Everlane
Partly verifiedEverlane raises serious concerns: workers in Vietnam, China and Sri Lanka are very unlikely to earn a living wage, and it scores poorly on independent ratings. An internal investigation reported by the New York Times in July 2020 found that Everlane leadership had used disparaging language about Black models and employees and that the company lacked formal processes for handling harassment and discrimination complaints (Retail Brew, 2020).
Last researched 7 October 2026
Not doing enough. Workers in the supply chain are likely underpaid, unprotected or in danger, and in the worst cases face forced or child labour. Look for a better-graded alternative. What this grade means
Good: 3 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: 0 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: 2
- Does not pay a living wage
- Failing or very low scores on independent ratings
Where it's made
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam 32% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy 21% | Strong protections | Slightly below a living wage | Low |
| China 21% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Sri Lanka 10% | Regular violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Peru 6% | Regular violations | Well below a living wage | Low |
| Brazil 5% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Spain 5% | Strong protections | Slightly 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.
- Publishes supplier list
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Modern slavery statement
- Uses high-risk raw materials (e.g. leather tanning, mica, artisanal gold)
- Low or failing score on an independent rating
- Uses higher-risk raw materials such as leather that aren't traced to the farm. This is noted as a risk but doesn't decide the grade.
Everlane publishes a list of its main factories, mostly in Vietnam, Italy, China and Sri Lanka, and discloses Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers on Open Supply Hub, but does not publish production volumes by country. It says all Tier 1 factories receive annual semi-announced social audits by the firm ELEVATE plus unannounced quarterly checks, but it does not publish audit results and gives no evidence that factory workers earn a living wage. The brand was bought by fast-fashion retailer Shein in 2026, and the people section of its 2025 impact report has not been published.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | Not among the brands graded in the Ethical Fashion Report. View ↗ |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Not listed | Not among the brands reviewed in the Fashion Transparency Index, which covers larger brands. View ↗ |
| B Corp directory | Not listed | No Everlane listing in the B Corp directory. View ↗ |
| Fair Wear | Not listed | Not a Fair Wear member brand. View ↗ |
| Open Supply Hub | Found | Everlane says it discloses its Tier 1, 1A and Tier 2 suppliers on Open Supply Hub. View ↗ |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Found | Company page tagged with freedom of association, labour rights and forced labour topics, with no response requests or lawsuits recorded. View ↗ |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Not listed | No Australian modern slavery statement; Everlane is a US company with no Australian reporting entity. View ↗ |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Not listed | No UK modern slavery statement; the company instead publishes California and Canadian supply chain disclosures. View ↗ |
Confirmed issues
Problems confirmed by a court, regulator, completed investigation or the company itself. Issues more than 15 years old, or 10–15 years old where the company made amends, are removed. Problems a company finds and publishes itself, and is fixing, are shown but don't count against it.
| When | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | An internal investigation reported by the New York Times in July 2020 found that Everlane leadership had used disparaging language about Black models and employees and that the company lacked formal processes for handling harassment and discrimination complaints (Retail Brew, 2020). | Not known |
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 Communications Workers of America-affiliated Everlane Union accused the company of union busting after it laid off 42 of 57 customer experience staff in March 2020, four days after the union asked for recognition; Everlane blamed the pandemic, and the union dropped its unfair labour practice charge in August 2020 (Fashionista, Ecotextile News, 2020). Source ↗
Sources (12)
- Everlane – Factories · archived copy · Lists 19 factories: 6 in Vietnam, 4 in Italy, 4 in China, 2 in Sri Lanka, 1 each in Brazil, Spain and Peru, including leather shoe and sandal makers; production shares are approximated from factory co
- Everlane – Social Responsibility · archived copy · 100% of Tier 1 factories and strategic Tier 2 suppliers audited annually by ELEVATE; worker sentiment surveys; signed the Transparency Pledge and discloses suppliers on Open Supply Hub; no living wage
- Everlane – Supply Chain Transparency Disclosures · archived copy · Annual semi-announced full audits and unannounced quarterly observation audits by accredited third parties; California Supply Chains Act disclosure and a report under Canada's Bill S-211 forced and ch
- Everlane – Impact Report · archived copy · 2025 impact report covers carbon and materials only; the 'Do Right By People' supply-chain section is still to come.
- Good On You – Everlane · archived copy · People rating 'Not Good Enough' (2 of 5), July 2023: no evidence of living wages in the supply chain.
- Eco-Stylist – Is Everlane Getting More Sustainable? · archived copy · Says Everlane could ensure most makers earn a living wage; removed its Eco-Stylist certification after the Shein acquisition.
- Shein acquires Everlane – Retail Insight Network · archived copy · Shein agreed to buy full ownership of Everlane for about $100 million in May 2026.
- Chinese fast-fashion juggernaut Shein to buy eco-friendly Everlane – BNN Bloomberg (AP) · archived copy · Acquisition announced 22 May 2026; L Catterton had been majority owner since 2020; San Francisco headquarters.
- NYT reports results of internal Everlane investigation – Retail Brew · archived copy · Internal investigation found disparaging language about Black models and employees and no formal processes for harassment and discrimination complaints.
- Everlane union busting COVID-19 – Fashionista · archived copy · 42 of 57 customer experience staff laid off on 27 March 2020, four days after a union recognition request; NLRB charge filed April 2020; company denied targeting the union.
- Workers' union drops charges against Everlane – Ecotextile News · archived copy · Union dropped its union-busting charges in August 2020.
- Everlane – Business & Human Rights Resource Centre · archived copy · Company page tagged with freedom of association and labour rights; no response requests or lawsuit profiles.
Last researched 7 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.