company has acted on this link, so it no longer counts against the grade. | YesSaid it would end contracts with Xinjiang cotton suppliers from July 2021; its policy now says it uses no Xinjiang cotton. No remedy for workers reported. |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Why Charles Tyrwhitt joined ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative, 2026) · search the archive · Charles Tyrwhitt joined the Ethical Trading Initiative in 2026
- Ethical Fashion Guide 2026 (Baptist World Aid) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report company list; Charles Tyrwhitt not rated
- Shirt firm Charles Tyrwhitt cuts China production after protests by customers (Mail on Sunday, 2021) · search the archive · Shirts made in Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Italy, Portugal, Eastern Europe; China cut back; shoes in Northampton; Xinjiang contracts ending 2021
Published by Charles Tyrwhitt or its owner
- Charles Tyrwhitt Modern Slavery and Ethical Trading Statement (FY ending July 2026) · search the archive · FY to 31 July 2026: 30 Tier 1 suppliers, 49 factories, 12 countries (unnamed); 92% audited (SMETA/BSCI); ETI foundation member
- Ethical trading policy (Charles Tyrwhitt) · search the archive · Shirts use long-staple cotton from China, US and Egypt; says no Xinjiang cotton; code requires wages meeting basic needs
- Provenance (Charles Tyrwhitt) · search the archive · Silk ties from Como and Suffolk, Italian suit cloth, leather shoes made in Northamptonshire; cashmere knitwear in range
- Terms and conditions - Charles Tyrwhitt Australia · search the archive · Australian online store delivers to all Australian states and territories
Company details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Employees
- About 1,156
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Charles Tyrwhitt ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/charles-tyrwhitt, 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 Charles Tyrwhitt.