Afends
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 4 sources
Byron Bay streetwear and surf label, much of it in hemp and organic cotton.
There's no proof Afends pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China and India.
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier list
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
China has the largest share, 86%. India is next, at 14%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 86% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 14% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Publishes supplier list
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Uses recycled metals or fibres
- Doesn't show where its cotton comes from. Cotton is linked to forced labour in Xinjiang and Turkmenistan, and child labour in several growing regions, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
Research notes Afends names seven partner factories on its website: six in China (Qingdao, Zhuhai, Anhui, Fujian, Guangzhou, Hong Kong) and one in Bangalore, India; shares shown are by factory count, as no volumes are given. Six list amfori BSCI or SMETA social audits, and many fabrics carry GOTS, OCS or GRS certificates, but these cover specific styles. Its short ethical sourcing standard asks suppliers for recognised audits (BSCI, SMETA, WRAP or SA8000) but sets no wage or hours rules, and it publishes no living wage commitment or audit results. No labour abuses linked to its factories have been reported.
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- Afends - Good On You directory · search the archive · People rating 1/5 'Very Poor': no evidence of living wage, supplier code of conduct or audit disclosure
- Afends opens two stores in Sydney (Inside Retail) · search the archive · Founded in 2006 by Jonathan Salfield and Declan Wise; first store in Byron Bay in 2009
- Afends Ethical Sourcing Standards · search the archive · Suppliers must hold BSCI, SMETA, WRAP or SA8000-type audits and work with external audits; no wage or hours rules
Published by Afends or its owner
- Supply Chain - AFENDS · search the archive · Seven named factories (six in China, one in India) with BSCI/SMETA audits and GOTS, OCS, GRS fibre certificates
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Afends ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/afends, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded basics
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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Afends.