Smiggle
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
Melbourne retailer of colourful kids' stationery.
There's no proof Smiggle pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production 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 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsAll its products are made in China and India, where 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 (such as timber and cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
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, 88%. India is next, at 12%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 88% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 12% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- No high-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
- Modern slavery statement
Research notes Smiggle's products come from third-party factories in China and India; Premier reports 116 tier one factories employing 14,224 workers across Smiggle and Peter Alexander (12,578 in China, 1,646 in India), and the shares shown use those worker numbers. Smiggle has its own ethical sourcing team and inspects a third of orders, but Premier publishes no supplier list, no Smiggle-specific audit results, no grievance channel for factory workers and no living wage commitment. Premier Retail scored 27/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, which rates its clothing. Group FY24 audits found withheld identity documents and recruitment fees at two Taiwan factories, brand not named.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Premier Investments FY25 modern slavery statement covers Smiggle: 116 tier one factories (113 China, 3 India) across Smiggle and Peter Alexander; Smiggle's own team inspected 33% of Smiggle orders and found no unauthorised subcontracting; no supplier list. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Listed | Premier Retail, which runs Peter Alexander and Smiggle, scored 27 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5); the report assesses clothing, not Smiggle's stationery. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Shop Ethical: Premier Retail Holdings · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Premier Retail (Peter Alexander, Smiggle) scored 27/100, average 31.5; overall rating C
- Australian fast fashion giant Solomon Lew's Premier to keep factories secret despite modern slavery concerns · search the archive · Premier declined to publish its factory list (2021)
- Premier Investments earnings: FY26 (Motley Fool, September 2026) · search the archive · Premier still owns and runs Smiggle and Peter Alexander; no demerger under way
Published by Smiggle or its owner
- Premier Investments Modern Slavery Statement FY25 · search the archive · Smiggle factories in China and India; 116 tier one factories and workers by country; 33% of Smiggle orders inspected; APSCA, Cotton Pledge
- Premier Investments Modern Slavery Statement FY24 · search the archive · Taiwan identity document and recruitment fee findings, brand not named; sourcing from Taiwan suspended
Company details
- Owned by
- Premier Investments
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Smiggle ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/smiggle, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Smiggle.