Still in the dark
See which Australian companies are keeping us in the dark about where our clothes are made.
It’s been three years since the Rana Plaza factory disaster claimed the lives of more than 1,100 textile workers.
Since then, many Australian companies have signed the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord. But we are still waiting for some of these companies to publish the location of their factories. Only this level of transparency helps to ensure the safety of the people making our clothing by allowing for independent and surprise factory checks.
Transparency Scorecard
Secretive
These brands have not published any of their overseas suppliers’ names or addresses.
The Just Group*
(Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Dotti, JacquiE, Portmans, Peter Alexander)
Pretty Girl Fashion
(Rockmans, Table Eight)
The Pas Group – Design Works
(Metalicus, Review)
Best and Less
Shady
These brands have only revealed some overseas supplier names and addresses.
Forever New
(Forever New, Ever New)
Pacific Brands
(Bonds, Berlei, Holeproof, Voodoo, Razzamatazz, Jockey, Tontine and Dunlop Flooring)
Super transparent
These brands have published all overseas supplier factory names and addresses.
Woolworths
Kmart
Target
Specialty Fashion Group
(Millers, Katies, Rivers, Crossroads, Autograph, City Chic)
Coles
Cotton On
(Cotton On, Cotton on Kids, Cotton on Body, Factorie, Typo, Supre)
* In their annual report, The Just Group does provide a list of the countries they source from. Unlike more transparent companies, they do not give a breakdown of the percentage of supply from every country in which they source garments, nor have they published the names and addresses of any factories on their website. The countries they list include Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Vietnam. They note 86% comes from China.
