Clothing retailer
National clothing and footwear retailer for men and women with 150 stores across Australia. Previously owned by Philip Goodman, who sold the company to Specialty Fashion Group in Nov 2013 for $5 million, who sold the company to Noni B in 2018.
Company Ownership
Rivers (Australia) Pty Ltd
AUS
Mosaic Brands Ltd
owns 100% of Rivers (Australia) Pty Ltd
AUS
Women's fashion retailer
Formerly Noni B Ltd. Founded in 1977, listed on the ASX in 2000, with private investment group Alceon becoming a major shareholder in 2014. They operate about 700 stores around Australia. Acquired the Events and Queenspark brands in 2015, Pretty Girl Fashion Group in 2016 and 5 clothing brands from Speciality Fashion Group in 2018. In September 2024 Mosaic announced it will wind down 5 brands (Rockmans, Autograph, Crossroads, W Lane and BeMe) and a month later went into voluntary administration. Katies will also be wound down.
Alceon Group Pty Ltd
owns 36% of Mosaic Brands Ltd
AUS
Private investment group
Specialist advisory, investment, and capital solutions firm founded by former Babcock & Brown executives in 2010. Acquired Noni B in 2014.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Dec 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Rivers (Australia) Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
Breaching advertising codes
Rivers has been criticised for eroticisation of violence against women. As shown on the Collective Shout website, the Advertising Standards Bureau upheld complaints with regards to a catalog titled "10 Deadly Deals" on the grounds that its use of sex and violence breached advertising codes.
Source: Collective Shout
(2011)
Denim recalls
Rivers recalled some denim products in early 2014 after the ACCC found unacceptable concentrations of certain 'azo' dyes known to break down into carcinogenic chemicals. Europe has banned such imports and the US has restrictions in place, but no laws or rules have yet been changed to restrict their import into Australia.
Source: ACCC
(2014)
Worker abuse in Bangladesh
This 2013 investigative report by Four Corners reveals that this company ordered clothes from factories in Bangladesh that did not meet international standards. Workers in Dhaka described unacceptable conditions that see them work long hours for little pay, sometimes under the threat of abuse if deadlines are not met. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: ABC
(2013)
Boss faces sexual harassment charges
Philip Goodman, chairman and sole director of Rivers Australia, has had sexual harassment charges lodged against him twice in two years.
Source: news article
(2013)
Mosaic Brands Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
Turkmen Cotton Pledge signatory
This company has signed the Cotton Pledge with the Responsible Sourcing Network, signifying a public commitment to not knowingly source Turkmen cotton for the manufacturing of any of their products until the Government of Turkmenistan ends the practice of forced labor in its cotton sector. Each cotton season, Turkmen public sector workers are forced by the government to fulfill cotton picking quotas and private businesses are forced to contribute to the efforts financially or with labor. This places a huge burden on the health, education, and general well-being of Turkmen citizens.
International Accord signatory
This company is a signatory to the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile & Garment Industry. The International Accord was established in 2021 as the successor to the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, which was established in 2013 in the wake of the Rana Plaza building collapse that killed more than 1,000 workers and seriously injured thousands more. Company signatories to the International Accord commit to: Disclosing all factories producing for them in countries with International Accord programs; Ensuring all listed factories participate in the inspection, remediation, and safety training programs; Supporting factories to ensure remediation is financially feasible; Contributing to the operational costs of International Accord programs.
Source: International Accord
(2023)
1.5/4 for purchasing practices
In 2020 Oxfam evaluated several clothing brand's purchasing practices across seven categories: whether a brand provides accurate forecasts of upcoming work to factories; its price negotiation strategies; whether a factory's environmental and social compliance influences the brand's purchasing decisions; how a brand places orders with factories; what its payment terms are; commitment to pay a living wage; and the transparency of a brand's supply chain. This company was given a score of 1.5 with 4 being the highest possible score.
Source: Oxfam Australia
(2020)
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.
Fined $630k for misleading advertising
In 2021 this company paid penalties totalling $630,000, and admitted that it breached the Australia Consumer Law in its promotion of pandemic-related 'Health Essential Products'. The ACCC issued five infringement notices to Mosaic Brands in respect of alleged false or misleading representations relating to hand sanitiser and face masks advertised on Mosaic Brands websites and via direct marketing between March and June 2020.
Source: ACCC
(2021)
Workers rights in Bangladesh
According to Oxfam's 2019 report, "Made in Poverty - The True Cost of Fashion", this company sources from Bangladesh. Some of the many disturbing findings of the research in Bangladesh were that 100 per cent of workers interviewed were not paid a living wage, nine out of ten could not afford enough food for themselves and their families until their next monthly pay and seven out of 10 could not pay for medical treatment when they were sick or injured. Other findings include people sleeping on floors in overcrowded houses, spiralling debts, and mothers separated from their children.
Source: Oxfam Australia
(2019)
Fined $266k for misleading advertising
In 2022 this company paid penalties totalling $266,400, after the ACCC issued two Infringement notices relating to alleged false or misleading representations made by Mosaic Brands in promoting a face mask on its Autograph Fashion brand website and a hot water bottle on its Katies brand website. On 18 August 2021, amid on-going public concern about COVID-19, Mosaic Brands advertised a KN95 mask for sale on its Autograph Fashion website. The mask was prominently described as "FDA AND CE APPROVED" in the product title. It is alleged that as a result Mosaic Brands falsely represented that the KN95 Mask product was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (USA) and Conformite Europeenne (EU), when in fact it was not. On 26 August 2021, Mosaic Brands also promoted a McGloin's-branded hot water bottle for sale on its Katies brand website, making alleged false and misleading statements that the water bottles had been "ACCC Approved", when this was not true. The ACCC does not endorse or approve any products.
Source: ACCC
(2022)
Fined $29k for underpaying workers
In 2023 this company was found guilty of underpaying long-service leave to 223 workers. The court found the offences were "serious and widespread" and fined the retailer $29,000. The court found that while the underpayments were not deliberate, they occurred due to a lack of care and diligence relating to the retail group's payroll obligations.
Source: SMH
(2023)
Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Human Rights Law Centre's 2022 report, "Broken Promises: Two years of corporate reporting under Australia's Modern Slavery Act", examines statements submitted to the Government's Modern Slavery Register by 92 companies sourcing from four sectors with known risks of modern slavery: garments from China, rubber gloves from Malaysia, seafood from Thailand and fresh produce from Australia. Modern slavery statements are analysed to see if they comply with the mandatory reporting requirements, identify or disclose obvious modern slavery risks, and demonstrate effective actions to address risks. This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a rating in the 41-60% range. The average score was 44% and the highest score was 89%.
Source: Human Rights Law Centre
(2022)
36/100 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 received a score of 36/100. The average score was 31.3 and the highest score was 90.
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 their tier one suppliers, made a public commitment to pay a living wage within a set timeframe, and has taken some action towards separating labour costs.
Source: Oxfam Australia
(2024)
No tax paid in 2019-20
According to data released by the Australian Tax Office in Jan 2022, this company was one of many local and foreign-based companies that paid no tax in Australia in 2019-20. Please note however that companies pay income tax on profits, not revenue (total income). While some companies use tax havens and loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of tax in Australia, other companies that paid no tax have perfectly legitimate reasons.
Source: ATO
(2022)
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary