Just 1 percent of 250 major fashion brands disclose the percentage of garment workers earning a living wage, a figure revealing a systemic industry problem. A stark lack of transparency leaves millions vulnerable to exploitation and low wages, despite public commitments to ethical practices. While many brands pledge ethical sourcing, the vast majority still fail to disclose fundamental supply chain and worker welfare data, creating a significant gap between stated values and actionable transparency.
Without significant regulatory pressure or consumer demand for granular data, widespread exploitation in the fashion supply chain will likely persist, hidden behind vague sustainability claims. Research on ethical sourcing and transparency in the fashion industry 2026 suggests voluntary disclosures are insufficient to drive meaningful change for garment workers.
The Current State of Fashion Transparency
In 2023, Fashion Revolution reviewed 250 major fashion brands and retailers. These brands averaged a mere 26 percent in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, Vogue reported. The low score of 26 percent, combined with the fact that only 1 percent disclose living wage data, reveals a deliberate industry choice: prioritizing opacity over accountability. Despite rising consumer awareness, most companies actively conceal critical labor practice data, effectively undermining any claims of ethical sourcing.
What Does 'Transparency' Really Mean in Fashion?
Fashion Revolution's ranking assesses disclosed social and environmental practices, yet the scope remains severely limited. For example, 94 percent of brands fail to disclose manufacturing fuel sources, and 88 percent hide production volumes, according to Vogue. Selective disclosure allows brands to project an ethical image without offering the verifiable, granular data essential for assessing their true environmental and social impact. Without these details, "transparency" becomes a mere marketing term.
