When you see that fashion brands aren’t paying garment workers enough to live on, that labour exploitation is alive and well and mass production is harming our environment, remember this: with the right information, you can create change.

That’s exactly what the 2022 Ethical Fashion Report and Guide offers. Published annually since 2013, Baptist World Aid’s report is Australia’s leading publication on ethical fashion and sustainability. And this year, we’re giving you even more transparency over how brands are going at protecting workers and the environment, so you know which companies you can ask to do better.

Spoiler Alert: We Still Have A Long Way To Go

According to Peter Keegan, Director of Advocacy at Baptist World Aid Australia, this year’s report (launching in October) shows that while there’s been some progress made by companies  surveyed last year, the fashion industry still has a long way to go when it comes to ethical practices.

‘As we did our research, it became clear that the journey towards an ethical supply chain is far from over, and there’s still much work to be done,’ Peter said. ‘The results show us what needs to change to bring justice for workers and protection for our planet. It helps us be better informed citizens and provokes us to act.’

To make the data more transparent and meaningful for shoppers, this year we’ve made a few changes to the Ethical Fashion Report and Guide.

What’s New In The 2022 Ethical Fashion Report And Guide?

For the first time, we’re including an expanded footwear focus in our research. Shoe production plays a part in worker exploitation and environmental harm, so we’re shining a light on footwear brands and their supply chains.

We’ve also made some changes to the way our scores are presented in the Ethical Fashion Report and Guide. To give you a clearer picture of how brands are performing against ethical standards, we’ve given each brand a score out of 100 instead of an A to F grade.

We’ve also measured their performance based on these areas:

  • Do companies know where their materials come from?
  • How do companies respond to labour exploitation?
  • Do companies pay workers a living wage?
  • Are companies listening to their workers?
  • Are companies choosing sustainable fibres?
  • Are companies taking climate action seriously?

Here’s What You Can Do Till The 2022 Release

With more insight into the working conditions and environmental impact behind what you wear, here are two ways you can respond to the findings of this year’s Ethical Fashion Report.

Ask for change

Being informed compels us to act—to engage in making things better for garment workers, and the environment. You can push for change by contacting clothing and footwear brands, and asking them to address pressing ethical issues in their supply chain.

We make speaking out to brands easy. Use the Speak Out to Brands tool and to find your favourite brand and tell them what you think about their score. 

Shop Mindfully

Before you buy a pair of jeans or new sneakers, ask yourself, ‘do I need this item? Can I repurpose, reuse, or go without?’ If you decide to make a purchase, use our Guide, along with your own research, to make the best choice accessible to you, voting with your wallet for a better world.

Baptist World Aid’s 2022 Ethical Fashion Report and Guide will launch in October.