Zadig & Voltaire
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources
Paris label selling ready-to-wear and cashmere knitwear.
There's no proof Zadig & Voltaire pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Bulgaria is below a living wage.
Better-graded everyday fashion
Graded higher than Zadig & Voltaire, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Zadig & Voltaire? Send a right of reply.
Compare Zadig & Voltaire with another brand
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 Ukraine, China and Türkiye.
- 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, leather, silk and cashmere) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeTraced or certified: cotton, leather and cashmere. Only in a few products: silk
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
Zadig & Voltaire says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | No guarantee of rights | Not rated | Very high |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Portugal | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Bulgaria | Regular violations | Below a living wage | High |
| Romania | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Tunisia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Low |
| Madagascar | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Mauritius | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Passes the raw-material check for clothes and shoes: traces or certifies its cotton, leather and cashmere.
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Uses silk in only a few products and doesn't show where it comes from. 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.
- Traces or certifies most but not all of its leather. 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 cashmere. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Zadig & Voltaire names its production countries: Ukraine (90% of women's tailored jackets), China (about 40% of knitted fabrics), Italy (5-10% of knits), Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Tunisia, Madagascar, Mauritius and India. It gives no overall shares or factory list. It says all tier 1 factories had a third-party social audit (ICS, BSCI or SMETA) by end-2025, but publishes no results and makes no living wage commitment. Leather is from LWG tanneries and cashmere is Good Cashmere Standard certified.
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Zadig&Voltaire: private equity firm Peninsula takes minority (Modaes) · search the archive · Peninsula holds a minority stake; founder family keeps control
Published by Zadig & Voltaire or its owner
- Design in Paris - Made in (Zadig&Voltaire) · search the archive · Production countries by product; LWG leather (Turkey, India); GCS cashmere; silk sourced in China; GOTS factories in Portugal, Tunisia
- Made in respect (Zadig&Voltaire) · search the archive · 100% of tier 1 factories socially audited by end-2025 (ICS, BSCI, SMETA); GOTS, OCS, RWS, GRS certified since 2021
- Zadig&Voltaire ESG Report 2023 · search the archive · Cotton 25% of materials, 87% of RTW cotton organic; 100% leather from LWG tanneries; 98-100% cashmere certified
- Zadig&Voltaire ESG presentation (2022 results) · search the archive · 1,600 employees in 2022; joined ICS in 2023; GCS cashmere certified and traced; LWG member
Company details
- Headquarters
- France
- Employees
- About 1,600
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Zadig & Voltaire ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/zadig-and-voltaire, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Zadig & Voltaire.