Labour Lens

Smartwool

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Clothing & footwear

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources

US brand of merino wool socks and base layers.

Smartwool can't show that the workers who make its products in Bangladesh and Vietnam earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.

Also worth knowing

It has no full independent audit.

Better-graded outdoor

Graded higher than Smartwool, selling the same kinds of things.

Wilderness WearClothing & footwearAustralian-made merino outdoor clothingIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Open supply chain3 starsPatagoniaClothing & footwearOutdoor clothing and gearHolds Fair Trade USA factory certification and publishes its suppliers.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Gives workers a real voice; Open supply chain; Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities5 starsArc'teryx (clothing, packs and accessories)Clothing & footwearTechnical outdoor jackets, packs and footwearHolds Fair Trade USA factory certification and publishes its suppliers.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities3 stars

See every outdoor brand

See better outdoor options

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

  • Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
  • Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production 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.

How grades are decided

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 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
  • Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier 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: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

VF's figures name Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia and China. Product labels show the United States. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
ChinaNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
BangladeshNo guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
VietnamSystematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
CambodiaNo guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
IndonesiaNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate
United StatesSystematic violationsBelow a living wageLow
IndiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
TürkiyeUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageVery high
PakistanUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageHigh

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.
  • Publishes supplier list
  • Modern slavery statement

Research notes Smartwool is still owned by VF Corporation as of 2026. Its products are made by independent suppliers; VF uses about 216 contract factories in about 24 countries, mainly Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia and China, and retailer listings show many Smartwool socks as made in the USA, but Smartwool does not publish its own production countries or a brand-level supplier breakdown. VF's group factory list and audit programme apply and VF scored 46/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, above average, but there is no evidence of living wages across its supply chain and VF has not signed the International Accord.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportListedOwner VF Corporation scored 46 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), after 55 in 2024. View
Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution)ListedParent VF Corporation scored 66% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, well above the 26% average. View
UK Modern Slavery Statement RegistryListedCovered by VF Corporation's FY2026 modern slavery statement (UK, Canada and California laws). View

Sources and actions

Sources 7

Show all 7 sources
  1. VF Corporation - Shop Ethical (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: VF Corporation scored 46/100 (average 31.5); Smartwool listed as a VF brand; not an Accord signatory
  2. Smartwool - Good On You · search the archive · No evidence of living wages across most of its supply chain; no brand-level supplier breakdown published
  3. VF Corp Form 10-K FY2026 · search the archive · Smartwool remains a VF brand (All Other segment) as of March 2026
  4. VF Factory List · search the archive · Group factory list updated twice a year, covering all Tier 1 facilities (H1 2026)
  5. REI: Smartwool Classic Mountaineer Maximum Cushion Crew Socks · search the archive · Made in USA
  6. Free People: Smartwool Popcorn Cable crew socks · search the archive · Origin: Made in the USA

Published by Smartwool or its owner

  1. VF Corporation FY2026 Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · Covers Smartwool; about 216 contract factories in about 24 countries; top countries Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, China

Company details

Headquarters
United States
Last researched
2 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Smartwool ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/smartwool, 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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