RM Williams
OVERALL |
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Owned |
AUS |
Rating |
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Clothing and footwear
Acquired for $190 million in 2020 by private equity group Tattarang, owned by Australian mining tycoon Andrew Forest. The company was owned by LVMH from 2013 to 2020. Some of its range is made in Australia.
Company Ownership
R.M. Williams Holdings Ltd | AUS | website | ||||
Tattarang Pty Ltd ![]() owns 100% of R.M. Williams Holdings Ltd |
AUS | website | ||||
Holding company Holding company for the Forrest family's private business interests. Their investment portfolio spans across agri-food, energy, resources, property, hospitality, sport and entertainment. Formerly known as Minderoo Group. |
Company Assessment
PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
R.M. Williams Holdings Ltd | ||||
In 2020 Baptist World Aid Australia released The COVID Fashion Report, a special edition of their Ethical Fashion Report. The report is framed around six COVID Fashion Commitments that ask companies to demonstrate the steps and measures they are taking to protect and support the most vulnerable workers in their supply chains. This company showed no evidence of actions that it covered any of the COVID Fashion Commitments.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2020) |
In 2016 this company was fined $90,000 over serious burns to a worker after admitting to its second breach of workplace safety laws in eight years.
Source: news article (2016)
This company was previously accredited and licensed to display the 'Ethical Clothing Australia' Trade Mark on their Australian-made garments, which ensures Australian workers receive fair wages and decent conditions. Their accreditation ceased in Sept 2018.
Source: Ethical Clothing Australia (2018)
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2022 Ethical Fashion Report' assessed 120 companies on their efforts to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability. This company received a score of 33/100.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2022) |
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Tattarang Pty Ltd | ||||
In February 2013, Andrew and Nicola Forrest were the first Australasian signatories to join the Giving Pledge - a commitment by some of the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. The campaign has founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett in 2009. The pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal contract.
Source: Giving Pledge (2014)
Minderoo Foundation is independent, forward thinking and seeks effective, scalable solutions. Based in Australia, they are one of Asia's largest philanthropies, with $2 billion committed to a range of global initiatives.
Source: company website (2020)
This company has a climate policy on its website which claims to be assessing emissions from investments, activities and operations to provide data for action.
Source: company website (2020)
Human Rights Law Centre's 2022 report, "Broken Promises: Two years of corporate reporting under Australia's Modern Slavery Act", examines statements submitted to the Government's Modern Slavery Register by 92 companies sourcing from four sectors with known risks of modern slavery: garments from China, rubber gloves from Malaysia, seafood from Thailand and fresh produce from Australia. Modern slavery statements are analysed to see if they comply with the mandatory reporting requirements, identify or disclose obvious modern slavery risks, and demonstrate effective actions to address risks. This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a rating in the 41-60% range. The average score was 44% and the highest score was 89%.
Source: Human Rights Law Centre (2022)
A spokesman from this company said in 2014 that Minderoo "would also like to expand into the live export trade, but was mindful of animal welfare concerns."
Source: news article (2014) |
Company Details
Type | Private company |
Founded | 1932 |
Employees | 900 (2020) |
Aus Manufacturing | Yes |
Contact Details
Address | 121 Frost Road, Salisbury, SA, 5108, Australia |
Phone | 08 8259 1007 |
Freecall | 1800 339 532 |
customerservice@rmwilliams.com.au | |
Website | www.rmwilliams.com.au |
Products / Brands
RM Williams
RM Williams Mens Shoes RM Williams Work Boots RM Williams Menswear (casual) RM Williams Womens Fashion |