Citizens of Humanity
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Los Angeles premium denim company selling jeans and jackets.
There's no proof Citizens of Humanity pays more than the legal minimum, which in Türkiye and the United States is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Better-graded everyday fashion
Graded higher than Citizens of Humanity, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
None of the everyday fashion brands we know to make jeans is Good yet. These are the strongest so far. The Social Studio, Middlemost and The Social Outfit are Good, but we don't know that they make jeans. Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Citizens of Humanity? Send a right of reply.
Compare Citizens of Humanity with another brand
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 a hidden, unaudited supply chain 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.
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 Türkiye, 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 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
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton and leather) 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: Hidden supply chain, 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
Citizens of Humanity says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Türkiye | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| United States | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
- 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 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 Citizens of Humanity says most of its products are made in its own sewing and laundry facilities in Turkey and Los Angeles, with some work done by third-party factories near them; it gives no split by country or factory list. Its California supply chain disclosure says it does not audit third-party suppliers, relying on a signed code of conduct, and gives no forced labour training. No living wage commitment, independent certification or Ethical Fashion Report rating was found. It runs a regenerative cotton programme with US farms, but the share of cotton covered is not reported.
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Citizens of Humanity bets on regenerative cotton (Business of Fashion) · search the archive · About a third of cotton from six named US regenerative farms; target of 70% by 2024 with Turkish mill Orta Anadolu
- How Citizens of Humanity escaped the private equity growth trap (Puck) · search the archive · Management bought back investor stakes in 2017; company owns Citizens of Humanity and AGOLDE
Published by Citizens of Humanity or its owner
- How We Are Made - Citizens of Humanity · search the archive · Vertically integrated; company-owned sewing and laundry facilities in Los Angeles and Turkey plus select partners; 250 sewing staff
- CA Supply Chains Act - Citizens of Humanity · search the archive · Made in California and Turkey in owned, affiliated or nearby third-party facilities; no formal audits of third-party suppliers; no training
- Sustainability Report - Citizens of Humanity · search the archive · Made most often in facilities it owns; recycled leather patches on back waistband; no certifications or audits named
- Regenerative Cotton Program - Citizens of Humanity · search the archive · Works with regenerative cotton farmers in the US and abroad; US farms verified to AEA Integrity Grown standard; no share stated
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Citizens of Humanity ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/citizens-of-humanity, 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 Citizens of Humanity.