Mons Royale
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Wānaka brand selling merino base layers and clothing.
There's no proof Mons Royale pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Better-graded outdoor
Graded higher than Mons Royale, selling the same kinds of things.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 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.
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 rights95% 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 (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 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Mons Royale names some of the countries it makes in: China. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 79% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | 6% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | 5% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | 3% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | 2% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | 2% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | 2% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
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.
- Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)
Research notes Mons Royale is a Wanaka, New Zealand merino brand, a Certified B Corp since November 2023 (recertifying) and a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative. It names its cut-and-sew partners, Venitra and Shanghai Challenge Textile, both in China, so production is shown as China by named factories; the factory list it promises is not linked. Its merino comes from eight named ZQ-certified South Island farms and some from Australia, traced to farm under the Responsible Wool Standard. It publishes no wage data or living wage plan.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| B Corp directory | Certified | Certified B Corp since November 2023, with a score of 83.1. View |
| Fair Wear | Unclear | No Fair Wear membership is claimed by the brand. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No supply chain labour allegations against Mons Royale turned up in news or NGO reporting. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Ethical Trading Initiative: Our members · search the archive · Mons Royale is listed as a full company member.
- B Lab: Mons Royale · search the archive · Certified November 2023; B Impact score 83.1; Workers score 21.2; HQ Otago, New Zealand; operates in Austria, Canada and New Zealand.
- Workable: Mons Royale careers · search the archive · Head office in Wanaka, with regional offices in Innsbruck, Austria and Squamish, Canada.
- MTB Direct: Mons Royale collection · search the archive · Mons Royale is sold by an Australian retailer.
- Mons Royale help: Where are your products made? · search the archive · Designed in Wanaka; products made at Shanghai Challenge Textiles in China, a vertical merino knitting, dyeing and finishing factory.
Published by Mons Royale or its owner
- Mons Royale: Sustainability · search the archive · Cut and sew by Venitra (Shanghai) and Shanghai Challenge Textile (China); merino from 8 named ZQ farms, RWS traced; ETI member; B Corp since 2023.
Company details
- Headquarters
- New Zealand
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Mons Royale ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/mons-royale, 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 Mons Royale.