Vissla
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Californian surf brand.
We couldn't confirm where Vissla makes most of its surf apparel and wetsuits.
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.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Vissla? Send a right of reply.
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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 and natural rubber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
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 Vissla 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
- Uses recycled metals or fibres
- 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.
- Uses natural rubber 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 Vissla does not name its factories or production countries. The Stokehouse supplier code bans forced and child labour, allows announced and unannounced inspections and requires suppliers to pay at least the legal minimum wage, with no living wage commitment; no audit results are published. Most boardshorts use recycled polyester, wetsuits use limestone neoprene, and its small Natural Seas wetsuit range uses natural rubber described as FSC certified.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Unclear | Vissla and Stokehouse Unlimited are not in the 2024 Ethical Fashion Report; the 2026 edition's brand profiles could not be checked. View |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Not listed | Vissla is not in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No labour abuse reports involving Vissla or its suppliers were identified. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Naude's Vissla turns industry heads (Orange County Business Journal) · search the archive · 2017: founded by former Billabong executive Paul Naude; part of Stokehouse Unlimited, head office in Aliso Viejo, over 50 staff
Published by Vissla or its owner
- Supplier Code of Conduct (Vissla / Stokehouse Unlimited) · search the archive · Code covers Vissla, Amuse Society, D'Blanc, Sisstrevolution; minimum legal wage; inspections; no factory list
- Sustainability (Vissla) · search the archive · Recycled bottles, Repreve, upcycled coconut husk boardshorts, limestone neoprene and organic tees
- To Protect & Surf: Vissla Sustainability (2020) · search the archive · Recycled or upcycled share of apparel rose from 26% to 55%
- Natural Seas Wetsuit Collection (Vissla) · search the archive · Five-product wetsuit line made with natural rubber, described as FSC certified
- Vissla Stores (Vissla AU) · search the archive · Vissla Coolum store at 1 Beach Road, Coolum QLD
Company details
- Owned by
- Stokehouse Unlimited LLC
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Vissla ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/vissla, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded swimwear and surf
No swimwear and surf brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Vissla.