Labour Lens

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

Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources

California surf brand selling boardshorts, swimwear and clothing.

We couldn't confirm where Hurley makes most of its surf clothing, boardshorts and swimwear.

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.

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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 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 Hurley 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 recycled metals or fibres
  • 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 Since Nike sold it in 2019, Hurley has been a licensed brand: Bluestar Alliance owns the name and licensees such as Mamiye Brothers and Hurley Australasia (with Conquest Sports) make and sell the products. Neither publishes a factory list, production countries, a modern slavery statement or a living wage commitment, so no production shares are given; the only factory linked to it in public reports is PT Tuntex Garment in Indonesia, now closed. Its Phantom boardshorts, about two-thirds of the range, use recycled polyester; T-shirts and fleece use cotton. It is not rated in the Ethical Fashion Report.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Business & Human Rights Resource CentreListedCompany profile records one response request, about the 2023 closure of Indonesian factory PT Tuntex Garment; Hurley did not respond (0% response rate). View

Unconfirmed reports

Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.

  • PT Tuntex Garment in Indonesia closed in September 2023, laying off 1,163 workers after a fall in orders; Hurley was one of three brands asked to respond and did not reply (Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, 2024). Source

Sources and actions

Sources 7

Show all 7 sources
  1. Indonesia: Factory forced to close due to impact of pandemic & order decline (BHRRC) · search the archive · PT Tuntex Garment closed Sept 2023, 1,163 workers laid off; Hurley, Nike and Puma invited to respond in March 2024; Hurley no response
  2. Converse Australia owner inks a new deal (Ragtrader) · search the archive · Conquest Sports runs Hurley in Australia and NZ as Hurley Australasia Pty Ltd, a joint venture with Bluestar, from 2020
  3. Hurley inks licensing deal with Mamiye Brothers (FashionUnited) · search the archive · Mamiye Brothers licensed for Hurley women's sportswear and activewear from 2025
  4. Hurley 2023 Boardshorts Preview (Boardsport Source) · search the archive · Phantom models, about 65-70% of the boardshort collection, made with recycled polyester; Phantom Natural blends cotton
  5. Hurley Ocean Rodeo Slub T-shirt (Blue Tomato) · search the archive · Hurley T-shirt is 60% cotton, 40% polyester
  6. Hurley International (Wikipedia) · search the archive · Nike sold Hurley to Bluestar Alliance in 2019; Costa Mesa HQ; sells clothing, swimwear, wetsuits, sandals, bags

Published by Hurley or its owner

  1. Phantom Eco Classic 18" boardshort (Hurley) · search the archive · 86% recycled polyester, 14% spandex; no country of origin stated

Company details

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

Better-graded swimwear and surf

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