Fossil
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
Texas brand selling watches, leather bags, wallets and jewellery.
There's no proof Fossil pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Fossil? Send a right of reply.
Compare Fossil 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 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 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 India, 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 (leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: leather
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
Fossil names some of the countries it makes in: China and India. 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 |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| 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 |
| 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
- Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)
- Doesn't show where its leather comes from. Leather is linked to hazardous tannery work and forced labour on some cattle ranches, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
Research notes Fossil's watches, jewellery and leather goods are mostly made by independent manufacturers, with China the source of a substantial majority of imports and a small owned watch assembly site in India; no shares by country or supplier list are published. Tier 1 and, since 2025, key Tier 2 factories are audited by staff and third-party firms, mostly with notice, and the company says it is not aware of forced or child labour; it began supply chain mapping in 2025. It has no living wage commitment. Leather is used in bags, belts, wallets and many watch straps; the group is a Leather Working Group member but does not disclose where its leather comes from.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Listed | Fossil Group scored 16% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, below the 26% average. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Fossil Group's FY2025 supply chain statement (UK, California and Canada laws) describes mostly announced audits of Tier 1 and some Tier 2 factories and supply chain mapping begun in 2025. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Listed | Company profile records one Philippines supplier story (2020) with one response request, answered. View |
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.
- Fossil was asked to respond after workers at FPF Corporation, a Philippine garment and bag factory, said they were kept on unpaid 'floating status' for over six months during COVID-19 without reinstatement; Fossil said suppliers must follow its code (Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, 2020). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Fossil Australia - Shop Ethical (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · FTI 2023 16%; Leather Working Group member; no Ethical Fashion Report score
- Fossil Group's response (BHRRC) · search the archive · Fossil responded in December 2020 to FPF Corporation dismissal allegations
- Fossil Group Form 10-K, Fiscal 2024 · search the archive · Products mostly made by independent makers, mainly in China; China a substantial majority of imports; owned watch assembly in India
- Fossil Group Form 10-K, Fiscal 2025 · search the archive · About 4,500 staff; China a substantial majority of imports; limited watch assembly at an owned site in India; audits mostly announced
Published by Fossil or its owner
- Fossil Group Supply Chain Disclosure FY2025 · search the archive · Statement for year to Dec 2025 (approved Mar 2026); announced audits; mapping begun 2025; no supplier list or living wage commitment
- Social Compliance Statement (Fossil Group) · search the archive · Annual Tier 1 audits by internal team and third parties as needed; Tier 2 audits from 2025
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Employees
- About 4,500
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Fossil ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/fossil, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded bags and accessories
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Fossil.