Forever 21 (Authentic Brands Group) — Ethics Grade F

Forever 21 (Authentic Brands Group) receives an overall ethics grade of F (14/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Fashion & Apparel. Market cap: Mid Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 15
• privacy: 80
• consumer: 30
• environment: 10
• humanRights: 20

Documented incidents (3)

• Subminimal Wages in LA (high, 2016) — The Department of Labor found that Forever 21's suppliers in Los Angeles were paying workers as little as $4 per hour, well below the minimum wage.
• Systemic Design Piracy (medium, 2019) — The company has faced over 50 lawsuits from designers, including high-end brands like Gucci and small independent artists, for copyright and trademark infringement.
• Lack of Environmental Reporting (high, 2023) — Remains one of the lowest-ranked companies on environmental impact indices, failing to disclose any meaningful data on chemical management or waste reduction.

Documented good deeds

• Inclusive Sizing — Maintains a significant range of plus-size clothing options that are affordable, filling a gap in the market for budget-conscious consumers.

Ethical alternatives

• Everlane — Offers radical transparency regarding factory conditions and true cost breakdowns.