Labour Lens

Deus Ex Machina

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 · 3 sources

Sydney motorcycle, surf and lifestyle brand selling clothing.

We couldn't confirm where Deus Ex Machina makes most of its motorcycle and surf lifestyle apparel.

Also worth knowing

Most clothes and shoes are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, where pay is usually below a living wage and unions are heavily restricted.

See better everyday fashion options

Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Deus Ex Machina? Send a right of reply.

Compare Deus Ex Machina with another brand

Why it's graded Lacks transparency

  • Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
  • Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a hidden, unaudited supply chain, probably in high-risk countries. 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.

How grades are decided

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 rightsWhere clothes and shoes are usually made, such as China and Bangladesh, 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 2

  • Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
  • Red flag: Hidden supply chain, probably mostly in countries with poor worker rights

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

Not confirmed

We couldn't confirm where Deus Ex Machina makes most of its products, so this shows where clothes and shoes are usually made.

Where it's made, share by country, and conditions there
CountryShareWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
China30%No guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
Bangladesh20%No guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
Vietnam15%Systematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
India10%No guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
Cambodia8%No guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
Türkiye7%No guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageVery high
Indonesia5%No guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate
Pakistan5%No guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageHigh

Evidence

What we found

  • 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 Deus Ex Machina publishes no information on where its clothing is made, no supplier list, no supplier code of conduct and no modern slavery statement, and makes no living wage commitment. Its website covers brand values and products but says nothing on factory conditions or audits. It is not rated by the Ethical Fashion Report or the Fashion Transparency Index. No labour abuse findings tied to its products have been reported.

Sources and actions

Sources 3

Show all 3 sources
  1. Deus Ex Machina (company) - Wikipedia · search the archive · Founded in Sydney in 2006 by Dare Jennings; 60% stake sold in 2017 to mostly Milan-based investors

Published by Deus Ex Machina or its owner

  1. About Deus Ex Machina · search the archive · Headquarters and showroom in Camperdown, Sydney; clothing, headwear, bags, footwear and motorcycles; no sourcing information
  2. Deus Ex Machina flagship stores · search the archive · Flagship stores include The House of Simple Pleasures in Sydney, plus Canggu, Venice, Milan, Biarritz and São Paulo

Company details

Headquarters
Australia
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Deus Ex Machina ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/deus-ex-machina, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method
Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means

Better-graded swimwear and surf

Bond-EyeMissing: where its earlier stages happen and a named supplier list · Clothing & footwearCrinkle-knit women's swimwearPays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verifiedBaku SwimwearMissing: where its earlier stages happen and a named supplier list · Clothing & footwearWomen's swimwear and resort wearPays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verifiedBudgy SmugglerMissing: where its earlier stages happen and a named supplier list · Clothing & footwearSwim briefs, swimwear and underwearPays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verified

No swimwear and surf brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.

See every swimwear and surf brand

Something missing or wrong?

Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Deus Ex Machina.

Send evidenceSend a right of reply