David Jones (own brands)
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 3 sources
Australian department store chain selling fashion and homewares.
David Jones (own brands) scored 20/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, and there's no proof it 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 2 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 20/100 in 2026). 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 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rights82% of its products are made in countries such as China and India, 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
- 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 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 20/100 (2026)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From David Jones (own brands)'s own disclosure: it publishes its supplier list. Its list covers only part of its range. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 56% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 20% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Australia | 9% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Italy | 7% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Bangladesh | 3% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | 2% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Poland | 1% | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | 1% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | 1% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Publishes supplier list
- Modern slavery statement
- Signed the International Accord on garment factory safety
- 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 David Jones has been owned by Australian private equity firm Anchorage Capital Partners since 2023. Its own brands (Alta Linea, Agenda, Milana, Saffron & Clover and David Jones Collection) come from 99 suppliers and 150 tier one factories: 82 in China, 29 in India, 13 in Australia, 10 in Italy, 3 each in Turkey and Bangladesh, 2 each in Poland and Thailand and 6 elsewhere; the shares shown count those factories. It publishes 90% of its tier one factories, is an International Accord member and has a living wage roadmap to FY30 with no published milestones, but only about a third of factories were audited in FY25 and it scored 20/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Scored 20 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), after 41 in 2024. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- Shop Ethical: David Jones Ltd · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: David Jones (own brands) scored 20/100 (average 31.5); Oxfam tracker findings; brands covered
- David Jones Modern Slavery Statement FY25 (Australian Modern Slavery Register) · search the archive · FY25: 99 suppliers, 150 tier one factories by country; 90% published; Accord member; living wage roadmap to FY30; 47 audits; about 5,600 staff
- Anchorage Capital Partners finalises David Jones acquisition · search the archive · Anchorage completed the purchase of David Jones from Woolworths Holdings in 2023
Company details
- Owned by
- Anchorage Capital Partners
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Employees
- About 5,600
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is David Jones (own brands) ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/david-jones, 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 David Jones (own brands).