Labour Lens

Damson Madder

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Clothing & footwear

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources

London womenswear label selling dresses, knitwear and denim.

There's no proof Damson Madder pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage.

Better-graded everyday fashion

Graded higher than Damson Madder, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.

3 resale and rental platforms, Good by ruleBuying second-hand or refurbished: SWOP Clothing Exchange, AirRobe and Grailed · See them allGoodThe Social StudioClothing & footwearSocial enterprise fashion labelIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Gives workers a real voice; Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities4 starsMiddlemostClothing & footwearOne-off clothing from vintage textilesIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Open supply chain3 starsThe Social OutfitClothing & footwearSydney-made social enterprise fashionIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Gives workers a real voice3 stars

Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

  • Not met: Meets 4 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.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 4 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, India and Türkiye.
  • 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
  • Met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeTraced 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

Accreditations 1

Where it's made

From Damson Madder's own disclosure: it publishes its supplier list.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
ChinaNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
IndiaNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
TürkiyeNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageVery high

Evidence

What we found

  • Passes the raw-material check for clothes and shoes: traces or certifies its cotton.
  • Publishes supplier list
  • Independent social audits of all its main factories
  • Uses recycled metals or fibres
  • Traces or certifies most but not all of its cotton. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.

Research notes Damson Madder owns no factories and works with twelve key suppliers in Türkiye, China and India, published on Open Supply Hub; no shares by country are given. Its Tier 1 and 2 factories are audited by third parties (Sedex or amfori BSCI), including unannounced visits, and staff in Türkiye visit factories weekly. Over 92% of its cotton is certified organic or recycled. Its code requires minimum wages only, with no living wage commitment.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportNot coveredSmall UK label; no Ethical Fashion Report 2026 score found. View
Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution)Not coveredBelow the turnover threshold of the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. View

Sources and actions

Sources 5

Show all 5 sources
  1. Damson Madder founder Emma Hill (Marie Claire UK) · search the archive · Emma Hill is the founder of Damson Madder
  2. Women's Damson Madder (THE ICONIC) · search the archive · Damson Madder clothing sold online in Australia by THE ICONIC

Published by Damson Madder or its owner

  1. Where are your products designed and made? (Damson Madder help centre) · search the archive · Twelve key supply partners in Turkey, China and India; factories published on Open Supply Hub; third-party audits incl. unannounced
  2. Our ethos (Damson Madder) · search the archive · Owns no factories; Tier 1 and 2 factories audited by a third party such as Sedex or BSCI; code requires minimum wages
  3. Responsibility (Damson Madder) · search the archive · Over 92% of cotton organic or recycled (GOTS, OCS or GRS certified) in 2025; under 5% virgin synthetics

Company details

Headquarters
United Kingdom
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Damson Madder ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/damson-madder, last researched 3 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 Damson Madder.

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