Palladium
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
French footwear brand known for Pampa canvas boots.
We couldn't confirm where Palladium makes most of its canvas and rubber lace-up boots.
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, leather and natural rubber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton and natural rubber
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 Palladium 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
- 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.
- Doesn't show where its natural rubber comes from. Natural rubber is linked to forced and child labour on some rubber plantations, 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 Palladium has its boots made by outside manufacturers and does not publish a factory list or name its production countries. Under former owner Xtep, the group reported in 2023 that suppliers of its newer brands, including Palladium, passed third-party footwear audits covering human rights and found no child or forced labour, but gave no brand-level detail. No living wage commitment or modern slavery statement was found, Palladium is not in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, and no labour abuses at its factories have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | Neither Palladium nor its owner KP Global is rated in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report. View |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Not listed | Palladium is not among the brands reviewed in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Palladium (Good On You directory) · search the archive · People rating 1/5; Palladium gives insufficient information on its impacts; owned by Ding Shun Investment
- Xtep International ESG Report 2023 (HKEX) · search the archive · K-Swiss and Palladium manufacturing is outsourced; new-brand suppliers passed third-party footwear audits; 0 child or forced labour incidents in 2023
- Loeb represents Xtep International in strategic disposal of KP Global (Loeb & Loeb, 2024) · search the archive · Xtep sold KP Global (K-Swiss, Palladium) to its controlling Ding family for US$151 million in 2024
- Palladium (Accent Group) · search the archive · Accent Group, owner of Platypus and Hype DC, has been Palladium's Australian distributor since 2011
Published by Palladium or its owner
- Pampa Mary-Jane Washed (Palladium) · search the archive · Typical Pampa shoe: 100% cotton upper and lining, 100% rubber outsole; no country of manufacture given
- Dare to care (Palladium) · search the archive · Some organic cotton and recycled rubber lines; no factory, audit or leather sourcing information
Company details
- Headquarters
- France
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Palladium ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/palladium, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded footwear
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 Palladium.