City Beach
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 3 sources
Australian surf and youth fashion retailer.
City Beach scored 3/100 in the 2024 Ethical Fashion Report, and there's no proof it pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage.
Better-graded swimwear and surf
Graded higher than City Beach, selling the same kinds of things.
No swimwear and surf brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent City Beach? Send a right of reply.
Compare City Beach with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production in high-risk countries and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 3/100 in 2024). Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- 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 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not 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
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that 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 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
- Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 3/100 (2024)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
City Beach says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 60% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Mexico | Not given | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Pakistan | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Modern slavery statement
- 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 City Beach's voluntary modern slavery statement says about 80% of its direct supply comes from China, with small shares from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan; it does not publish a factory list. Suppliers are asked to provide BSCI, SMETA or WRAP audits 'where possible', and new contracts carry modern slavery clauses, but no audit results, living wage commitment or remediation cases are reported. It scored 3/100 in the 2024 Ethical Fashion Report, among the lowest of any company rated; no 2026 result is shown. No labour abuses linked to its suppliers have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Scored 3 out of 100 in the 2024 Ethical Fashion Report, in the bottom 20%; its ethical.org.au page shows no 2026 result. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Lodged a voluntary modern slavery statement for April 2020 to March 2021; it says about 80% of direct supply comes from China. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- City Beach - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Ethical Fashion Report 2024 score 3/100, bottom 20%; owner Fewstone Pty Ltd; founded 1985; about 4,000 staff
- City Beach Modern Slavery Statement 2019/20 (Modern Slavery Register) · search the archive · 80% of direct supply from China; small shares from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan; BSCI/SMETA/WRAP audits requested where possible
- Trustee for City Beach Trust statement 2021-1735 (Modern Slavery Register) · search the archive · Voluntary statement covering April 2020 to March 2021
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Employees
- About 4,000
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is City Beach ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/city-beach, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent City Beach.