Harris Scarfe
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
Australian department store selling clothing, bedding and homewares.
Harris Scarfe's parent, Spotlight Retail Group, scored 5/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, and it has no full independent audit.
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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 5/100 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 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
- 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 5/100 (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 Spotlight Retail Group's countries across all its brands; Harris Scarfe 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 |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Australia | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Poland | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well 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 |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| 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 Harris Scarfe's own-label clothing is sourced through the Spotlight group's sourcing arm, Glowstar, which works with about 380 supplier factories in China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and other countries; earlier group statements name Australia, China, India and Poland for Harris Scarfe, with no breakdown by country and no factory list. The group's modern slavery statement relies on desktop reviews of supplier documents and names no living wage commitment. Its parent scored 5/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, among the lowest in Australia.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Owner Spotlight Group scored 5 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), after 6 in 2024. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Covered by Spotlight Group Holdings' FY25 joint modern slavery statement, which reports about 380 supplier factories in China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and other countries and no incidents found. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Spotlight Group - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Spotlight Group scored 5/100 (average 31.5)
- Harris Scarfe - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Owned 100% by Spotlight Group Holdings; rated D
- Harris Scarfe reveals results of fashion relaunch (Ragtrader) · search the archive · Private label range includes Savannah and Khoko (2022)
Published by Harris Scarfe or its owner
- Spotlight Group Holdings FY25 Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · Covers Harris Scarfe; Glowstar uses about 380 factories in China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam; no incidents found; no living wage
- Spotlight Group Holdings FY21 Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · Harris Scarfe procures from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Poland; began Xinjiang cotton checks
- Spotlight Group Holdings Modern Slavery Statement FY22 · search the archive · Harris Scarfe sources from 5 countries: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Poland; group estimates just over half its range comes from China
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Employees
- About 1,900
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Harris Scarfe ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/harris-scarfe, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded basics
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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Harris Scarfe.