Ranking
Cotton ranked by democracy: which of the world's top producers pass the 6.0 test?
Twelve cotton producers ranked by EIU Democracy Index score: seven pass the 6.0 line, five do not, four have no score. Method and buying guide.
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Fashion and textiles
Clothing is one of the most fragmented supply chains: cotton is grown in one country, spun in another, dyed in a third and sewn in a fourth, and the label usually shows only the last step. This page gathers our guides to clothing, footwear, jewellery and accessories, covering the origin of the fibre, the fabric and the sewing, the real limits of a Made in label and the certifications that do give verifiable information about a garment's journey.
23 articles
Analysis
Running shoes in 2026: Vietnam, China and the democratic alternatives
El 95 % de las zapatillas de running se fabrica en Vietnam (3,08) o China (2,12). Brands como On Running (Suiza 9,15) y New Balance (EE.UU. 7,85) tienen producc…
Analysis
Merino wool clothing: New Zealand and Australia vs China and Mongolia
El 80 % de la lana merino del mundo proviene de Australia (EIU 8,86) y Nueva Zelanda (EIU 9,61). China (2,12) produce el 15 %. Guía de marcas con cadena verific…
Analysis
Ski clothing and winter sports in 2026: GORE-TEX, down and democratic supply chain
Kjus (Suiza 9,15), Spyder (EE.UU. 7,85) y Peak Performance (Suecia 9,39) fabrican ropa de esquí con GORE-TEX, plumón RDS y tejidos de cadena democrática. Las ma…
Analysis
Swimwear in 2026: lycra, chlorine resistance and democratic supply chain
Arena (Italia 7,67), Speedo (Reino Unido 8,28) y Patagonia (EE.UU. 7,85) fabrican ropa de natación con Lycra INVISTA, nylon y poliéster de cadena democrática. L…
Analysis
Underwear and socks in 2026: cotton, elastane and democratic supply chain
Hanro (Suiza 9,15), Falke (Alemania 8,58) y Sunspel (Reino Unido 8,28) fabrican ropa interior y calcetines con algodón Pima y merino de cadena democrática. La r…
Analysis
Haute couture and luxury fashion in 2026: fabrics, embroidery and democratic supply chain
Chanel (Francia 7,99), Dior (Francia 7,99) y Loro Piana (Italia 7,67) producen prendas de alta costura con tejidos, bordados y pieles de cadena democrática. Los…
Analysis
Wristwatches in 2026: movements, cases and democratic supply chain
ETA (Suiza 9,15), Miyota (Japón 8,40) y Nomos (Alemania 8,58) fabrican movimientos y relojes de pulsera con acero y cristal de cadena democrática. Los movimient…
Analysis
Reading glasses and optics in 2026: frames, lenses and democratic supply chain
Lindberg (Dinamarca 9,28), Götti (Suiza 9,15) y Silhouette (Austria 8,30) fabrican gafas con titanio, acetato y cristales de cadena democrática. El 80% de las m…
Analysis
Workwear and uniforms in 2026: cotton, flame retardants and democratic supply chain
Snickers Workwear (Suecia 9,39), Fristads (Suecia 9,39) y Carhartt (EE.UU. 7,85) fabrican ropa de trabajo con algodón, materiales ignífugos y costuras de cadena…
Comparison
Xiaomi 90FUN vs RIMOWA Essential: The Cabin Suitcase With Democracy in the Hinges
Xiaomi manufactures its 90FUN suitcase in subcontracted plants in China (EIU 2.12 — blocked). RIMOWA manufactures its Essential at its historic Cologne plant in…
Analysis
Luggage and travel accessories in 2026: aluminium, polypropylene and democratic origin
Rimowa (Alemania 8,58), Samsonite (Bélgica 7,64) y Delsey (Francia 7,99) fabrican maletas con aluminio y policarbonato de cadena democrática. El 70% de las rued…
Analysis
Luxury handbags in 2026: leather, hardware and verified democratic origin
Hermès (Francia 7,99), Loewe (España 8,13) y Valextra (Italia 7,67) garantizan piel y herrajes de origen democrático. Los bolsos de lujo chinos (2,12) crecen un…
Analysis
Sunglasses in 2026: frames, lenses and verified democratic origin
El 90% de las monturas de gafas se fabrican en China (2,12). Pero Italia (7,67) mantiene la tradición con Luxottica. Oliver Peoples, Mykita y Lindberg son las r…
Analysis
Running sportswear in 2026: technical fabrics with democratic origin
El 85% de la ropa de running se fabrica en Vietnam (3,08) o Bangladesh (5,99). Pero Patagonia (EE.UU. 7,85), Craft (Suecia 9,39) y Odlo (Suiza 9,15) tienen cade…
Analysis
Leather shoes in 2026: leather with democratic origin and no forced labour
El 70% del cuero mundial se curte en China (2,12), India (7,18) y Bangladesh (5,99). España (8,13), Italia (7,67) y Portugal (7,90) lideran el cuero democrático…
Analysis
The best sustainable backpack in 2026: the Fjällräven paradox and democratic-chain alternatives
Fjällräven Kånken is Swedish (9.39) but made in Vietnam (2.62). The paradox and the alternatives with genuinely democratic manufacturing: Ortlieb (Germany), Por…
Analysis
Best silk and organic cotton pyjamas in 2026: a democratic origin guide
La seda Ahimsa de India (7,18) como alternativa al monopolio chino (2,12). El algodón Pima peruano (6,52) y las marcas que superan el filtro EIU.
Analysis
Linen clothing with democratic origin: why France and Belgium lead the most transparent textile supply chain in 2026
European flax from France and Belgium has the most democratic chain in textiles, but most of it is spun in China. The Masters of Linen label, verified brands an…
Guide
Running Shoes and Democracy: Who Makes What Where and What It Means for You
Adidas (Germany, 8.80), On (Switzerland, 9.14) and New Balance (USA, 7.85) design in democracies, yet nearly half of all sports shoes are stitched in Vietnam (2…
Fashion
Jewellery and watches: luxury also has a democratic origin (or not)
A diamond can come from Congo (EIU 1.76) or Botswana (EIU 7.81). Gold can be from an artisanal mine in Colombia (7.23) with Fairmined certification or from Vene…
Fashion
Clothes and democracy: why Bangladesh (EIU 3.81) makes 40% of your wardrobe
Bangladesh is the world's second largest garment exporter. Its EIU is 3.81. Portugal (7.94), India (7.18) and Vietnam (2.94) complete the textile map. Understan…
Analysis
Technical backpacks and sustainable fashion traceability
The fashion industry is the second most opaque on the planet in terms of supply chain. 93% of brands do not publish who manufactures their clothes or from which…