RIMOWA
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
LVMH-owned Cologne maker of luxury luggage.
RIMOWA is rated as part of a company that scored 21/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 5 of 7 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has a red flag for a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 21/100 in 2026, for the company it's rated with). On Track needs no forced or child labour, clear labour breaches or failing independent ratings.
- 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 unprotected.
Good requirements 5 of 7
- Met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: presumed because legal wages in Germany, Czechia and Canada are close to a living wage, not checked at the company
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Not met: Shows where its earlier production stages happen, not just the final oneA "Made in" claim can cover only the final stage. Earlier stages to show: yarn, fabric, dyeing and, for shoes, uppers
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listMakes its products in its own factories
- Met: High-risk raw materials (leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: leather
Red flags 1
- 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 RIMOWA's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories. Its list covers only part of its range. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 33% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Czechia | 33% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Canada | 33% | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | 1% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | under 1% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Uses leather in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where its leather comes from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
- Owns or runs its own production
- Modern slavery statement
- Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)
- "Made in Germany, Czechia and Canada" only means the last major stage happened there: under customs and consumer law, yarn, fabric, dyeing and, for shoes, uppers can be made elsewhere. It hasn't shown where those earlier stages happen, so where it's made counts towards On Track but not Good. Source
Research notes RIMOWA makes its suitcases in its own factories in Cologne (Germany), Pelhřimov (Czech Republic) and Cambridge (Canada); it gives no shares by country, so each site counts equally here. Its newer leather handbags are made by outside factories in Italy. Its UK modern slavery statement covers a supplier code of conduct and the right to audit without notice, but it publishes no supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment. Owner LVMH scored 21/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | RIMOWA publishes a UK Modern Slavery Act statement describing its supplier code of conduct and right to unannounced audits; it gives no audit results. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Owner LVMH scored 21/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report; RIMOWA is not named among the brands rated. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- LVMH - Ethical Consumers Australia (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · LVMH scored 21/100 in Baptist World Aid's 2026 Ethical Fashion Report; RIMOWA not listed among its rated brands
- Monocle: Rimowa North America case study · search the archive · Every step of production takes place at Rimowa's Cambridge, Ontario plant; suitcases also made in Köln
- Rimowa's new leather handbags (Fast Company, Sept 2025) · search the archive · Suitcases made in Germany, Czech Republic and Canada, mostly Cologne; leather handbags, a small new line, made in Italy
- isproNG: travels to Canada, Brasil and Czech Republic with the suitcases of RIMOWA · search the archive · Production takes place in own factories in Köln (Germany), Pelhřimov (Czech Republic) and Cambridge (Canada)
Published by RIMOWA or its owner
- RIMOWA UK Modern Slavery Act Statement · search the archive · Supplier code of conduct, approval of subcontractors, unannounced audit rights; no audit results or living wage commitment
- RIMOWA Sydney - Westfield store · search the archive · RIMOWA runs its own store at Westfield Sydney
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Employees
- About 3,000
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is RIMOWA ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/rimowa, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent RIMOWA.