Early Settler

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

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 3 sources

Australian furniture and homewares retailer.

We couldn't confirm where Early Settler makes most of its own-design furniture and homewares.

Also worth knowing

Most homewares and appliances are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where pay is usually below a living wage.

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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 homewares and appliances are usually made, such as China and India, 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 (timber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: timber

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 Early Settler makes most of its products, so this shows where homewares and appliances are usually made.

Where it's made, share by country, and conditions there
Country	Share	Worker rights	Legal minimum wage	Forced labour risk
China	50%	No guarantee of rights	Below a living wage	Moderate
Vietnam	15%	Systematic violations	Well below a living wage	Moderate
India	10%	No guarantee of rights	Well below a living wage	High
Poland	10%	Regular violations	Close to a living wage	Moderate
Indonesia	8%	No guarantee of rights	Well below a living wage	Moderate
Malaysia	7%	No guarantee of rights	Below a living wage	Moderate

Evidence

What we found

Doesn't show where its timber comes from. Timber is linked to illegal logging linked to forced labour, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.

Research notes Early Settler designs its own furniture ranges in Melbourne, many in solid timbers such as oak, teak and mahogany, but does not say where they are made or name any factories. Its website claims responsibly sourced materials without naming any certification, audit programme or supplier code. No modern slavery statement, supplier list or wage information is published.

What independent sources say

Source	Result	Details
Australian Modern Slavery Register	Unclear	No modern slavery statement under the Early Settler name is on the register; its revenue may be below the reporting threshold. View
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report	Not covered	Baptist World Aid's reports cover fashion and electronics brands, not furniture retailers. View
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre	Unclear	No labour abuse allegations involving Early Settler or its suppliers were identified. View

Sources and actions

Sources 3

Show all 3 sources

Early Settler - The Design Files directory · search the archive · Sold in-store and online; teak and mahogany vanities, outdoor and dining furniture

Published by Early Settler or its owner

Our Story - Early Settler · search the archive · Australian owned since 1985; Melbourne design studio; solid timbers and oak; 'responsibly sourced' with no detail
About us - Early Settler NZ · search the archive · Stores in New Zealand; no manufacturing locations or audits named

Company details

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

Better-graded furniture

JardanMissing: where its earlier stages happen · Homewares, furniture & appliancesAustralian-made sofas and furniturePays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verified KoskelaMissing: where its earlier stages happen, a named supplier list and traced raw materials · Homewares, furniture & appliancesAustralian-made furniture and homewaresPays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verified PlyroomMissing: where its earlier stages happen · Homewares, furniture & appliancesPlywood furniture and storagePays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verified

None of the furniture brands we know to make furniture is Good yet. These are the strongest so far. Le Klint is Good, but we don't know that it makes furniture.

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Something missing or wrong?

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

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