Labour Lens

Honey Birdette

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 2 November 2026 · 4 sources

Brisbane-founded brand selling lingerie, bodysuits and swimwear.

We couldn't confirm where Honey Birdette makes most of its luxury lingerie and intimates.

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.

Better-graded underwear and sleepwear

Graded higher than Honey Birdette, selling the same kinds of things.

Ktena Knitting MillsClothing & footwearAustralian merino knitwear and basicsIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodVerifiedMerino CountryClothing & footwearAustralian merino thermals and underwearMakes its products in its own factories in Australia, where legal wages are close to a living wage.GoodPartly verifiedOttie MerinoClothing & footwearAustralian-made merino tees and thermalsHolds Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodVerified

See every underwear and sleepwear brand

See better underwear and sleepwear options

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

  • Not met: Meets 2 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 2 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
  • Met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: 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 Honey Birdette 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

  • Uses cotton in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where its cotton comes from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.

Research notes Honey Birdette does not say where its lingerie is made and publishes no supplier or factory list or modern slavery statement; owner Playboy's filings give no sourcing details. It names only two material makers, an Italian lace mill and a Swiss embroidery firm, and says its manufacturers face random inspections, are Oeko-Tex certified and pay above minimum wage, but publishes no audit results or independent evidence. It has no living wage commitment or labour certification. Its lingerie is mainly synthetic satin, mesh and lace.

Sources and actions

Sources 4

Show all 4 sources
  1. Playboy, Inc. Form 10-K 2025 · search the archive · Owns and operates Honey Birdette: 51 stores in Australia, US and UK in 2025; no sourcing countries disclosed
  2. Playboy, Inc. Q2 2026 earnings release (Form 8-K) · search the archive · August 2026: Honey Birdette still reported within Playboy's results, sales up 18.2% year on year

Published by Honey Birdette or its owner

  1. Honey Birdette - Sustainability · search the archive · Names Italian lace and Swiss embroidery suppliers; claims random inspections, Oeko-Tex and above-minimum wages; no audits published
  2. Honey Birdette AU FAQ · search the archive · Australian online store active in AUD; no sourcing information

Company details

Headquarters
Australia
Last researched
2 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Honey Birdette ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/honey-birdette, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method
Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means

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