Kenzo
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources
Paris fashion house known for tiger motif sweatshirts.
Kenzo is rated as part of a company that scored 21/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, and it has no full independent audit.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Kenzo? Send a right of reply.
Compare Kenzo with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production in high-risk countries and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 21/100 in 2026, for the company it's rated with). 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 rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, 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
- Met: High-risk raw materials (cotton, leather and natural rubber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeTraced or certified: cotton. Only in a few products: leather and natural rubber
Red flags 3
- 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
- Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 21/100 (2026, the company it's rated with)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From product labels; Kenzo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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
- Passes the raw-material check for clothes and shoes: traces or certifies its cotton.
- Modern slavery statement
- Uses leather and natural rubber 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.
- Traces or certifies most but not all of its cotton. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Kenzo does not name its production countries or publish a supplier list; retail labels show its cotton sweatshirts made in Portugal. Its UK modern slavery statement for 2024 says suppliers sign the LVMH code, audits are run and a risk mapping of key suppliers is under way, but gives no audit numbers or results. LVMH's Fair Wage Principles apply, with no independent proof of living wages; parent LVMH scored 21/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report. Kenzo has not been named in Italy's 2025-26 subcontractor probes. Cotton tracing figures are LVMH group-wide.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Parent LVMH scored 21 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5); Kenzo is not scored separately. View |
| Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (World Benchmarking Alliance) | Listed | Parent LVMH scored 46.1 out of 100 in the 2026 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (average 53.7). View |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Listed | Scored 21-30% in the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index; LVMH brands other than Fendi scored 29% or lower in 2023, against a 26% average. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Kenzo's UK modern slavery statement for 2024 says finished goods come from suppliers outside the UK, audits are run and no modern slavery was found; no countries or audit counts given. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- LVMH - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · LVMH: Ethical Fashion Report 2026 21/100; CHRB 2026 46.1/100; FTI 2023 brands 29% or lower; KnowTheChain 2023 6/100
- Kenzo - Good On You · search the archive · FTI 2021 score 21-30%; no living wage evidence; uses leather, wool and down
- Italy investigates Chanel, Bulgari and other luxury brands (FashionUnited, 2026) · search the archive · Lists brands in the Milan probe; Kenzo is not named
- Kenzo Varsity Jungle tiger sweatshirt (Harry Rosen) · search the archive · 100% cotton sweatshirt made in Portugal
- Kenzo Vera flying logo sneakers (HBX) · search the archive · Leather upper and rubber sole; shoes are a small part of the range (minor leather, rubber)
Published by Kenzo or its owner
- Kenzo UK Modern Slavery Statement 2024 · search the archive · Suppliers outside UK sign LVMH code; regular audits; risk mapping under way; no modern slavery found; no countries
- LVMH 2025 Annual Report - Environment (LIFE 360) · search the archive · Group-wide: 84% of strategic cotton supply chains certified (2025)
Company details
- Headquarters
- France
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Kenzo ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/kenzo, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded everyday fashion
3 resale and rental platforms, Good by ruleBuying second-hand or refurbished: SWOP Clothing Exchange, AirRobe and Grailed · See them allGoodThe Social StudioClothing & footwearSocial enterprise fashion labelIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Gives workers a real voice; Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities4 starsMiddlemostClothing & footwearOne-off clothing from vintage textilesIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Open supply chain3 starsThe Social OutfitClothing & footwearSydney-made social enterprise fashionIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Gives workers a real voice3 stars
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 Kenzo.