Clothing
Bought from its Australian founders by Hong Kong company Glorious Sun in 1994, who sold it to Howsea in 2017. Jeanswest entered voluntary administration in Jan 2020, before being bought by Harbour Guide in 2020, the third Hong Kong company in a row to own Jeanswest.
Company Ownership
Jeanswest Corporation Pty Ltd
AUS
Harbour Guide Ltd
owns 100% of Jeanswest Corporation Pty Ltd
HKG
Clothing
Hong Kong based company owned by Mr Chun Fan Yeung and his family interests. Bought Jeanswest in 2020.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Oct 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Jeanswest Corporation Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
Supply chain practices in China
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 6.8/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE
(2023)
Forced labour in China
The Chinese government has facilitated the mass transfer of Uyghur and other ethnic minority citizens from the far west region of Xinjiang to factories across the country. Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of international brands, including brands owned by this company.
Source: ITUC
(2020)
9/100 in Ethical Fashion Report
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2024 Ethical Fashion Report' assessed 120 companies on their efforts to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability. This company ranked in the bottom 20%, with a score of 9/100.
No COVID Fashion Commitments
In 2020 Baptist World Aid Australia released The COVID Fashion Report, a special edition of their Ethical Fashion Report. The report is framed around six COVID Fashion Commitments that ask companies to demonstrate the steps and measures they are taking to protect and support the most vulnerable workers in their supply chains. This company showed no evidence of actions that it covered any of the COVID Fashion Commitments.
Use of PP spray
Many of this company's products are produced using PP (potassium permanganate) Spray, a dangerous practice for the health and safety of workers. It is done with a spray-gun that transforms chemicals into micro-particles absorbed by people who perform this technique although precautions taken and causing them lung problems. An alternative production technique using lasers is available.
Source: company website
(2017)
Forced labour in China
In 2019 ABC's Four Corners revealed that ethnic minorities are being subject to forced labour in factories in Xinjiang, China. Four Corners identified several brands as sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, including Jeanswest.
Source: ABC
(2019)
Uzbek Cotton Pledge signatory
This company signed the Uzbek Cotton Pledge with the Responsible Sourcing Network, signifying a public commitment to not knowingly source Uzbek cotton for the manufacturing of any of their products until the Government of Uzbekistan ends the practice of forced labor in its cotton sector. However the Pledge was lifted in March 2022 after the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, who monitored the annual cotton harvest since 2010, found no state-imposed forced labor in the 2021 harvest.
Source: Cotton Campaign
(2022)
Fur free
This company has formally undertaken not to use or sell real fur.
Source: Animals Australia
(2017)
Angora ban
This company has taken angora items off the shelves and promised not to use angora again, following a PETA campaign launched in Dec 2013 which revealed the cruelty inflicted on angora rabbits in Chinese factory farms, where 90% of the world's angora is produced.
Source: PETA
(2018)
Community support
This company supports a number of charities including Children's Medical Research Institute (since 2006) and the Red Cross.
Source: company website
(2017)
Responsible sourcing claims
This company has responsible sourcing claims on its website including a code of conduct and disclosure of the locations of some of their production factories.
Source: company website
(2017)
Supplier Factory Disclosure List
This company is one of of a handful of major Australian fashion retailers to publish the names and addresses of their supplier factories.
Source: company website
(2018)
Efforts to pay a living wage
Oxfam Australia's Company Tracker compares the big clothing brands on their efforts to pay a living wage to the women working in their factories. This company has released the names and addresses of at least 70% of their supplier factories, has taken some action towards paying a living wage within a set timeframe in the supply chain, and has not made a commitment to ringfence wages.
Source: Oxfam Australia
(2021)
Harbour Guide Ltd
No assessment data currently available for Harbour Guide Ltd.
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue:
168 million AUD
(2015)
Employees:
680
(2020)
Contact Details
Address:
14-16 Yarra St, South Yarra, VIC, 3141, Australia
Phone:
03 9860 8888
Website: