Nautica
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources
New York brand selling sailing-inspired casualwear.
We couldn't confirm where Nautica makes most of its nautical-themed casual 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 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, 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 1 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 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
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton, leather 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, 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 Nautica 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
- 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 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 Nautica is a licensed brand: Authentic Brands Group owns the name and partner companies make and sell the products. It does not say where its clothing is made and publishes no supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment, and no modern slavery statement covering the brand was found. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre links it to a Myanmar factory where workers reported forced overtime and denied leave in 2024; Nautica did not respond. Some products use leather and cashmere, with no sourcing information.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Listed | Profile lists two response requests and three allegations, all about the Tristate Myanmar factory, with a 0% response rate. 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.
- Workers at the Tristate Myanmar garment factory, linked to Nautica by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, reported forced daily overtime with no day off, denied sick leave and a worker who miscarried being refused medical leave in 2024; Nautica did not respond (BHRRC, 2025). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Myanmar: Women workers reportedly suffering miscarriage in garment factory (BHRRC) · search the archive · 2024 reports of forced overtime and denied leave at Tristate Myanmar; Nautica invited to respond and did not
- Nautica - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre · search the archive · 0% response rate; 2 response requests; 3 allegations about Myanmar factory
- Nautica - Good On You · search the archive · Owned by Authentic Brands Group; does not disclose production locations; no living wage evidence; appears to use leather, wool and cashmere
- Authentic Brands Group signs licensing deal with G-III for Nautica womenswear (FashionUnited) · search the archive · Nautica womenswear made under licence by G-III from 2023
- Aero OpCo acquires Nautica brand operations (Paul, Weiss) · search the archive · Authentic Brands Group bought Nautica from VF Corporation in 2018 and appointed licensees
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Nautica ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/nautica, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded basics
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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Nautica.