Italian men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing retailer OVS topped the Transparency index scoring 78 per cent of a possible 250 points, an increase of 44 per cent compared to 2020. Compiled by sustainable fashion campaign group Fashion Revolution, the Transparency Index ranked 250 of the world’s largest fashion businesses. As per Textile Today, the companies were ranked on the basis of information disclosed about their sustainability practices.

This year, for the first time, OVS disclosed some of its raw materials suppliers. It was one of only two brands, alongside Patagonia, to publish data on the number of workers in the supply chain that had been paid a living wage.

H&M Group came in second scoring 68 per cent, then Timberland and The North Face which both scored 69 per cent. European fast-fashion retailers C&A and Vans both achieved 65%.

Gucci achieved a score of 56 per cent and is the first luxury brand to enter the index’s top ten since it launched in 2016.

A total of 20 brands received a score of 0 per cent, including surfwear brand Quiksilver, denim brand Pepe Jeans, and luxury brands Max Mara and Tom Ford.

Almost all of the 250 brands included in the index did not disclose the number of workers in their supply chain that have been paid a living wage. Around 96 per cent did not publish a roadmap on how they plan to achieve a living wage for all workers in their supply chain.

While 62 per cent of brands published their carbon footprint in their own facilities, 26 per cent disclosed this information at the processing and manufacturing levels, and 17 per cent at the raw material level.

A total of 18 per cent of the companies in the index published data relating to their order cancellations during the pandemic. Only 14 per cent of brands disclosed the percentage of discounts applied on previously agreed payment terms.