Lowes
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 3 sources
Family-owned Australian retailer of menswear and school uniforms.
Lowes scored 14/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, and there's no proof it pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 14/100 in 2026). 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 3 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 China, Bangladesh 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
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) 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: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 14/100 (2026)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
China has the largest share, 79%. Bangladesh is next, at 7%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 79% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Sri Lanka | 3% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 2% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Australia | 2% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Fiji | 2% | We don't have labour ratings for this country yet. | ||
Evidence
What we found
- Publishes supplier list
- Modern slavery statement
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- 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 Lowes' own-brand clothing and school uniforms are made by independent suppliers. Its modern slavery statement for 2025 counts 58 suppliers in 7 countries (China 46, Bangladesh 4, Indonesia 3, Sri Lanka 2, Vietnam, Fiji and one local supplier); the shares shown are those supplier counts. It names most audited factories, with some withheld under confidentiality agreements, and says every supplier has an annual third-party audit (BSCI, SMETA, WRAP and others), but it makes no living wage commitment and scored 14/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Scored 14 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), after 12 in 2024. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Lowes Manhattan Pty Ltd publishes a modern slavery statement; the statement for the 2025 financial year (December 2025) lists 58 suppliers in 7 countries, 46 of them in China, and a schedule of audited factories. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- Lowes - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Ethical Fashion Report 2026 score 14/100 against a 31.5 average
Published by Lowes or its owner
- Lowes Manhattan Pty Ltd Modern Slavery Statement (FY2025) · search the archive · 58 suppliers: China 46, Bangladesh 4, Indonesia 3, Sri Lanka 2, Vietnam 1, Fiji 1, local 1; named audited factories; 1,224 staff; no living wage
- 2020 Lowes Manhattan Pty Ltd Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · Family-owned; annual independent audits (Intertek, BSCI)
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Employees
- About 1,224
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Lowes ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/lowes, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded basics
None of the basics brands we know to make workwear is Good yet. This is the strongest so far. Joyya, Citizen Wolf and 5 more are Good, but we don't know that they make workwear.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Lowes.