Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Melbourne luggage brand selling polycarbonate suitcases.
There's no proof July pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Better-graded bags and accessories
Graded higher than July, 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 July? Send a right of reply.
Compare July with another brand
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 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.
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 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
- Met: High-risk raw materials (leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: leather
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, 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
From press and retailer reports; July doesn't say where its 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 |
| 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 |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| 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
- Uses leather in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where its leather comes from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
- Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)
Research notes July designs its luggage in Melbourne and has it made by contract suppliers in China, according to 2018 reports of the founders setting up production; it does not say where its range is made today. It publishes no factory list, supplier code of conduct, audit results or wage commitments, and no modern slavery statement was found. Strandbags led its 2019 funding round. Most products are polycarbonate, aluminium and nylon, with leather on a few trims and trunk lines.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Not assessed in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, the latest edition, which rates 138 mainly clothing companies. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Unclear | No July modern slavery statement was found on the Australian Modern Slavery Register; the company may be below the A$100 million reporting threshold. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No allegations against July recorded by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- July unveils its biggest flagship yet (Inside Retail, 2026) · search the archive · Melbourne QV flagship is July's final Australian store before international expansion
- July opens 13th store (Ragtrader) · search the archive · July runs its own retail stores in Australia
- July luggage funding led by Strandbags (SmartCompany, 2019) · search the archive · Strandbags put $8m into July's $10.5m round in 2019; no stake size given
- July raises seed funding to retool suppliers in China (Startup Daily) · search the archive · Founders Athan Didaskalou and Richard Li; seed funding used for retooling suppliers in China; sells direct to consumers
- From 95% revenue loss to million-dollar business (Jing Sourcing) · search the archive · First production run developed with suppliers in China; no factory named
- July Checked Trunk Leather (McGrocer) · search the archive · Leather appears on some July trunk lines only, not the core polycarbonate range
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is July ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/july, last researched 3 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 July.