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ICON DECODER

COMPANY RATINGS
Praises, no criticism
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Praises, some criticism
Criticism, some praise
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Note: Ratings are based on company record, including parent companies. They are not a comment on the product itself.
> more about ratings

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Childrenswear

The Guide > Clothing > Basics > Childrenswear 

Transparency

There is little or no transparency on the conditions behind common processes in most supply chains in the clothing industry. Baptist World Aid and Not For Sale's 2013 document, The Australian Fashion Report, identified that out of 128 clothing brands, 61% of companies do not know where their garments are manufactured; 76% not know where their garments are weaved, knitted and dyed; and 93% do not know where their cotton is sourced from.

[Please note the ratings in our guide indicate praises or criticisms in one or more issue areas in the ownership tree, but not necessarily the area of labour conditions. For many companies we don't have any information about the conditions their clothes are made under. We don't automatically allocate criticisms to companies for this, even though it is quite likely the company is sourcing from overseas sweatshops.]
  • See the Clothing: Alternatives table on our website for alternative retailers and brands with positive features such as Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation, Fairtrade certification, and use of sustainable materials.  [Alternatives]
  • See Ethical Clothing Australia's list of accredited brands here  [ECA]
  • Download the Australian Fashion Report  [BehindtheBarcode]
  • Find out more about supply-chain transparency and best-practice labelling on our website  [Supply-chain transparency]

Sweatshops

There is little transparency as to which clothing items are made by workers who are paid fairly and which clothes are made in sweatshop conditions. Modern-day slavery, which currently affects more than 30 million people, is used throughout the production of many clothing products sold on Australian shelves.

WORKING HOURS. Long working hours and forced overtime are a major concern among garment workers. Factory managers typically push employees to work between 10 and 12 hours, sometimes 16 to 18 hours a day. A seven-day working week is becoming the norm during the peak season, particularly in China, despite limits placed by the law.

WAGES. The majority of workers in the global fashion industry, rarely earn more than two dollars a day. Many have to work excessive hours for this meagre amount and struggle to properly feed, clothe and educate their families. The problem is complicated further when the millions of piece- rate workers and homeworkers within the industry are considered. When workers are paid by the number of garments they produce, rather than the number of hours they work, it becomes near-impossible to earn a living wage during a working week.

Women in El Salvador are paid just 29 cents for each $140 Nike NBA jersey they sew. To pay them a living wage, they would earn 58 cents per shirts, 4/10ths of one percent of the retail cost of the shirt.  [Labour Behind the Label]
  • Check out the Issues section of our website for more about labour exploitation in the apparel sector  [ethical.org.au/issues]
  • Buy second-hand clothes, or support local clothing brands which are accredited by   [Ethical Clothing Australia]
  • See the Simple Plan and MTV EXIT video for 'This Song Saved My Life'  [MTVexit]
  • See 'Behind the Swoosh' documentary and more about the fight against Nike's sweatshops at www.teamsweat.org   [Behind the Swoosh]
  • See the Ethical Fashion Report, published by the Behind the Barcode project.  [Ethical Fashion Guide]

Uzbek Cotton

Uzbekistan is one of the world's largest exprters of cotton. For decades, Uzbekistan has forced adults and children as young as 10 to pick cotton under appalling conditions each harvest season. The human rights concerns surrounding Uzbek cotton production has lead to a 'call for a boycott' of Uzbek cotton from Uzbek and international activists. Around 70 per cent of Uzbekistan cotton is sold to Bangladesh and China, where it is turned into fabric to be used in clothes, sheets and other cotton products to be sold into countries such as Australia.

There are 14 countries where cotton is produced using child labour. Child workers in the cottonseed industry are often in a state of debt bondage and work at least nine hours a day. Pesticides used during production cause health problems for the children and they report experiencing headaches, convulsions and respiratory problems. The long-term effects of exposure to toxic chemicals have not been measured.  [ILRF]
  • Check out the Issues section of our website for more about child labour in cotton production  [www.ethical.org.au/issues]
  • See where cotton is produced using child labour.   [Products of Slavery map]
  • Watch White Gold - the true cost of cotton (video)  [White Gold]
  • See companies who have signed the Pledge against using products that have cotton from Uzbekistan.  [Responsible Sourcing Network]

Outworkers in Australia

In Australia, the use of home-based outworkers in the cut make and trim stage of production is common. The Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia estimate that 50-70% of clothing made in Australia is outsourced, usually to migrant women working at home or in backyard sweatshops.

Long supply chains mean designers and clothing labels contract work out to factories, who subcontract work out to other factories, backyard sweatshops or outworkers. Often outworkers receive payment and conditions significantly below their award and statutory entitlements. Outworkers are almost always paid in piece rates, usually equating to $5-8 an hour, but sometimes as little as $3 an hour. The low rates of pay that outworkers receive, combined with routinely short deadlines, results in many outworkers having to work extremely long hours, sometimes around the clock, or 7 days a week.
  • Check out the Issues section of our website for more about outworkers in Australia  [ethical.org.au/issues]
  • Learn more about outworkers in Australia and take action at   [Ethical Clothing Australia]
  • Support Ethical Clothing Australia accredited businesses who have taken practical steps to keep their Australian-based supply chains transparent and ensure that they and any sub-contractors are compliant with the relevant Australian laws.  [Ethical Clothing Australia]

Cotton & Pesticides

Conventionally grown cotton uses more insecticides than any other single crop. (A global spend of $2.6 billion each year). This is more than 10 per cent of the world's pesticides and nearly 25 per cent of the world's insecticides. Many of these are the most hazardous pesticides on the market including aldicarb, phorate, methamidophos and endosulfan. These pesticides can poison farm workers, drift into neighboring communities, contaminate ground and surface water and kill beneficial insects and soil micro-organisms.   [Pesticide Action Network UK]
  • Check out the Issues section of our website for more about organic cotton  [www.ethical.org.au/issues]
  • See 'Pesticides Commonly Used on Cotton' factsheet  [Pesticides Commonly Used on Cotton]
  • Find out about the Better Cotton Initative  [Better Cotton Initative]
  • Look for organic cotton products from brands like Certton, Blessed Earth, Organic Embrace and Gaia Organic.

Alternatives beyond the mainstream

Blessed Earth  [more info]
Features: Certified organic textiles
Organic cotton and wool textile products, including bedding and clothing. Based in Maleny, QLD.
Manufacturer: Blessed Earth
Braintree  [more info]
Features: Alternative fibres, Organic
Most of their clothing is made from hemp or bamboo, but they also use pure hemp, organic cotton, hemp cotton, hemp rayon, bamboo cotton, and soy cotton. Based in Silverwater, NSW.
Manufacturer: Braintree
Elves in the Wardrobe  [more info]
Features: Organic cotton
Organic cotton baby and childrens clothing handpicked from the best eco-labels in Europe. Online store based in NSW.
Manufacturer: Elves in the Wardrobe
Harvest Textiles  [more info]
Features: Organic, Australian made, Second hand-reclaimed-recycled
Screen-printed clothing; organic, recycled or locally produced fabrics; run workshops. Based in Brunswick, VIC.
Manufacturer: Harvest Textiles
Kashi  [more info]
Features: Alternative fibres
Hemp, silk, linen and cotton clothing. Based in Byron Bay NSW.
Manufacturer: Kashi
Made it  [more info]
Features: Hand made
Online market for handmade & independently created items. Based in NSW.
Manufacturer: Made it
Modimade  [more info]
Features: Supporting Cambodian artisans. Some products organic.
Modimade connects consumers with Cambodian artisans that are creating ethical and fair employment.
Manufacturer: Modimade
OCC Apparel  [more info]
Features: Australian made, Sweatshop free, Organic
T-Shirts, clothing, bags; brands Certton, Earth Positive, Continental Clothing, Drover; all sweatshop free, 100% organic cotton. Based in Currumbin, QLD.
Manufacturer: OCC Apparel
Organic Embrace  [more info]
Features: Fairtrade, Organic
Fair-trade, organic cotton products, certified by ACO. Based in QLD.
Manufacturer: Organic Embrace
Sacred Ibis  [more info]
Features: Ethical Clothing Australia accredited, alternative fibres
Sacred Ibis make childrens clothing made from organic cotton and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia.
Manufacturer: Sacred Ibis
Sha-de  [more info]
Features: Ethical Clothing Australia accredited, alternative fibres
All garments are made in Melbourne from bamboo and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia.
Manufacturer: Sha-de
SwapUp  [more info]
Features: Secondhand clothes, Australian-owned
SwapUp is an online consignment and thrift store, offering preloved women's and kids clothing through their website. Based in Sydney.
Manufacturer: SwapUp
Thread Harvest  [more info]
Features: Employing the disadvantaged, empowering women, organic, upcycled, cause supporting
Social enterprise that source products from social projects all over the world. B Corporation. Online store.
Manufacturer: Thread Harvest
Woolerina  [more info]
Features: Ethical Clothing Australia accredited, non-mulesed wool.
Australian owned and made wool garments. Online store. Based in NSW.
Manufacturer: Woolerina
About these listings
Find farmers' markets, food coops, farm gate products at Local Harvest
BRAND COMPANY OWNED RATING
Etiko certified Fairtrade certified Fairtrade Etiko Fair Trade   Australian Owned  Praises, no criticism1
Mambo  Caprice Australia   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Qualitops All garments Ethical Clothing Australia accredited All garments Ethical Clothing Australia accredited Qualitops   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Chloe P  Laramy Australia   Australian Owned  No rating3
Laramy  Laramy Australia   Australian Owned  No rating3
Fox & Finch  Minihaha   Australian Owned  No rating3
Tahlia  Minihaha   Australian Owned  No rating3
Munster  MunsterKids   Australian Owned  No rating3
Pumpkin Patch  Pumpkin Patch   (ACTA Capital) Australian Owned  No rating3
Rock Your Kid  Rock Your Baby   Australian Owned  No rating3
Cinnamon Girl  Cinnamon Girl    USA  No rating3
Sportscraft  APG & Co   Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Cotton On Kids  Cotton On   Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Chino Kids  Designworks   (LK Group) Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Lonsdale  Designworks   (LK Group)
Brand Owner: IBML  
Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Review Kids  Designworks   (LK Group) Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Sista  Designworks   (LK Group) Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Adidas  adidas Australia   (Adidas) GER  Praises, some criticism4
United Colors of Benetton  Benetton   (Edizione) ITA  Praises, some criticism4
Country Road  Country Road Group   (Woolworths Holdings) ZAF  Praises, some criticism4
Esprit  Esprit Australia   (Esprit ) HKG  Praises, some criticism4
Cos  H&M   SWE  Praises, some criticism4
H&M  H&M   SWE  Praises, some criticism4
Bonds  Hanes Australasia   (Hanesbrands) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Icebreaker  Icebreaker   (VF) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Next  Next   UK  Praises, some criticism4
Fred Bracks  PVH Brands Australia   (PVH) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Uniqlo  Uniqlo Australia   (Fast Retailing) JPN  Praises, some criticism4
Mossimo  Brand Collective   (LK Group)
Brand Owner: Iconix  
Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Decjuba Girls  Decjuba   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Little Leona  Ducker Edmiston   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Bauhaus  Myer   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Jack & Milly  Myer   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Milkshake  Myer   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Tilii  Myer   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Pavement  Pavement United Brands   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Seed  Seed Heritage   (Lew Group) Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Ella Moss  Delta Galil   ISR  Criticism, some praise5
Gant   Gant   (MF Brands Group) SWI  Criticism, some praise5
Bardot Junior  Bardot   Australian Owned  Criticisms6
Mix  Coles Supermarkets   (Coles Group) Australian Owned  Criticisms6
Indie Kids  Industrie Clothing   Australian Owned  Criticisms6
Roler  Industrie Clothing   Australian Owned  Criticisms6
Rivers  Mosaic Brands   Australian Owned  Criticisms6
Abercrombie Kids  Abercrombie & Fitch   USA  Criticisms6
Carter's  Carter's  
Distributor: Skye Group  
USA  Criticisms6
OshKosh B'Gosh  Carter's  
Distributor: Skye Group  
USA  Criticisms6
Gymboree  Gymboree   (The Children's Place) USA  Criticisms6
Redsand  Perry Ellis International   USA  Criticisms6



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