Mr Simple
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Melbourne menswear label selling tees, sweats and pants.
We couldn't confirm where Mr Simple makes most of its men's casual basics and streetwear.
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 and leather) 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 Mr Simple 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 recycled metals or fibres
- 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 in only a few products and doesn't show where it comes from. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Mr Simple does not say where its clothes are made and publishes no supplier or factory list, modern slavery statement, audit results or living wage commitment. It says about 80% of its range uses organic or recycled fabrics, mainly organic cotton plus hemp, linen and recycled swim shorts, but names no certifier, and it held no GOTS certification when it said it planned to work towards it. Belts are leather, origin not stated. It is not in the Ethical Fashion Report or Fashion Transparency Index, and no labour abuse reports linked to its suppliers were found.
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Sustainable clothing: a Simple success story (State Library of Queensland) · search the archive · About 80% of range in organic and recycled fabrics, including recycled bottle swim shorts; no certification yet, plan to align with GOTS.
- Keeping it simple is working for this Aussie retailer (Gift Guide) · search the archive · Founded by David Fraser in 2007; stores in Australia and Auckland; no manufacturing locations named.
Published by Mr Simple or its owner
- Mr Simple - Our Story · search the archive · Melbourne label that began making tees, sweats and chinos in 2007; no factory locations given.
- Reginald Tee - Mr Simple · search the archive · Tee listed as 100% organic cotton with no certifying body or country of manufacture stated.
- Mr Simple - FAQ · search the archive · Range uses organic cotton, hemp and linen; no information on where products are made.
- Mr Simple - Belts · search the archive · Two leather belts sold as accessories; no country of origin or tannery given.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Mr Simple ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/mr-simple, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded basics
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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Mr Simple.