Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Sydney brand designing sterling silver jewellery made in Mexico and Italy.
Until Najo traces its gold and gemstones to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Najo? Send a right of reply.
Compare Najo with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace. That alone means a poor grade until it takes steps to trace them.
- 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
- Met: Respects worker rights
- 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: Conflict-free: diamonds, gems and gold traced to the mine, lab-grown, recycled or Fairmined (the Kimberley Process alone isn't enough)
Red flags 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain: no certification, independent audits or supplier list
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace
- Red flag: Fails its category's raw-material check (means Lacks transparency)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Najo names some of the countries it makes in: Italy and Mexico. The rest is shown as where jewellery and watches are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Mexico | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| ThailandUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| SwitzerlandUsual for the industry | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: gold and gemstone mining are linked to child labour, forced labour and mercury poisoning.
- Relies on gold and gemstones from artisanal mines where workers face mercury poisoning, silica dust and deadly collapses. It hasn't shown any steps to trace these materials to the mine, so it's graded Lacks transparency until it does.
Research notes Najo designs in Sydney and says its pieces are made in the same small Mexican silver workshops it has used since 1986, with chains made by Italian artisans from recycled sterling silver. It names no workshops, gives no split between the two countries, and calls its metals and stones ethically sourced without naming mines, refiners or certifications. It publishes no supplier list, audit results, wage information or modern slavery statement. No labour issues involving its suppliers have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Not covered | Too small to be required to report under Australia's Modern Slavery Act; no statement found on the register. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Not rated in Baptist World Aid's 2024 Ethical Fashion Report. (2024 edition; latest is 2026) View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Najo (Jeweller magazine) · search the archive · Founded 1986 by Jo Tory, based in Redfern NSW; sterling silver specialist that has sourced jewellery from Mexico
- Najo's Jo Tory talks jewellery (Fashion Journal) · search the archive · Designs go to unnamed suppliers for sampling
- Najo to make UK debut at The Jewellery Show 2026 · search the archive · 925 silver, pearls and semi-precious stones described as ethically sourced; no detail given
- Najo at Silvershop · search the archive · Stocked by Australian jewellery retailers
Published by Najo or its owner
- Our Production - NAJO · search the archive · Designed in Sydney; made in small Mexican workshops used since 1986; chains made in Italy from recycled sterling silver
- Sustainability - NAJO · search the archive · Small family-run workshops; metals and gemstones called ethically sourced, with no named suppliers, audits or certifications
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Najo ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/najo, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Other fashion jewellery brands
Nothing we've rated in fashion jewellery is better than Lacks transparency yet.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Najo.