P.E Nation
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources
Sydney women's activewear and athleisure label.
P.E Nation's parent, Hotsprings Pty, scored 23/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has a red flag for a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 23/100 in 2026, for the company it's rated with). On Track needs no forced or child labour, clear labour breaches or failing independent ratings.
- 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 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: working towards one
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
- 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
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier list
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
Red flags 1
- Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 23/100 (2026, 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
China has the largest share, 89%. Bangladesh is next, at 5%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 89% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Sri Lanka | 3% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 3% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Publishes supplier list
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Public plan to pay a living wage within 5 years, or with measurable steps due within 5 years
- 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.
Research notes P.E Nation is made by independent factories contracted by Hotsprings. The group's August 2025 factory list names 38 garment factories (34 in China, 2 in Bangladesh, 1 each in Sri Lanka and Vietnam) without saying which brand each makes, so the shares cover all Hotsprings brands. Hotsprings is a full ETI member, audits every factory each year (mostly SMETA) and aims to meet Anker living wage benchmarks across its supply chain by the end of 2026, with no interim results published. Hotsprings scored 23/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report.
What independent sources say
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Hotsprings proud to become full ETI member (Ethical Trading Initiative) · search the archive · Full ETI member from July 2022; living wage payments added to audits from March 2022
- Hotsprings - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Hotsprings scored 23/100 (average 31.5); P.E Nation B Corp since May 2023
- P.E Nation - B Corp directory · search the archive · Certified B Corp since May 2023, score 97.6 (Workers 22.7)
- Hotsprings - Factory List (August 2025) · search the archive · 38 Tier 1 factories: China 34, Bangladesh 2, Sri Lanka 1, Vietnam 1; 76 Tier 2-4 suppliers, mostly in China
- Hotsprings - Our Supply Chain & Partners · search the archive · Annual SMETA audits by SGS/Intertek; common non-conformances are excess overtime and social insurance; Anker living wage goal by end of 2026
Published by P.E Nation or its owner
- P.E Nation - Best Practice & Ethical Sourcing · search the archive · Partnered with Hotsprings since 2016; ETI full member; SMETA audits; Tier 1 suppliers listed across the group's websites
- P.E Nation: Fabrication & sustainability · search the archive · Released a Made in Australia capsule in 2021 (one-off capsule)
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is P.E Nation ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/pe-nation, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent P.E Nation.