Jeanswest
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources
Melbourne denim and casual clothing brand.
Jeanswest's supply chain was linked to forced labour in 2019, and it scored 9/100 in the 2024 Ethical Fashion Report.
Better-graded basics
Graded higher than Jeanswest, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
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 Jeanswest? Send a right of reply.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 0 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 4 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, a hidden, unaudited supply chain in high-risk countries, forced or child labour and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 9/100 in 2024). Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record: the most serious problem on its record (forced labour link, last recorded in 2019) is more than 5 years old.
- 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 0 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
- Not 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 4
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights
- Red flag: Forced, slave or child labour found in or linked to its supply chain
- Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 9/100 (2024)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Jeanswest names some of the countries it makes in: Australia, China, India and Vietnam. 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 |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Australia | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| 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
- 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 Jeanswest last published a factory list in 2016, covering about 80% of its factories in China, Australia, Vietnam and India; no current list or country shares are available. Oxfam's 2024 tracker found no public living wage commitment, and it scored 9/100 in the 2024 Ethical Fashion Report, with no 2026 score shown. No modern slavery statement for its current owner was found on the Australian register. Since its 2025 relaunch as an online-only denim store, its website claims recycled and organic fabrics but gives no information on where products are made.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Its company page shows no 2026 Ethical Fashion Report score; it scored 9 out of 100 in the 2024 edition, in the bottom 20% of 120 companies. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Listed | Glorious Sun (Jeanswest) did not respond to a 2019 request about forced labour in Xinjiang supply chains. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Listed | Entered administration in March 2025 and closed all Australian stores; relaunched online only in September 2025 under Harbour Guidance. View |
Confirmed issues 1
Only confirmed problems are listed, and old ones drop off after 10 to 15 years. A problem the company has fully put right no longer counts against it, and nor does one it finds and is fixing itself. How problems are counted
| Last recorded | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Link through a supplierA 2019 ABC Four Corners investigation identified Jeanswest among brands sold in Australia using cotton from Xinjiang, where Uyghur forced labour is widespread (ABC, Baptist World Aid, 2019). Source · search the archive | Not knownJeanswest did not respond to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre about the findings, and no action on Xinjiang cotton has been reported. |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Jeanswest - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2024 Ethical Fashion Report 9/100 (no 2026 score shown); Oxfam 2024 no living wage commitment; owner Harbour Guide
- Forced Labour Uncovered. What Happens Now? (Baptist World Aid) · search the archive · Four Corners 2019 revealed Jeanswest among brands using Xinjiang cotton
- Glorious Sun (Jeanswest) did not respond (BHRRC) · search the archive · Jeanswest did not respond on Xinjiang forced labour, July 2019
- Jeanswest exposes its factories (Ragtrader) · search the archive · 2016 factory list covering 80% of factories in China, Australia, Vietnam, India
- Jeanswest back with online-only operation (SmartCompany) · search the archive · Online-only relaunch September 2025 after stores closed; owner Harbour Guidance
- Jeanswest publishes supply chain list (Inside Retail NZ) · search the archive · 31 business partners across China, Australia, Vietnam and India
Published by Jeanswest or its owner
- Jeanswest Australia online store · search the archive · Active 2026 online store selling men's and women's denim; claims recycled and organic fabrics; no origin or factory details
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Jeanswest ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/jeanswest, 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 Jeanswest.