Monte & Lou
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources
Sydney label selling women's swimwear and resortwear.
We couldn't confirm where Monte & Lou makes most of its women's swimwear and resortwear.
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 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 (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: 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 Monte & Lou 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 cotton in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where its cotton comes from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
- Uses recycled metals or fibres
Research notes Monte & Lou does not say where its swimwear is made and publishes no supplier list, factory audits, modern slavery statement or living wage commitment; its website carries a 'Made Responsibly' banner without detail. Its range is mostly nylon-elastane swimwear, with recent lines in GRS-certified recycled nylon and fabrics certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which covers chemical safety rather than working conditions. Cotton is limited to a few resortwear pieces. No labour abuses linked to the brand have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Not assessed in the Ethical Fashion Report, including the 2026 edition; too small for the report. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- $1 million brand cracks David Jones (Ragtrader) · search the archive · Swimwear fully lined in nylon elastane; close to $1 million sales in first year; stocked at David Jones
- 13 Sustainable Swimwear Brands On Our Radar (The Handbook) · search the archive · Uses textiles from recycled bottles, fishing nets and carpet fibres; fabrics meet OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- Women's Agenda profile of Monte & Lou founders · search the archive · Founders previously worked at Seafolly; brand develops its own fits and wires; no factory details
Published by Monte & Lou or its owner
- Our Story - Monte & Lou · search the archive · Founded 2018 by Kay Howitt and Lynne Tramonte on Sydney's Northern Beaches; no manufacturing locations given
- Monte & Lou product catalogue · search the archive · Range is mostly swimwear (14 of 16 listed products); some lines in GRS-certified recycled nylon; no country of origin stated
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Monte & Lou ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/monte-and-lou, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded swimwear and surf
No swimwear and surf brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Monte & Lou.