Mountain Designs
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources
Brisbane-founded brand of hiking and camping gear.
Mountain Designs' parent, Spotlight Group Holdings, scored 5/100 in the 2024 Ethical Fashion Report, and it has no full independent audit.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production in high-risk countries and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 5/100 in 2024, for the company it's rated with). 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 rightsMost 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 (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: cotton
Red flags 3
- 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
- Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 5/100 (2024, the company it's rated with)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
These are Spotlight Group Holdings' countries across all its brands; Mountain Designs doesn't say where its own products are made. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Australia | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | 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.
- Modern slavery statement
Research notes Mountain Designs clothing and gear is sourced by parent Spotlight Group, largely through its Glowstar sourcing office, which works with about 380 supplier factories in China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and other countries; group statements say Anaconda and Mountain Designs buy from 12 countries, including China, India, Taiwan, Thailand and Australia, with no breakdown by brand or country. No factory list or living wage commitment is published, and FY25 supplier checks were mainly desktop document reviews. Spotlight Group scored 5/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Not assessed itself in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report; owner Spotlight Group scored 5 out of 100 (average 31.5), after 6 in 2024. Mountain Designs scored 1/100 in 2022. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Covered by Spotlight Group's joint FY25 modern slavery statement, which reports about 380 supplier factories used through its Glowstar sourcing office, mainly in China, India, Pakistan and Vietnam, and no identified modern slavery cases. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Mountain Designs - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Spotlight Group scored 5/100 (average 31.5); Wholly owned by Spotlight Group since 2018
- Australia's least ethical fashion brands (SmartCompany) · search the archive · Mountain Designs and Anaconda each scored 1/100 in the 2022 Ethical Fashion Report
Published by Mountain Designs or its owner
- Spotlight Group Holdings Modern Slavery Statement FY25 · search the archive · Names Mountain Designs among group brands; Glowstar uses about 380 factories in China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam; desktop reviews; no incidents found
- Spotlight Group Holdings Modern Slavery Statement FY24 · search the archive · Glowstar engaged 287 factories in China, India, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and Vietnam; Anaconda produces Mountain Designs gear
- Mountain Designs - Spotlight Group · search the archive · Founded 1975 by Rick White; acquired by Spotlight Group in 2018; sold online and through Anaconda stores
- Spotlight Group Holdings Modern Slavery Statement 2021 · search the archive · Anaconda and Mountain Designs procure from 12 countries incl. Australia, China, India, Taiwan, Thailand; sourcing agent factories mostly in China
- Spotlight Group Holdings Modern Slavery Statement FY23 · search the archive · Anaconda and Mountain Designs procure from 12 countries incl. Australia, China, India, Taiwan, Thailand; no brand shares given
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Mountain Designs ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/mountain-designs, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded outdoor
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 Mountain Designs.