Lee Mathews
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources
Sydney designer label selling womenswear in linen, cotton and silk.
We couldn't confirm where Lee Mathews makes most of its designer womenswear in natural fibres.
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.
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, leather and silk) 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
We couldn't confirm where Lee Mathews 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
- 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.
- Uses leather and silk in only a few products and doesn't show where they come from. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of them traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Lee Mathews does not say where its clothing is made, does not publish a supplier list, modern slavery statement or code of conduct, and gives no details of factory audits or wages beyond a general reference to responsible manufacturing. Retailer listings show at least some pieces are made in China. Good On You rates its worker policies 1 out of 5 for lack of disclosure. It uses linen, cotton (including some organic), silk and some leather.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | Not rated in Baptist World Aid's 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (or the 2024 edition), which covers brands with a large Australian presence. View |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Not covered | Too small to be included in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Unclear | No modern slavery statement found; the company may fall below the A$100 million reporting threshold. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- Lee Mathews - Good On You · search the archive · People score 1/5, insufficient disclosure; uses organic cotton, silk, leather and wool (July 2023)
- Lee Mathews Bella silk satin camisole (Mytheresa) · search the archive · Silk camisole listed as made in China, 100% silk
- Lee Mathews - The Fashion Memo (Net-a-Porter) · search the archive · Works with mills and artisans around the world; no locations named
Published by Lee Mathews or its owner
- Lee Mathews - Our Story · search the archive · Making clothes since 1999; five Australian stores; no manufacturing locations or supplier details given
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Lee Mathews ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/lee-mathews, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded everyday fashion
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 Lee Mathews.