Supplier Code of Conduct
"The suppliers we work with say something about us. We take that seriously, and we expect the businesses we buy from to take it seriously too."
– Guy Dawson, CEO
Who we buy from matters. This document sets out what we expect from our suppliers and how we go about working with them. It applies to all suppliers, whether based in Australia or offshore.
We are not a passive buyer. We ask hard questions, we push back when something does not add up, and we make buying decisions based on what we find out. For our offshore supply chain, Christina Lee works as our China-based sourcing agent, visiting factories directly and managing supplier relationships on the ground. Her work is central to how we assess and monitor the suppliers we use.
1. Labour and Human Rights
People come first. We will not knowingly buy from a supplier where workers are being exploited, underpaid, or treated poorly. This applies to our Australian suppliers as much as those offshore.
No forced, bonded, or compulsory labour
No child labour; workers must be of legal working age in their country
Workers must be free to leave their employment and keep their own identity documents
Wages must meet or exceed the legal minimum, paid on time
Working hours must be reasonable, with proper rest breaks and leave entitlements
Working conditions must be safe and clean
Workers have the right to organise and raise concerns without retaliation
No discrimination based on gender, race, religion, age, disability, or background
We ask suppliers about their labour practices directly. If something concerns us, we raise it. Suppliers who are open about problems and working to fix them earn more trust from us than those who simply claim everything is fine.
2. Environmental Standards
Our products have an environmental footprint. We are working to understand and reduce ours, and we expect our suppliers to be doing the same.
Comply with all environmental laws and regulations in your country of operation
Manage waste, wastewater, and chemicals responsibly
Take steps to reduce energy use and emissions where possible
Avoid banned or restricted substances in production
Be able to answer questions about your environmental practices and impacts
Suppliers with recognised certifications such as GOTS, bluesign, or ISO 14001 are given preference
We know improvement takes time. We are more interested in suppliers who are genuinely working on this than those who have polished answers but little real progress.
3. Product Quality and Safety
Our clients trust us to deliver what we quote. That trust depends entirely on our suppliers delivering what they commit to.
Products must match the agreed specification: materials, construction, sizing, colour, and finish
Quality must be consistent across repeat orders, not just the first one
All products must comply with applicable Australian product safety standards
Material and composition claims must be accurate
Quality control processes must be in place; we may ask to see them
If there is a problem, tell us early. We can usually work with an issue if we know about it in advance
Suppliers who consistently fall short on quality without communication will not remain on our supplier list.
4. Business Ethics
We run a straightforward business and expect the same from our suppliers.
No bribery or corrupt payments, to anyone, for any reason
No undisclosed conflicts of interest
Quotes, invoices, and communications must be honest and accurate
Client and business information shared with you remains confidential
Comply with all laws applicable to your business and location
No price-fixing or anti-competitive arrangements with other suppliers
If someone within your organisation has a concern about how things are being done, they should be able to raise it without fear. We will treat any concern raised with us confidentially.
5. How We Work With Suppliers
We have been in this industry for over 25 years and we know most of our suppliers personally. Here is what working with us looks like:
We ask about labour, environmental, and ethical practices when we start with a new supplier
We review suppliers periodically and may ask for updated information
For key offshore suppliers, Christina Lee visits factories and reports back to us directly
If we have a concern, we raise it with you and give you a fair chance to respond
If a concern cannot be resolved, we will find another supplier
We are not looking for suppliers who have everything perfectly sorted. We are looking for suppliers who are honest about where they are at and serious about getting better.
