ICON DECODER
COMPANY RATINGS | |
![]() |
Praises, no criticism |
![]() |
Some praise, no criticism |
![]() |
No rating |
![]() |
Praises, some criticism |
![]() |
Criticism, some praise |
![]() |
Criticisms |
Note: Ratings are based on company record, including parent companies.
They are not a comment on the product itself. |
|
OTHER ICONS | |
![]() |
Australian Owned |
![]() |
Outstanding Product Feature |
![]() |
Industry Alert |
IssuesWhat do you value? > Animal testing > Conflict minerals > Factory farming > Food miles > Genetic engineering > Labour exploitation > Nanotechnology > Overfishing > Packaging & waste > Palm oil > See all |
CategoriesWhat do you buy? > Baby > Clothing > Food & Drink > Household > Office Supplies > Personal Care > Pets > Retail > Technology > Toys > See all |
Mens Shoes
The Guide > Clothing > Footwear > Mens Shoes |
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.]
[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]
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]
Leather
The global leather industry slaughters more than one billion animals for their skins each year. Leather commonly comes from cattle and calves, and from other animals slaughtered for meat such as horses, sheep, lambs, goats, and pigs. Wild animals are also hunted for their skins. Kangaroos can also be commercially shot purely for their skins in Western Australia and Queensland (skin-only commercial hunting is banned in other Australian jurisdictions). Other species hunted worldwide for their skins include zebras, boars, elephants, crocodiles, and lizards.
Additionally, the modern process of tanning, involves toxic substances and pollutants. [Animal Liberation]
Additionally, the modern process of tanning, involves toxic substances and pollutants. [Animal Liberation]
- Check out the Issues section of our website for more about leather [ethical.org.au/issues]
- There are many alternatives to leather, including cotton, linen, rubber, ramie, canvas, and synthetics. [PETA]
- See Alternatives to Leather at the Animals Australia Unleashed Faux Shopping Guide [Unleashed]
- Look for polyurethane-based materials rather than PVC. PVC is not degradable, involves production using toxic additives and emits carcinogenic dioxin when incinerated.
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.
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]
Alternatives beyond the mainstream 
MooShoes [more info]
About these listings
Find farmers' markets, food coops, farm gate products at Local Harvest
Features: Vegan
Cruelty-free footwear, bags, t-shirts, wallets, books and other accessories. Online store selling multiple brands. Based in the USA.
Manufacturer: MooShoes
Cruelty-free footwear, bags, t-shirts, wallets, books and other accessories. Online store selling multiple brands. Based in the USA.
Manufacturer: MooShoes
BRAND | COMPANY | OWNED | RATING |
---|---|---|---|
Etiko ![]() |
Etiko Fair Trade | ![]() |
![]() |
VEJA | VEJA | FRA | ![]() |
Aquila | Aquila (Blue Sky) | ![]() |
![]() |
Windsor Smith | Windsor Smith | ![]() |
![]() |
Allbirds | Allbirds | USA | ![]() |
UGG | Deckers Distributor: Accent Group |
USA | ![]() |
Dr Martens | Dr Martens Distributor: Accent Group |
UK | ![]() |
Timberland | Timberland (VF) Distributor: Accent Group |
USA | ![]() |
TOMS | TOMS | USA | ![]() |
Airflex | Betts | ![]() |
![]() |
Betts | Betts | ![]() |
![]() |
Zu | Betts | ![]() |
![]() |
Clarks | Brand Collective (LK Group) Brand Owner: Clarks |
![]() |
![]() |
Grosby | Brand Collective (LK Group) | ![]() |
![]() |
Hush Puppies | Brand Collective (LK Group) Brand Owner: Wolverine Worldwide |
![]() |
![]() |
Julius Marlow | Brand Collective (LK Group) | ![]() |
![]() |
Colorado | Munro Footwear Group | ![]() |
![]() |
RM Williams | RM Williams (Tattarang) | ![]() |
![]() |
Bata | Bata Shoes Australia (Bata Brands) | SWI | ![]() |
Keen | Keen Footwear | USA | ![]() |
Florsheim | Weyco Group | USA | ![]() |
Rivers | Mosaic Brands | ![]() |
![]() |
Tretorn | Authentic Brands Group | USA | ![]() |
Birkenstock | Birkenstock (L Catterton) | USA | ![]() |
Columbia | Columbia Sportswear | USA | ![]() |
Crocs | Crocs Australia (Crocs) | USA | ![]() |
Rockport | Rockport (Authentic Brands Group) Distributor: True Alliance |
USA | ![]() |
Skechers | Skechers Distributor: Accent Group |
USA | ![]() |
Steve Madden | Steve Madden | USA | ![]() |
Cat | Wolverine Worldwide Distributor: Accent Group |
USA | ![]() |
Keds | Wolverine Worldwide | USA | ![]() |
Merrell | Wolverine Worldwide Distributor: Accent Group |
USA | ![]() |
Sperry | Wolverine Worldwide | USA | ![]() |