Elwood
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources
Melbourne-founded casual label selling jeans, shirts and jumpers.
Elwood's parent, Brand Collective, scored 9/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, and workers in Bangladesh and Vietnam are very unlikely to earn a living wage.
Better-graded everyday fashion
Graded higher than Elwood, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
None of the everyday fashion brands we know to make jeans is Good yet. These are the strongest so far. The Social Studio, Middlemost and The Social Outfit are Good, but we don't know that they make jeans. Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Elwood? Send a right of reply.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 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 9/100 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 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, 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
- 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 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 9/100 (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
These are Brand Collective's countries across all its brands; Elwood doesn't say where its own products are made. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Indonesia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Brazil | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Spain | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Modern slavery statement
- 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 Elwood publishes no information of its own on where its clothes are made. Its owner Brand Collective names China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil and Spain as key supplier countries, but gives no factory counts, publishes no supplier list and does not break sourcing down by label. Factories are audited by its China sourcing office and third-party firms, but no results are reported; suppliers need only pay the legal minimum wage and there is no living wage commitment. Its owner scored 9/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, well below the 31.5 average.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Owner Brand Collective scored 9 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5). View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Covered by Brand Collective's annual modern slavery statement (FY2024), which names key supplier countries but gives no factory numbers, audit results or cases found. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Brand Collective - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Brand Collective scored 9/100 (average 31.5); Elwood listed among its brands; owned by LK Group
- Youth fashion still going strong for Elwood (Ragtrader) · search the archive · Elwood is a Melbourne-based youth jeanswear label founded by Andy Gillott
Published by Elwood or its owner
- Brand Collective Modern Slavery Statement FY2024 · search the archive · Key supplier countries Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam; internal and third-party audits; minimum wage code
- Brand Collective Modern Slavery Statement FY2023 · search the archive · Most suppliers in China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil and Spain; no supplier counts or audit results
- Brand Collective - Ethics · search the archive · Zero tolerance policy on modern slavery; no production countries, supplier list or living wage commitment published
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Elwood ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/elwood, last researched 2 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 Elwood.