Labour Lens

Kayser

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

Based on what Kayser publishes, with few independent checks. Researched with AI assistance against published rules. Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources · How we check

Australian hosiery and lingerie brand selling tights and pantyhose.

Kayser can't show that the workers who make its products in Bangladesh and Indonesia earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.

Better-graded underwear and sleepwear

Graded higher than Kayser, selling the same kinds of things.

Ktena Knitting MillsIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.Australian merino knitwear and basicsGoodVerifiedMerino CountryMakes its products in its own factories in Australia, where legal wages are close to a living wage.Australian merino thermals and underwearGoodPartly verifiedOttie MerinoHolds Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.Australian-made merino tees and thermalsGoodVerified

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

Meets 4 of 6 Good requirements, with 1 red flag.Open why it has this gradeClose why it has this grade
  • Not met: Meets 4 of 6 Good requirements.
  • Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
  • 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 4 of 6

  • Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
  • Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in Bangladesh, China and Indonesia.
  • 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
  • Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier list
  • Met: High-risk raw materials (such as cotton and leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range

Red flags 1

  • Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good:
StarAwarded for
Open supply chain

Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

Australia, Bangladesh, China and 9 more countries.Open where it's madeClose where it's made

From Hanes Australasia's supplier list, which covers Kayser and its sister brands. Kayser publishes no breakdown of its own, so the countries shown are the group's.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
AustraliaStrong protectionsAbout a living wageLow
BangladeshNo guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
ChinaNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
DenmarkStrong protectionsAbout a living wageLow
IndonesiaNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate
IndiaNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
CambodiaNo guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
PakistanNo guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageHigh
PortugalStrong protectionsClose to a living wageLow
ThailandNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
TürkiyeNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageVery high
VietnamSystematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate

Evidence

6 things we found and what 2 independent sources say.Open the evidenceClose the evidence

What we found

  • No high-risk raw materials (such as cotton and leather) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Publishes supplier list
  • Independent social audits of all its main factories
  • Signed the International Accord on garment factory safety
  • Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)

Research notes Kayser hosiery is made for Hanes Australasia, which in 2025 sourced from about 81 owned and contract factories in Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Portugal, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam; it does not say which make Kayser or how much comes from each, though retail listings show Kayser hosiery made in China. Factories get independent audits and the business takes part in the International Accord, but there is no evidence of living wages. Gildan sold the business to BBFIT Investments in October 2026. Its tights are mainly nylon and elastane.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportAnother organisation's ratingOwner scored 61/100Kayser is not named on the HanesBrands Australia (Hanes Australasia) page; its then-owner Hanesbrands Inc scored 61 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), after 64 in 2024. View
Australian Modern Slavery RegisterStatement filedHBI Holdings Australasia 2025 statement names Kayser and hosiery as a core category: about 81 facilities in 12 countries; 109 audits in 2025; one owned factory in Indonesia; no per-country shares or living wage data. View

Sources and actions

6 sources, company details, and how to send evidence or a right of reply.Open the sources and company detailsClose the sources and company details

Sources 6

Show all 6 sources
  1. Shop Ethical: HanesBrands Australia · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Hanesbrands Inc 61/100 (average 31.5); Kayser not listed among the brands
  2. IP Australia trade mark 55919: KAYSER · search the archive · KAYSER mark for hosiery and underwear owned by Hanes Innerwear Australia Pty Ltd
  3. Kayser Plus Size Opaque Tights (Myer) · search the archive · Kayser tights sold at Myer
  4. Kayser Sheer Anklets pantyhose listing (eBay) · search the archive · Kayser hosiery made of nylon and elastane, made in China (supports noCotton)
  5. Gildan Completes Sale of HanesBrands Australia (BNN Bloomberg) · search the archive · 26 Oct 2026: Gildan completed the sale of HanesBrands Australia to BBFIT Investments for about A$700 million

Published by Kayser or its owner

  1. HBI Holdings Australasia Modern Slavery Statement 2025 · search the archive · Names Kayser; hosiery a core category; about 81 facilities in 12 countries; one owned Indonesian factory; 109 audits; Accord; no living wage data

Company details

Headquarters
Australia
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Kayser ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/kayser, 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?

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