Musto
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
British brand of sailing and shooting clothing.
We couldn't confirm where Musto makes most of its sailing, shooting and outdoor clothing.
Also worth knowing
Most clothes and shoes are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, where pay is usually below a living wage and unions are heavily restricted.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 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, probably 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 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere clothes and shoes are usually made, such as China and Bangladesh, 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) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: cotton
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, probably 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
We couldn't confirm where Musto makes most of its products, so this shows where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 30% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | 20% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 10% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Cambodia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Indonesia | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Pakistan | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Uses cotton in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where its cotton comes from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
- Uses recycled metals or fibres
Research notes Musto does not say where its clothing is made and publishes no supplier list of its own. Its parent Helly Hansen reports as a group that includes Musto, and the group's 2022 report and 2021 supplier list cover about 100 factories, mostly in China, Vietnam and Turkey, without naming which ones make Musto products. Musto says suppliers are assessed every year against social and environmental criteria, with corrective action plans where needed, but gives no audit results, no living wage commitment and no wage data. Its range is mainly synthetic, with some recycled and organic cotton materials.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Listed | Owner Kontoor Brands scored 37 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (ethical.org.au page lists Helly Hansen but not Musto); Musto itself was not assessed. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Helly Hansen acquires Musto (Just Style) · search the archive · Helly Hansen agreed in October 2017 to buy Musto from Phoenix Equity Partners
- Helly Hansen Group - Ethical Trade Norway report 2022 · search the archive · Helly Hansen Holding owns Musto Topco Ltd; group supplier data not broken out by brand
- Kontoor Brands buys Helly Hansen (Fashion Dive) · search the archive · Kontoor's US$900m deal for Helly Hansen; Musto listed among Helly Hansen's brands
- Musto Sardinia Jacket 2.0 - Henry Bucks · search the archive · Sold in AUD by Australian retailer with stores in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide; shell 100% polyamide, lining polyester
Published by Musto or its owner
- Musto - Sustainability · search the archive · Annual social and environmental supplier assessments; recycled synthetics (RCS) and organic cotton; no factories or countries named
Company details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Musto ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/musto, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded outdoor
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Musto.