In Fashion Revolution’s 2023 Fashion Transparency Index (an annual report that assesses major brands based on transparency, policies, and environmental practices), Old Navy received an overall score of 46%.
While this is better than the average of 26%, there is still much room for improvement.
Old Navy Manufacturing
Old Navy clothes are made worldwide in countries such as China, Vietnam, Turkey, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.
The brand isn’t very transparent, with a 2023 Fashion Transparency Index rating of 36% for supply chain traceability.
Unfortunately, while Old Navy has various policies and codes of conduct, it does not have third-party certifications that ensure worker safety, living wages, and other labor rights.
In terms of child labor, Old Navy does adhere to a strict Human Rights Policy and Code of Vendor Conduct (COVC) that requires suppliers to use age-verification processes to prevent underage workers.
However, Old Navy’s parent company, Gap Inc., has been under fire for using child labor in the past.
In 2007, an Observer investigation revealed child labor at Gap factories in India. Gap denied any knowledge of it happening and promised to investigate the facility.
Later, in 2013, a report by Al Jazeera discovered a 12-year-old girl sewing elastic into Old Navy jeans at a finishing house in Bangladesh.
Gap responded that the clothing was “counterfeit or improperly acquired”.
While the brand’s child labor policy may have prevented any events in recent years—for both Gap Inc. and Old Navy—child labor has been a problem in the past.
We would like to see third-party audits carried out by the brand to ensure supplier compliance with their policies.
Similarly, while there haven’t been any specific recent reports of Old Navy sweatshops, there have been numerous such reports involving parent company Gap, Inc.
In 1999, reports came from locations in Saipan, claiming negligent pay, forced abortions, and unsafe working conditions.
In 2013, a report exposed human rights abuses in a Bangladesh factory, including pregnant women being forced to work 100-plus hour weeks, unlawful firings, physical abuse, and poverty wages.
Without independent, third-party factory audits, we can’t be sure whether these illegal practices have ended.
Animal Welfare
Old Navy has an Animal-Derived Materials Policy and claims to be fur-free.
They don’t use angora, mohair, feathers and down plucked from live birds, or materials from vulnerable or endangered species, and have banned the use of hides from animals that are principally raised for clothing.
They do use wool but do not allow any wool from mulesed sheep.
This is a step in the right direction.
However, Old Navy uses leather and is therefore responsible for leather-associated animal welfare and environmental issues. They do not appear to have a leather-sourcing policy or mention use of more sustainably-minded tanners, such as those certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG).
In fact, we would also like to see a greater emphasis on third-party ethical certifications for ALL animal fibers in use, such as the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).
Diversity & Inclusion
Old Navy is taking action to address the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx employees and by 2025 aims to double representation at all levels of its U.S. HQ offices.
Through the This Way Onward initiative, Old Navy provides coaching, 1:1 mentorship, and on-the-job training to young people, focusing on underrepresented groups.
