BrandBank
Clothing retail
Owned by Peter Lew, son of Australian retail magnate, Solomon Lew. Operates Seed Heritage, French Connection, Allkinds and Commonry stores in Australia. Acquired stationery retailer Kikki.K in 2021.

Overall

Owned AUS
Rating D
About the Ratings

Company Ownership

BrandBank Group Pty Ltd
AUS
Lew Group
owns 100% of BrandBank Group Pty Ltd
AUS
Investment conglomerate
The Lew family, headed by rag trade tycoon Solomon Lew, owns a swag of Australian clothing retail companies. While Solomon owns Voyager Distributing Co and 42% of Just Group, his three children each control parts of the Lew empire. Peter Lew manages Australian Retail Investments and the Australian licenses for Zara and FCUK, Steven Lew manages Playcorp and Global Retail Brands, while Jacqueline Lew manages Nine West.

Company Assessment

(Last updated Jan 2022)
BrandBank Group Pty Ltd
Criticism
21/100 in 2022 Ethical Fashion Report
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2022 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 21/100.
Information
Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website in areas that include ethical sourcing and manufacturing, packaging, community support, and reducing environmental impact.
Lew Group
Information
Fined for building illegal pool
Solomon Lew, owner of Premier Investments, struck a deal with Mornington Shire Council in June 2012 to remove a pool he had built on Crown Land without permission and remediate the land in exchange for negligence charges being dropped. Lew is to pay Council's legal fees of $150,000 and a fine of $50,000.
Wikipedia profile on Solomon Lew
Wikipedia profile on Lew Group head, Solomon Lew. Includes details of controversial business deals, including the Yannon transaction and the Etiket transaction.

Company Details

Type:
Private company
Subsidiaries:
Steambrook Pty Ltd
Clothing retailer
Founded in Melbourne in 2000. Owned by the Lew family.
FC Australia Pty Ltd
Clothing
French Connection was rebranded in Australia to Unison in August 2023.

Contact Details

Address:
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Website:
www.brandbankgroup.com.au

Products / Brands

BrandBank Seed Heritage