Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources
Paris womenswear label selling dresses, knitwear and bags.
There's no proof Maje pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Türkiye is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- 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 3 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 its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No confirmed child or forced labour findings or linksAn unconfirmed report of forced labour is listed below. It doesn't affect the grade.
- 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 and leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeTraced or certified: cotton. Only in a few products: leather
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
These are SMCP's countries across all its brands; Maje doesn't say where its own 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 |
| 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 |
| Türkiye | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| 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 |
| Bulgaria | Regular violations | Below a living wage | High |
| France | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Portugal | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Serbia | Systematic violations | Not rated | Moderate |
| Tunisia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Low |
| 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
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- 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.
- 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 Maje does not publish where its clothes are made. Its owner SMCP uses independent suppliers; sister brand Sandro reports about 140 partner sites in some 30 countries including Portugal, France, Italy, Turkey, China, Serbia, Bulgaria and Tunisia. SMCP says all tier-1 factories had a social audit in 2025 and it belongs to the ICS audit initiative, but it publishes no supplier list. Its supplier code requires at least the legal minimum wage, with a living wage only as an aim. 95% of group leather comes from LWG-certified tanneries and 78% of cotton is organic or recycled; 85% of Maje's viscose is FSC certified. No country shares are published.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Listed | SMCP scored 54.3 out of 250 (about 22%) in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, up from 20.5 in 2022. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | SMCP and its brands were not assessed in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | SMCP UK publishes an annual anti-modern slavery statement covering the group's brands. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Listed | Owner SMCP named in a 2021 French complaint and investigation over Uyghur forced labour, dropped in 2023, followed by a new complaint; SMCP denies the claims. 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.
- In 2021 French prosecutors opened an investigation after NGOs accused SMCP, Maje's owner, of selling clothes made partly with Uyghur forced labour; the case was dropped in 2023 and a new complaint filed. SMCP firmly denies the claims (Justice Info, 2023). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Sandro Paris (Groupe SMCP) - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre · search the archive · SMCP FTI score 54.3/250 in 2023; no public evidence of living wages per Fashion Checker
- Our production - Sandro (SMCP sister brand) · search the archive · SMCP brand Sandro: about 140 partner sites in some 30 countries; social audits BSCI, Sedex, WRAP, WCA, SA8000
- Fashion groups face new Uyghur forced labour complaint in France (Justice Info) · search the archive · 2023 new complaint against SMCP and others after earlier case dropped; SMCP denies accusations
Published by Maje or its owner
- SMCP Sustainability Report 2025 Synthesis · search the archive · 100% of tier-1 factories socially audited; ICS member; 78% certified cotton; 95% LWG leather; Maje 85% FSC viscose
- SMCP Sustainability Report 2025 · search the archive · 95% of leather from LWG-certified tanneries in 2025; 34% of cotton GOTS certified; 6,323 group employees
- SMCP Suppliers Code of Conduct (May 2024) · search the archive · Wages must meet at least the legal minimum; living wage described as an aim, with no programme or deadline
- SMCP UK 2024 Anti-Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · SMCP publishes a UK modern slavery statement
Company details
- Headquarters
- France
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Maje ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/maje, 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
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 Maje.