K-Way
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
French-founded brand known for its packable nylon rain jacket.
We couldn't confirm where K-Way makes most of its packable rain jackets and outerwear.
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 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.
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 confirmed child or forced labour findings or linksAn unconfirmed report of forced labour is listed below. It doesn't affect the grade.
- 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, 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
We couldn't confirm where K-Way makes most of its products, so this shows where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 30% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | 20% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 10% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Cambodia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Indonesia | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Pakistan | 5% | 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 K-Way products are made by independent 'sourcing centres' licensed by BasicNet, which publishes no factory list or country breakdown; 82% of its sourcing centre sales in 2025 were in Asia and Oceania, and a Myanmar factory has been linked to the brand. BasicNet asks suppliers to follow an ILO-based code of conduct but discloses no independent audit results or living wage commitment. Investment firm Permira bought 40% of K-Way in 2025. K-Way scored 0% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, is not in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report and did not respond to questions about reported abuses at a Myanmar factory.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Listed | Scored 0 out of 250 (0%) in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, down from 19.5 in 2019. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | Neither K-Way nor BasicNet is rated in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Listed | K-Way did not respond to 2024 requests about reported forced overtime, wage cuts, verbal abuse and unpaid severance at the Dishang Kenny factory in Myanmar. 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.
- Workers at Dishang Kenny, a Myanmar garment factory linked to K-Way, reported in 2024 being made to sleep in the factory to meet excessive targets, dismissals for refusing overtime and wage cuts, after earlier reports of verbal abuse, forced Sunday overtime and 570 workers left without severance in 2021; K-Way did not respond to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC, 2024). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- K-Way (BasicNet) company profile (BHRRC) · search the archive · Fashion Transparency Index scores 19.5/250 in 2019 falling to 0/250 in 2022 and 2023; no evidence suppliers pay a living wage
- Myanmar: Garment workers forced to sleep overnight to meet excessive production targets (BHRRC) · search the archive · Feb 2024 reports of forced overnight work, dismissals and wage cuts at Dishang Kenny; K-Way among brands asked to respond
- Myanmar: Garment workers at Dishang Kenny factory report labour rights abuses (BHRRC) · search the archive · 2022 reports of verbal abuse, forced Sunday overtime and denied leave; K-Way invited to respond in Sept 2024 and did not
- K-Way (Good On You directory) · search the archive · Most final production in extreme-risk countries; no supplier list or living wage evidence; uses leather, wool and down in some products
- Myanmar: 570 garment workers denied compensation after factory closure (BHRRC) · search the archive · Dishang Kenny closure in April 2021 left 570 workers without wages and severance; K-Way did not respond in 2024
- BasicNet 2025 Annual Report (FinancialFilings) · search the archive · Sourcing centres: 81.6% of 2025 sales in Asia and Oceania; ILO-based code; Permira took about 40% of K-Way in February 2025
- K-Way (FARFETCH AU) · search the archive · K-Way items sold on Farfetch's Australian online store
Company details
- Headquarters
- Italy
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is K-Way ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/k-way, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded outdoor
Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent K-Way.