Kendra Scott
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources
Texas fashion jewellery company selling earrings and necklaces.
Until Kendra Scott traces its gold and gemstones to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
Other fashion jewellery brands
Nothing we've rated in fashion jewellery is better than Lacks transparency yet.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace. That alone means a poor grade until it takes steps to trace them.
- 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 rightsJudged on where jewellery and watches are usually made: worker rights are poorly protected in India, China and Thailand.
- 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: Conflict-free: diamonds, gems and gold traced to the mine, lab-grown, recycled or Fairmined (the Kimberley Process alone isn't enough)
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace
- Red flag: Fails its category's raw-material check (means Lacks transparency)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
We couldn't confirm where Kendra Scott makes most of its products, so this shows where jewellery and watches are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 30% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| China | 30% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | 20% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy | 10% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Switzerland | 10% | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: gold and gemstone mining are linked to child labour, forced labour and mercury poisoning.
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Relies on gold and gemstones from artisanal mines where workers face mercury poisoning, silica dust and deadly collapses. It hasn't shown any steps to trace these materials to the mine, so it's graded Lacks transparency until it does.
Research notes Kendra Scott does not say where its jewellery is made or name its suppliers. Its California supply chain disclosure says vendors must follow a code of conduct banning forced and child labour and must provide an annual third-party audit or independent inspection, and that it prioritises RJC certified suppliers; it is not itself an RJC member. No audit results, recycled metal figures or living wage commitments are published. Its diamond pieces use lab-grown stones.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion Report (latest edition 2024) does not assess jewellery brands. (2024 edition; latest is 2026) View |
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- InStore - Kendra Scott receives investment from private equity firm · search the archive · 2024: over 2,600 employees, 130+ stores, Austin HQ; founder keeps majority stake
- Retail Dive - Kendra Scott launches lab-grown diamond collection · search the archive · Lab-grown diamond collection of 19 styles launched March 2024
Published by Kendra Scott or its owner
- Kendra Scott - Supply Chain Transparency Disclosure · search the archive · Vendor code of conduct; annual third-party audits or independent inspections; prioritises RJC certified suppliers; no countries named
- Kendra Scott - International Orders · search the archive · Ships internationally to more than 175 countries through Global-e; no stores outside the US
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Employees
- About 2,600
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Kendra Scott ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/kendra-scott, 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 Kendra Scott.