FatFace
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
British casual brand selling women's, men's and children's clothing.
FatFace can't show that the workers who make its products in India and Cambodia earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It has no full independent audit.
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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 unaudited production 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 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rights97% of its products are made in countries such as India and China, 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
- 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 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: 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
India has the largest share, 33%. China is next, at 25%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 33% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| China | 25% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Cambodia | 13% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Pakistan | 11% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
| Bangladesh | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Tunisia | 3% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Low |
| Sri Lanka | 1% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 1% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Portugal | 1% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| United Kingdom | under 1% | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Taiwan | under 1% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Publishes supplier list
- Signed the International Accord on garment factory safety
- 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 in only a few products and traces or certifies most of it. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes FatFace's 2026 statement names 129 tier 1 factories in 12 countries, and its 2025 ESG report gives each country's share of buy value (shown here); India, China and Cambodia lead. It has been an ETI member since 2008, is covered by the International Accord in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and NEXT's audit team checks its factories (79% unannounced), with 11 sites in remediation and 4 dropped in 2025-26. It uses Better Cotton, organic cotton and Oritain testing, bans Xinjiang, Uzbek and Turkmen cotton, and buys LWG leather. It has no living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | 2026 statement (year to Jan 2026): 129 tier 1 factories in 12 countries; 126 audits, 79% unannounced; 11 sites in remediation, 4 disengaged. View |
| B Corp directory | Certified | Certified B Corp since 2023; recertified in 2024 with a score of 89.1 (up from 80.4). View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | Not in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report; owner NEXT scored 49/100, but that rating covers only the Next and Lipsy brands. View |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Not covered | Not rated separately in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
Published by FatFace or its owner
- FatFace Tier 1 Factory List, July 2026 · search the archive · 91 tier 1 factories named: China 43, India 24, Cambodia 6, Bangladesh 5, Turkey 4, Pakistan 3, Sri Lanka 2, Tunisia 2, Portugal 1, UK 1
- FatFace Modern Slavery Statement 2026 · search the archive · Year to Jan 2026: 129 factories, 12 countries incl. Taiwan, Vietnam; ETI; Accord; 126 audits; 11 remediating, 4 disengaged; no living wage plan
- FatFace ESG Impact Report 2025 · search the archive · FY25 buy value by country: India 33%, China 24.5%, Cambodia 13%, Pakistan 11%, Bangladesh 7%, Turkey 5%...; B Corp score 89.1
- Our Materials (FatFace) · search the archive · Better Cotton member since 2016 (mass balance); OCS organic; Leather Working Group member, LWG tanneries rated best
- Our Suppliers (FatFace) · search the archive · Publishes tier 1 and nominated tier 2 factory lists, also on Open Supply Hub
- FatFace brand page (Next Australia) · search the archive · FatFace sold online to Australia through Next's Australian site
Company details
- Owned by
- NEXT plc
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Employees
- About 1,893
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is FatFace ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/fatface, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded kids and baby
Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent FatFace.