Cooper St
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
Sydney women's fashion label selling dresses, tops and separates.
Cooper St's parent, Hotsprings Pty, scored 23/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, and it's working towards a living wage but can't yet show workers are paid one.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no proof yet of a living wage and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 23/100 in 2026, for the company it's rated with). 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 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: working towards one
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
- 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 2
- Red flag: No proof yet that it pays a living wage (it's working towards one)
- Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 23/100 (2026, the company it's rated with)
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, 89%. Bangladesh is next, at 5%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 89% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Sri Lanka | 3% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 3% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Publishes supplier list
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Public plan to pay a living wage within 5 years, or with measurable steps due within 5 years
- 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 Cooper St is made by independent factories contracted by its parent Hotsprings. The group's August 2025 factory list names 38 garment factories (34 in China, 2 in Bangladesh, 1 each in Sri Lanka and Vietnam) without saying which brand each makes, and Cooper St is not named on the group's ethics pages, so the shares cover all Hotsprings brands. Hotsprings is a full ETI member, audits factories yearly (mostly SMETA) and aims to meet Anker living wage benchmarks by the end of 2026, with no interim results published. Hotsprings scored 23/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Owner Hotsprings scored 23 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), after 21 in 2024; Cooper St is not rated separately. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Cooper Street Clothing - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Cooper Street Clothing Pty Ltd 100% owned by Hotsprings (acquired 2015); shows Hotsprings' 2026 score, no separate brand score; updated Oct 2026
- Hotsprings - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Hotsprings scored 23/100 (average 31.5), after 21 in 2024
- Hotsprings - Factory List (August 2025) · search the archive · 38 Tier 1 factories: China 34, Bangladesh 2, Sri Lanka 1, Vietnam 1; about 76 Tier 2-4 suppliers, mostly China; no brand per factory
- Hotsprings - Our Supply Chain & Partners · search the archive · Annual SMETA audits by SGS/Intertek; common findings excess overtime and social insurance gaps; Anker living wage goal by end of 2026
- Hotsprings - Best Practice & Ethical Sourcing · search the archive · Full ETI member; SEDEX SMETA audits of Tier 1; Workers' Voice and grievance programmes
- Cooper St Women's Midi Wrap Dress (Costco Australia) · search the archive · Cooper St dress on sale in Australia; 100% polyester, made in China
Company details
- Owned by
- Hotsprings Pty Ltd (privately owned Sydney apparel group, also owns P.E Nation and Rebecca Vallance)
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Cooper St ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/cooper-st, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded everyday fashion
Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Cooper St.