For the first time, two of the world's 250 largest fashion brands, including a luxury house, scored 80% or higher on the Fashion Transparency Index, a stark contrast to an industry where most reveal little. Italian luxury fashion house Gucci notably achieved an 80% score, ranking second among 250 brands reviewed, according to Fashion Revolution. This landmark in ethical sourcing and supply chain transparency for luxury fashion establishes a new benchmark for 2026, marking a critical shift in accountability.
Consumer demand for ethical and sustainable fashion is rising, but the majority of major brands still maintain significant secrecy around their supply chain practices. This widespread opacity within supply chains obstructs consumers seeking informed choices about their garments' provenance and impact.
Based on the slow pace of disclosure and uneven progress, companies are likely to face increasing regulatory pressure and consumer backlash if they do not proactively improve transparency, with leading brands setting a new, higher standard for the industry.
Understanding the Fashion Transparency Index
According to the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers were reviewed. This annual index systematically evaluates how openly major companies communicate their social and environmental impacts, according to Fashion Revolution. Its methodology ranks brands across five key metrics, collecting 220 data points per entity for a comprehensive assessment of supply chain transparency. This rigorous process creates a standardized benchmark, enabling consistent evaluation of ethical sourcing efforts across global fashion supply chains.
The Industry's Climate Transparency Gap
The average brand score for climate and energy disclosure stands at a low 14%, according to the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. This figure reveals a significant reluctance across the industry to publicly commit to crucial climate actions within their supply chains. Specifically, only 10% of brands disclosed targets for renewable electricity use within their supply chains, according to the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. Furthermore, a mere 6% disclosed efforts to electrify high-heat manufacturing processes, typically energy-intensive, according to the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. The vast majority of the fashion industry, with so few disclosing renewable electricity targets (10%) or electrification efforts (6%), is not merely opaque; it actively avoids the fundamental operational changes required to meet climate goals, indicating a systemic failure to address environmental impact at its core.
