Ann Taylor

Ann Taylor is owned by KnitWell Group.

Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate Ann Taylor “Very Poor”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses few lower-impact materials.
• There’s no evidence it takes action to minimise its packaging, which is a driver of plastic waste.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking meaningful action to reduce its climate impacts.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking actions to protect biodiversity in its supply chain.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals in manufacturing.

Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate Ann Taylor “Very Poor”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It doesn’t disclose where its final production stage occurs.
• It claims it has a Code of Conduct but does not publicly disclose it.
• The brand claims to audit some of its supply chain but doesn’t specify what percentage.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
• During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it did not disclose adequate policies or safeguards to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.

Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate Ann Taylor “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• There’s no evidence it has an animal welfare policy.
• It appears to use leather, wool, cashmere, and decorative exotic feather.
• It doesn’t appear to use shearling, alpaca, mohair, or down.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Ann Taylor “We Avoid” overall.