FRAME
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
Los Angeles fashion brand selling premium denim and ready-to-wear.
There's no proof FRAME pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Türkiye is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Better-graded everyday fashion
Graded higher than FRAME, 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 FRAME? Send a right of reply.
Compare FRAME 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 countries such as China and 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, 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: 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
From product labels; FRAME 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 |
| Türkiye | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very 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 |
| United States | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| 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
- 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 FRAME does not say where its clothing is made or name its factories. Retailer listings say its jeans are made in the USA, while others label some jeans and jackets made in Turkey and cardigans made in China; no shares are known. It names one materials vendor, Peruvian alpaca maker Incalpaca. Suppliers sign an agreement and a code of conduct it says covers living wages, but it only reserves the right to audit, and publishes no supplier list, audit results, wage data or living wage plan. It reports a growing share of 'responsible' denim but gives no traceability for its cotton.
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- FRAME Le Crop Mini Boot jeans (Selfridges) · search the archive · Retailer states every pair of FRAME jeans is made in the USA; cotton-based denim
- REVOLVE: FRAME jeans listings · search the archive · FRAME Rodeo, Icon, Icon Long and Pixie jeans listed 'Made in Turkey'
- REVOLVE: FRAME jackets listings · search the archive · 9 FRAME jackets/outerwear listed 'Made in Turkey'
- REVOLVE: FRAME knitwear listings · search the archive · 6 FRAME cardigans listed 'Made in China'
Published by FRAME or its owner
- FRAME - Sustainability · search the archive · Supplier code covers living wages; names alpaca vendor Incalpaca; organic Pima cotton, Bluesign silk, recycled cashmere; no factories named
- FRAME - California Transparency in Supply Chains Act · search the archive · Vendors sign a supplier agreement; FRAME reserves the right to require third-party audits; no production locations given
- FRAME - About · search the archive · Founded in Los Angeles in 2012 by Jens Grede and Erik Torstensson; sells through own stores, online and retailers
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is FRAME ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/frame, 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 FRAME.