American Eagle
Rated: Fair
Price: $$
Location: USA
Quick verdict
American Eagle is best for denim lovers seeking an accessible price point with some sustainability improvements built into its core product. Nearly 100% of AE jeans carry the "Real Good" label. However, outside of denim, sustainability efforts are thin, transparency is among the worst in fashion (Fashion Transparency Index: 21%), and the brand scored at the bottom of Remake’s accountability reports. Its Water Leadership Program is genuinely notable, but the overall picture is of a brand doing the minimum to market sustainability without systemic change.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Founded
- 1977
- Product categories
- Denim, Basics, Fast Fashion
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- BCI, Leather Working Group, RDS, Cascale/Higg Index, Ellen MacArthur Foundation Jeans Redesign partner, RE100. AE77 pledges 1% for the Planet.
American Eagle sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
The "Real Good" program incorporates BCI cotton, organic cotton, recycled polyester (70 million plastic bottles used in 2020), and recycled cotton. AE claimed ~65% sustainably sourced cotton in 2022. However, the original 100%-by-2023 target was quietly removed. Most non-denim items still rely on conventional materials.
The brand rates "Not Good Enough" on labor practices. Does not publish a full factory list. Does not disclose audit scores. No evidence workers are paid living wages. Fashion Transparency Index: 21% (2023). Remake 2021 ranked AE among the worst brands.
Total 2022 emissions: ~3.57 million tCO2e. Has goals (carbon neutral by 2030 in own operations, net-zero by 2050), but its SBTi net-zero target was marked as "removed." Water Leadership Program has saved 4.5 billion gallons since 2017, which is genuinely notable. CDP Climate score: only C.
Does not publish a full factory list despite manufacturing in 300+ factories across 20+ countries. Does not disclose audit scores. Fashion Transparency Index score of 21% is well below average. Remake 2024 found it scores zero on traceability.
AE jeans are widely regarded as durable and well-fitting at $40–$60. Extensive size range (00–24, multiple lengths). The "Real Good" designation adds modest sustainability value without a price premium.
What they do well
- Water Leadership Program. Saved 4.5 billion gallons of water since 2017 through innovations in denim mills; reduced water per pair of jeans by ~7 gallons. Over 90% of Tier 1 factories participate in Higg FEM assessments
- Real Good label on nearly all jeans. Core denim carries the designation, meaning BCI/organic/recycled cotton in Water Leadership factories. Meaningful because denim is AE’s primary category
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation partnership: Jeans Redesign collection using 100% organic cotton with removable hardware for recyclability, produced without harmful chemicals
- Blue Jeans Go Green denim recycling. Collects old denim in-store and converts it into housing insulation
- Body positivity and inclusivity. Sizes 00–24, extra-short to extra-long lengths; Aerie’s #AerieREAL campaign with unretouched models
Room for improvement
- Transparency is a critical weakness: No full factory list despite 300+ factories in 20+ countries. Zero traceability score in Remake 2024. No disclosed audit scores or wage data. For a company with $5.3 billion in revenue, this level of opacity suggests the brand may be hiding unfavorable conditions.
- Sustainability goals are stalling: The 100% sustainably sourced cotton target for 2023 was not met and was quietly removed. SBTi net-zero target marked as "removed." CDP Climate score only C. CO2 data not updated since 2022.
- Labor practices are concerning: No evidence of living wages. No COVID-era worker protections disclosed, Reports from Global Labor Justice documented poor conditions. Chinese factories were found using sandblasting in jeans production—a practice linked to the fatal lung disease silicosis.
About American Eagle
American Eagle was founded in 1977 by Jerry and Mark Silverman in Pennsylvania, originally selling outdoor sports apparel. After the Schottenstein family took ownership in the early 1990s, AE repositioned as a casual brand targeting teens and young adults. Today, AEO Inc. operates ~1,500 stores globally with $5.3 billion in annual revenue.
AE’s materials strategy centers on the "Real Good" program. For denim. The brand’s bread and butter. This means BCI cotton, organic cotton, recycled cotton, recycled polyester, and manufacturing under the Water Leadership Program. The AE77 premium denim line goes further with exclusively green chemistry, 100% sustainably sourced cotton, and 1% for the Planet commitment.
Manufacturing takes place across 300+ factories in 20+ countries, but AE does not disclose the full list—a significant transparency gap. Design offices are in New York, HQ in Pittsburgh. Shipping is standard for US retail: free shipping thresholds, free returns in-store, 3–7 business day delivery. Pricing competes with Gap, Levi’s, and Abercrombie: jeans $40–60, basics $15–35. The AE77 premium line ($100–200) competes with Everlane and Madewell.
Product highlights
AE Stretch Mom Jean (Real Good)
High-waisted relaxed-fit denim in BCI/sustainably sourced cotton
~$50
Most popular fit; made in Water Leadership Program factories
AE x Jeans Redesign Collection
Limited-edition circular denim, 100% organic cotton
~$50–$60
Removable hardware for recyclability; follows Ellen MacArthur Foundation guidelines
AE77 Premium Selvedge Jean
High-end sustainable denim with green chemistry
~$120–$150
AE’s most sustainability-forward product; 1% for the Planet pledge
Aerie OFFLINE Real Good Crossover Leggings
Activewear legging with recycled materials
~$35–$45
From sister brand Aerie; hugely popular with younger consumers
