Definition
Supply Chain Transparency — Public disclosure of suppliers, facilities and conditions across every production tier.
Transparency means a brand publishes the names and locations of its Tier 1 (final assembly) factories at minimum, and ideally Tier 2 (fabric mills, finishing) and Tier 3 (raw materials).
The Fashion Transparency Index ranks 250+ brands annually on disclosure quality. Open-supply-chain registries include Open Apparel Registry and the Walk Free Foundation's modern slavery index. Look for an annually updated factory list with addresses, worker counts and audit dates.
Public disclosure of suppliers, facilities and conditions across every production tier.
This term is not, by itself, proof of a certified product. Its meaning may depend on a technical definition, local rules or the boundaries of a particular claim.
Separate the question the term addresses from questions it does not answer. Material sourcing, labour conditions, chemical safety and disposal need different evidence. Catalogue labels are a starting point for checking that evidence, not a substitute for it.
| Check | Action | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Ask what the term means in this claim | Technical concepts and marketing promises are different |
| Boundary | Identify materials, locations and stages covered | A claim about one component cannot describe the whole lifecycle |
| Evidence | Request methods, assumptions and dated supporting documents | A claim can need evidence without having a dedicated certifier |
Public disclosure of suppliers, facilities and conditions across every production tier.
Ask what the term means in this claim. Identify materials, locations and stages covered. Request methods, assumptions and dated supporting documents.