KONTOOR BRANDS INC

Kontoor Brands Inc. is a global apparel company whose primary business is the design and sale of denim jeans and related products under its Wrangler and Lee brands. The company’s core products are made from animal-derived materials, specifically leather. Wrangler is a major supplier of leather belts and accessories, and its product lines include leather footwear, handbags, and other goods that rely on animal hides. This commercial use of animal skins for fashion accessories constitutes animal exploitation as defined by the firm’s exclusion policy.

The company operates an extensive retail network, with over 1,175 company-owned stores and 269 licensed locations as of fiscal year 2022, through which these animal-derived products are sold globally. While Kontoor has implemented supply chain audits focused on human rights issues like forced labor, there is no public evidence of policies or traceability systems addressing animal welfare in the sourcing of leather and other animal-derived materials. The business model is intrinsically linked to the use of animal products at scale.