Is Aje Sustainable? Sourcing, Materials and Ratings

Aje has a published set of sourcing standards, though sustainability is not the headline of the brand. The house sets rules for fibres, cotton sourcing, animal welfare and packaging, while the independent rater Good On You scored it “It’s a start” in its June 2022 assessment. Here is what Aje commits to, how it has been rated and what that means when you shop.

Aje’s preferred fibre rule

Aje and Aje Athletica keep a Preferred Fibre List. For a garment to meet the standard, preferred fibres must make up more than 50% of its main composition. When Aje Athletica launched in May 2021, the label said 70% of its fabrics were conscious choices. Our guide to Aje’s quality breaks down which fibres appear most across the range.

Cotton sourcing

Aje says it does not source cotton from the Xinjiang region, in line with the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. It has signed the Turkmen Cotton Pledge, which bans cotton from Turkmenistan, and it does not source cotton from Syria, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Animal welfare

Aje bans fur, exotic skins, angora rabbit and mulesed wool. Its animal fibres are certified: cashmere to the Good Cashmere Standard, mohair to the Responsible Mohair Standard, wool to the Responsible Wool Standard, ZQ Merino and recognised Australian wool certifications, and leather from Leather Working Group accredited sources. Its supplier code requires the Five Freedoms of animal welfare.

Packaging and denim

Aje prioritises reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging materials. Its denim is made at a facility with a water waste recycling plant, which reduces the dye released into the local environment. Our Aje denim guide covers the denim range itself.

How Aje is rated

Good On You rated Aje “It’s a start” in June 2022, with 3 out of 5 for planet, 2 out of 5 for people and 3 out of 5 for animals. Aje’s published sourcing page does not set numerical targets for emissions, water use and recycled content, so progress is hard to measure from the outside.

How to shop Aje more sustainably

Choose natural fibres such as linen, cotton and lyocell blends where you can, and buy pieces you will wear for years, such as tailoring, denim and knitwear. Our guides to Aje knitwear and tailoring and Aje’s history have more on the label, and every product in the Aje edit lists its fabric on the product page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Aje sustainable?
Partly. Aje publishes sourcing standards for fibres, cotton, animal welfare and packaging, and Good On You rated it “It’s a start” in June 2022.

Does Aje use fur?
No. Aje bans fur, exotic skins, angora rabbit and mulesed wool.

What is Aje’s Good On You rating?
“It’s a start”, with 3 out of 5 for planet, 2 out of 5 for people and 3 out of 5 for animals, as of June 2022.

Does Aje use organic cotton?
Yes, in parts of the range. Many Aje logo tees are made in 100% organic cotton.