About Ethical Clothing Australia
We work collaboratively with local textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) businesses to protect and uphold the rights of Australian garment workers.
Ethical Clothing Australia is an accreditation body
We work collaboratively with local textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) businesses to protect and uphold the rights of Australian garment workers. To be Ethical Clothing Australia accredited, a business’s manufacturing operations are audited including head office(s), any in-house manufacturing operations and all outsourced locations in Australia to ensure that local TCF workers, including outworkers, are being paid appropriately, receiving all their legal entitlements and working in safe conditions. Ethical Clothing Australia’s audit covers workers in design, pattern making, cut, make, trim, value-adding, dispatch and associated area and outworkers throughout the supply chain.
Our Mission
We protect the rights of both local factory-based workers and outworkers (also known as homeworkers). Outworkers are particularly vulnerable in the TCF industry as they often work in isolation, facing unrealistic deadlines, long hours, irregular work and occupational health and safety issues. These workers can have a lack of awareness of their legal rights and entitlements and can have a powerlessness to speak out about problems in fear of losing work altogether.
Our Accreditation Program
Our accreditation program maps a business’s Australian supply chain from design to dispatch including initial design, pattern making, cut, make, trim and all value adding services. This crucial work is done via annual compliance audits conducted by the TCF Union team. The program encourages companies to view supply chain management as a fundamental part of the business.
The Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation and labelling system also provides consumers and buyers with a simple way to identify and support ethically made Australian TCF products.
Meet the Ethical Clothing Australia team
Lei-Lani Terrell is a seasoned Creative Marketing professional with over two decades of experience in branding, communications, and marketing. A lifelong advocate of sustainable fashion practices, she is thrilled to be part of Ethical Clothing Australia’s mission. Lei-Lani is pursuing a Sustainability Management graduate diploma at Deakin University, highlighting her commitment to the UNSDG goals. She enjoys a good story and excels in managing teams, strategic planning, and data-driven decision-making. Lei-Lani holds a Master of Creative Media from RMIT, a Bachelor of Arts (Film and Television) from UNSW, a Diploma in Project Management and a certificate in Environmental, Social Governance from RMIT.
With over five years’ experience in Ethical Sourcing and Sustainability, Brighid brings a strong foundation in the Australian fashion industry to Ethical Clothing Australia. After graduating with a Bachelor Degree in Fashion Merchandise Management from RMIT, she has contributed to teams at a range of leading Australian retailers, developing expertise in building and delivering effective Ethical Sourcing programs that address and monitor modern slavery risks in global supply chains. She is passionate about upholding workers’ rights in complex supply chains, especially within the textile, clothing, and footwear industry, and enjoys collaborating with stakeholders to reach shared ethical and sustainability goals.
Katy is a people-focused professional, and an advocate for ethical consumption and human rights. With a background in customer service and procurement, Katy is passionate about fostering sustainable practices and contributing to Ethical Clothing Australia’s growth.
Clytie Binder brings a wealth of experience from diverse fields to her role at Ethical Clothing Australia. She holds a Master of Environment and spent 11 years working at Brisbane City Council, specialising in environmental education and waste minimisation. Clytie’s focus on the circular economy provided her with a deep understanding of supply chains and sustainability. She served as a dedicated Workplace Union Delegate during her time at the council, advocating for worker rights and fostering a supportive workplace environment. Clytie also spent time working as a English as a second language (ESL) teacher.
Jacqueline is a skilled administration professional that takes genuine enjoyment in creating efficient systems and supporting others. While pursuing her Masters in Global Studies at the University of Freiburg, Jacqueline was introduced to the complexities of labour exploitation within the clothing industry in Buenos Aires, which is what drew her to Ethical Clothing Australia. She is passionate about collaborating across sectors towards a better future for all.
Simon is a digital marketing and communications professional with extensive experience in brand strategy, campaign management, and content creation across various digital platforms. He has delivered creative campaigns and built strong relationships with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders, always with a focus on transparency and positive impact. Simon is passionate about amplifying the voices of those shaping a fairer, more ethical future for the Australian textile, clothing, and footwear industry.
Meet the Compliance and Outreach Team
Beth’s role as National Compliance Officer requires her to manage the compliance and outreach team as part of Ethical Clothing Australia’s accreditation program. She works to ensure that workers in a factory or in their homes are receiving all of their lawful entitlements and are working in a safe environment.
In her role as a Community Engagement Officer at the TCF Union, Linda provides support to the Outwork Outreach Officers in their campaigns, events, and community outreach initiatives. Linda has a strong background in community engagement, and she provides industry information to workers and outworkers, ensuring they are well-informed about their rights and entitlements.
Ghet’s role as a Compliance Officer involves overseeing compliance audit tasks, including auditing all Ethical Clothing Australia accredited textile, clothing and footwear companies and their supply chain. Her work ensures that the legal requirements and obligations in the awards are followed.
Nguyet’s role as an Outwork Outreach Officer for the TCF Union, as part of Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation program, is to support vulnerable workers, particularly outworkers in the TCF industry. She works to ensure that their legal working rights and safety is protected, according to the industry award and other relevant legislation.
Quang’s role as a Compliance Officer involves auditing all Ethical Clothing Australia accredited Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) companies and their Australian supply chain. Quang has a long experience working in the union movement to protect workers’ rights and improve their working conditions. He strives to ensure that the Australian labour standards, legal requirements, and workplace obligations are upheld, and thus, workers’ rights & conditions are protected in the TCF industry.
Want to learn more about Ethical Clothing Australia?
Contact us to learn more
Get in touch with an Accreditation Program Advisor to discuss your eligibility and ask questions about the accreditation process.
Support local
Ethical Clothing Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout the lands now known as Australia and recognise and celebrate their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples today.We are a place free from discrimination, where diversity is celebrated and everyone belongs. We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for all.