Rivers

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources

Australian value clothing and footwear brand.

Rivers scored 18/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, and we couldn't confirm where it makes most of its budget casual shoes and 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.

See better footwear options

Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Rivers? Send a right of reply.

Compare Rivers with another brand

Brand to compare with

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, a hidden, unaudited supply chain, probably in high-risk countries and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 18/100 in 2026). 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.

How grades are decided

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 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
Met: High-risk raw materials (leather and natural rubber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: leather and natural rubber

Red flags 3

Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Red flag: Hidden supply chain, probably mostly in countries with poor worker rights
Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 18/100 (2026)

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

Not confirmed

We couldn't confirm where Rivers makes most of its products, so this shows where clothes and shoes are usually made.

Where it's made, share by country, and conditions there
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 leather and natural rubber in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where they come from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of them traced, certified or upcycled.
Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)

Research notes Rivers' stores closed in April 2025 when Mosaic Brands collapsed. The Shoe Group bought the brand and since 2026 sells Rivers shoes and boots through Wild Rhino, labelled 'Designed in Melbourne' with no country of manufacture. The Shoe Group publishes no supplier list, factory countries, audits, living wage commitment or modern slavery statement; under Mosaic, Rivers goods came mostly from China and Bangladesh, but that sourcing may not apply now. Some styles have leather uppers and rubber soles. Mosaic's unpaid debts to Bangladeshi factories belong to the former owner.

What independent sources say

Source	Result	Details
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report	Problem found	Not rated in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report. Owner The Shoe Group has no assessment of its own; its Novo Shoes business scored 18/100 in 2026 (8 in 2024). Former owner Mosaic Brands scored 36/100 in 2024. View
Australian Modern Slavery Register	Listed	Rivers was covered by former owner Mosaic Brands' modern slavery statements; no statement from The Shoe Group was found on the register. View

Sources and actions

Sources 7

Show all 7 sources

Novo Shoes - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Novo Shoes Group, owned by The Shoe Group, scored 18/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (8 in 2024)
The Shoe Group quietly revives Rivers brand (Ragtrader, Aug 2026) · search the archive · The Shoe Group acquired Rivers' assets after Mosaic's collapse and began selling Rivers shoes through subsidiary Wild Rhino in 2026
Rivers' new owner TSG takes on Clarks ANZ licence (Ragtrader, June 2025) · search the archive · TSG bought Rivers IP; TSG has 400+ stores, 17 footwear brands incl. Spendless, Novo, Jo Mercer

Published by Rivers or its owner

Rivers collection - Wild Rhino · search the archive · Rivers range is casual shoes and boots only; no materials or country of manufacture stated
TANK by Rivers lace up boots - Wild Rhino · search the archive · Rivers boot with a brown leather upper; 'Designed in Melbourne', no country of manufacture
YIELD by Rivers casual shoes - Wild Rhino · search the archive · Rivers casual shoe with a smooth leather upper; no country of manufacture
Mosaic Brands FY2022 Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · Former owner Mosaic's statement covered Rivers Retail Holdings; group orders mostly from China and Bangladesh

Company details

Owned by: The Shoe Group (owner of Spendless Shoes, Wittner, Jo Mercer, Novo and Wild Rhino); bought the brand after Mosaic Brands
Headquarters: Australia
Last researched: 2 November 2026
Cite this page: Labour Lens, "Is Rivers ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/rivers, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method: Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means

Better-graded footwear

14 op shops and resale platforms, Good by ruleBuying second-hand or refurbished: Blue Spinach and SWOP Clothing Exchange and 12 more · See them allGood Jumbo Ugg AustraliaClothing & footwearAustralian-made sheepskin ugg bootsIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodVerified Redback BootsClothing & footwearAustralian-made leather work bootsIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.GoodGoes Above and Beyond VejaClothing & footwearSneakersHolds Fair Trade USA factory certification.GoodGoes Above and Beyond

Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.

See every footwear brand

Something missing or wrong?

Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Rivers.

Send evidence Send a right of reply