Ethical Fashion FAQs

Scores for over 500 brands are available on the Baptist World Aid website through the online Ethical Fashion Guide. They are also listed in the Ethical Fashion Report which you can download your free copy of here (opens in a new tab).

Companies are assessed across five sections of the Ethical Fashion Survey: Policies and Governance, Tracing and Risk, Supplier Relationships and Human Rights Monitoring, Worker Empowerment, and Environmental Sustainability. For a full list of the 48 questions assessed and the evidence requirements, please visit the Appendix to the Ethical Fashion Report (opens in a new tab)

If a brand isn’t included, we encourage you to do your own research. You can use our Ethical Fashion Decision Making Flowchart (opens in a new tab) and resources (opens in a new tab) to help you.

Our ethical fashion work is funded by generous supporters and partners of Baptist World Aid Australia. In 2026, Vocare Law was the major sponsor of the Ethical Fashion project. No financial support for this project is provided by any companies assessed in the research. If you would like to donate, you can do so here (opens in a new tab).

The Ethical Fashion Report and Guide is published every two years. Given the slow pace of the areas we assess, we follow a two-year reporting cycle to allow companies time to advance towards their commitments. The last report was published in 2026 (opens in a new tab), and contains the most up-to-date information on assessed companies.

While companies are ultimately responsible for the ethical production of our clothes, you can help shift industry practices that impact workers and the environment by buying less, buying better, and expecting more. Find out more here (opens in a new tab).

You can also fund the research behind the Ethical Fashion Guide and help expose exploitation in fashion supply chains. Visit her (opens in a new tab)e to find out more.

In the 11th Edition of the Ethical Fashion Guide, we shared some statistics about Australians’ fashion shopping habits. These statistics are not from our survey, but externally sourced to help put our research within its broader context. Sources for these statistics are as follows:

In 2025, Seamless Australia released its 2024 National Clothing Benchmark (opens in a new tab) which provides baseline quantitative data about the purchase, use, and disposal of clothing within Australia. The Benchmark found that Australians collectively purchased over 1.5 billion items of clothing in 2024, which equates to an average of 55 items per person. This makes Australia the biggest consumer of clothing per captia, according to the Australia Institute (opens in a new tab), ahead of the USA at 53 items and the UK at 33 items. The Benchmark also found that in 2024, Australia sent 220,000 tonnes of clothing to landfill, following on from a reported 200,000 tonnes in 2022 according to the Australian Fashion Council’s Clothing Data Report (opens in a new tab).

The Australia Institute also found that the average price per item of clothing bought by Australians is AUD $13. This is significantly less that the US average at AUD $25, and the UK average at AUD $40.

In 2026, 138 companies representing over 500 brands were included in the research. In the 11th Ethical Fashion Report, Baptist World Aid endeavoured to include all fashion companies with annual revenues exceeding AUD $50 million, and relevance to the everyday Australian consumer. Smaller companies that have been part of our research in the past are given the option to participate if they fall below that threshold. This selection process helps us include the largest companies with the greatest consumer reach, which have the most significant impact on workers and the environment.

If there is a brand that meets these criteria, that you would like to see included, please let us know using this form. (opens in a new tab)

The list of brands included in the Ethical Fashion Guide changes with each release. Some brands are removed because they go into administration or are sold to other parent companies who are not covered by our research. Baptist World Aid endeavours to include companies with annual revenues over AUD $50 million. Smaller companies below this threshold can choose to ‘opt in’ to the research process to have their progress benchmarked. In 2026, we included 28 new companies, and 16 of these are UK-based brands that have been included as part of our UK partnership with BMS World Mission.

Companies scores are based on 48 questions covering 18 indicators of ethical supply chain practice. Our research uses a combination of information published on company or brand websites, company reports (e.g. Annual Reports, Corporate Social Responsibility Reports), and any relevant statutory statements (e.g. Modern Slavery Statements) that cover the research period. All companies had the opportunity to provide evidence directly to the research team. Where companies have been assessed on public information only, they have an asterisk (*) next to their score.

The research team do not conduct site inspections of factories as part of their assessment, but we have specific evidence requirements that companies must meet in order to receive credit for survey questions. Therefore, company scores reflect the strength of their labour rights and environmental management systems, based on the evidence they provide either publicly or directly to the research team. For more information on our evidence requirements, refer to the section, ‘How can you guarantee the honesty and accuracy of evidence and information provided by companies?’

We recognise that some companies may have taken positive actions that aren’t reflected in our assessment, as these actions were not evidenced. While any positive actions that contribute to the economic dignity and wellbeing of workers are to be celebrated; transparency and visibility of these actions is critical as they are the only way to ensure accountability for delivery.

In 2026, our research team assessed 107 data points per company survey, which equates to over 15,000 data points assessed for the full report. You can find more information on our research methodology in the Ethical Fashion Report and Appendix. (opens in a new tab)

Companies are given a numeric score out of 100, representing their overall performance in our survey. Alongside the numeric score, each company is assigned a coloured circle that shows how they rank relative to the 138 companies in the report. The colours are split into five groups, with royal blue representing the top 20% of companies assessed and red representing the bottom 20%.

The coloured circles represent how each company ranks compared to the 138 companies assessed. There are five colours available, broken up into quintiles. This means companies are split into five groups that are divided equally from the highest to lowest scoring in 20% increments. Royal blue represents the top 20% of companies, while red represents the bottom 20%. The table below shows the score range for each colour group. You can also refer to the colour key on the online Ethical Fashion Guide which explains this visually.

• Top 20% of companies scored 50-94 out of 100
• Top 40% of companies scored 37-49 out of 100
• Middle 20% of companies scored 26-36 out of 100
• Bottom 40% of companies scored 13-25 out of 100
• Bottom 20% of companies scored 0-12 out of 100

While our A-F grading system, used between 2013 and 2021, helped shift the fashion industry forwards and educate people, we know consumers now have a better understanding of the complexities of ethical fashion since our first report was released.

By publishing the actual score that each company receives in the Ethical Fashion Survey, companies and individuals get a clearer picture of their performance and can track progress against the Ethical Fashion Survey benchmark. Pairing this score with a colour, showing the brand’s quintile, helps illustrate that while every company has work to do, some are making faster progress than others.

A ’good score’ isn’t a reason to just go and buy. It shows that a company is making improvements and addressing labour rights and environmental sustainability issues in its supply chain—and being transparent about them. This makes it a better option than a company with a lower score, but not necessarily a fully ethical purchase.

By providing this greater level of transparency and showing performance against a standard, the current scoring system both provides information and encourages reflection on what still needs to change to make the fashion industry better for its workers and the planet.

Our online Ethical Fashion Guide shows if a brand has improved, stayed the same, or decreased in score since last year. To find this information, simply click on the brand to see these details.

The colours are important because they show how each company ranks relative to their peers. A key goal of the Ethical Fashion Project is to continually drive the entire industry forwards, from the top performers to those lagging. Achieving an ethical supply chain is an ongoing process, and reaching a certain score doesn’t mean the work is done. For consumers using our scores for their own personal advocacy, the colours help identify companies that they can ask to do better, or companies they can encourage for leading the way.

Fast fashion companies have driven harmful cultural shifts toward increased production and consumption. While our Ethical Fashion survey touches on these issues, they aren’t the primary focus. The survey includes various aspects of ethical practices, providing a comprehensive analysis of a range of issues.

The fact that fast fashion companies perform in the top 20 percent of companies assessed is a reflection that companies of any business model can work towards strong ethical supply chain systems.

Some fast fashion companies are doing better than most at mitigating worker exploitation in their supply chains. Their size and scale give them resources to invest in systems to prevent modern slavery—things like tracing their suppliers, effective monitoring, building relationships of influence with suppliers, and working with unions and governments. It also gives them resources to invest in innovative technologies and processes that can reduce environmental harm in specific indicators such as water pollution and emissions reduction.

To learn more about fast fashion and ethical production, read our article (opens in a new tab).

Along with an overall score, the online Ethical Fashion Guide provides a breakdown of company performance in each of the five key sections of the survey, visualised using a five-star scale.

Companies with an asterisk (*) beside their score have been assessed on public information only, including assessment of company webpages, annual or sustainability reports, and modern slavery statements. Assessments that are conducted based on publicly available evidence result in scores that reflect the information that the company has made known to the public. The score may not reflect the entirety of the company’s ethical sourcing practices. All evidence is assessed using the same validation criteria.

Some companies may prefer to disclose their supply chain management practices publicly, rather than engaging directly with our research (for example, they might be part of multiple research projects or prefer to make a single public disclosure). Others choose not to engage at all. We assess these companies in the same way as all others (see ‘How are company scores determined?’ above), but where less information is publicly available, it can affect their score. We believe it’s important to give consumers with comprehensive coverage of the Australian fashion market to help them make informed decisions. As such, companies that meet our criteria are assessed—whether or not they engage directly with the research.

Over the years, non-responsive companies have received a range of scores based on their publicly available information.

Each survey question has strict validation criteria that must be met. The evidence requirements vary from question to question and wherever possible, we request third party documentary evidence, such as audits. The research team identifies weaknesses in the evidence provided and requests further validation when needed. For companies assessed using public information only, the same evidence requirements and assessments apply.

The research team do not conduct site inspections of factories as part of their assessment. Company scores are not an assessment of actual conditions in factories and farms; rather they reflect the strength of a company’s labour rights and environmental management systems. This research relies on publicly available data, as well as evidence of systems and practices provided by companies themselves. Wherever possible, the research team engages with company representatives to ensure all data accurately represents the company's policies and processes.

The Ethical Fashion Survey assesses 48 questions across five different sections. Each question plays an important role in providing a clear picture of how a company is working to prevent worker exploitation and environmental degradation. However, companies have more leverage to drive change in certain areas of their supply chain, and some actions result in stronger outcomes for workers and the environment. The five sections of the survey have been given different weightings to reflect this. Weightings also take into account the number of questions per section (some sections have significantly more questions than others), and industry average performance (sections with higher averages may be weighted lower). Weightings are reviewed regularly to ensure the report continues to push the industry in the right direction.

The section weightings are as follows:

• Politics & Governance: 6%
• Tracing & Risk: 15%
• Supplier Relationships & Human Rights Monitoring: 33%
• Worker Empowerment: 25%
• Environmental Sustainability: 21%

Where relevant, the section weightings are further broken down to reflect actions taken at each stage of the supply chain.

• Final production: 45%
• Input production: 35%
• Raw materials: 20%

A higher weighting has been given to final stage production because this is the stage where most fashion brands have direct supplier relationships and the greatest leverage for change.

Given the complexity and volume of research that goes into each company’s Ethical Fashion Report score (107 data points assessed per company), a low score on a single question or indicator does not significantly impact the overall score.

Our research methodology requires specific documentary evidence and validation for each question assessed in the survey. This means we don’t take statements at face value, but work with companies to ensure they’re genuinely implementing ethical practices in their supply chains. Wherever possible, we request third party verification documents such as audits and certificates. For companies assessed on public information, the same level of evidence and validation standards apply. Additionally, our research team reviews company statements, webpages, and documents thoroughly and regularly across several months during the survey process, enabling them to identify greenwashing red flags. You can view the full assessment criteria by viewing the Ethical Fashion Report Appendix here, and reviewing the ‘Survey Support Document’ section.

In the 11th Edition of the Ethical Fashion Report, we provided a breakdown of the average company score by industry sector. These are not official categories. The sectors are determined by Baptist World Aid Australia, for analysis purposes only, and are determined by reference to a company’s predominate product type. We do not publish the names of the companies in each sector, but the total number for each is provided below:

• Outdoor & Technical: 3 Brands
• Basics, Denim & Intimates: 17 Brands
• Luxury & Premium: 7 Brands
• Fast Fashion: 16 Brands
• Workwear: 2 Brands
• Sportswear & Performance: 17 Brands
• Contemporary Fashion: 33 Brands
• Department Store: 3 Brands
• Supermarket Apparel: 4 Brands
• Value & Discount: 5 Brands
• Marketplace / Multi-brand: 8 Brands
• Footwear: 18 Brands
• Ultra-Fast Fashion: 2 Brands
• Surf, Skate & Streetwear: 7 Brands