Supply chain transparency
Supply chain transparency is crucial to achieving systemic change in the global fashion industry.
Footwear supply chains are often more complex than people expect. The average Bared shoe has 34 individual components, and each component can have its own supply chain that stretches from finished material right back to the farm or source of the raw inputs.
At Bared, we believe supply chain mapping is essential to ensuring our products are made responsibly, with care for both people and the planet.
Our tools: mapping with Our Supply Chain (OSC)
To help manage this work, we use the Our Supply Chain (OSC) platform. OSC helps us track and manage our supply chain from materials through to finished products.
Our goal is to map as much of our supply chain as possible, particularly deeper tiers, so we can identify and address risks that may otherwise remain hidden, including modern slavery and other unethical practices. OSC supports this by collecting key information such as material composition, supplier names, and country of origin. This creates a clear picture of what we know today, where our coverage is strong, and where more work is needed.
Beyond mapping, OSC also helps us manage governance and follow up. For example, we can monitor audit dates, certifications, and contracts, and flag when certifications are nearing expiry or when action plans require follow up. This helps ensure we are not only collecting information, but actively using it to improve our practices and strengthen accountability.
For us, supplier transparency is a must. We’re committed to continuous improvement, learning, and growth.
Banksia Award winners 2024: Responsible Supply Chain
In 2024, Bared was honoured with the Responsible Supply Award at the 35th National Banksia Sustainability Awards. This recognition celebrates businesses that have implemented systems and strategies that recognise, and improve, human rights within their supply chain.
Responsible sourcing is central to how we operate. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we take a holistic approach to responsible sourcing by mapping our supply chain and supporting safe and fair working conditions through regular audits.
Our progress
(updated December 2025)
Tier 1: finished goods manufacturers
Tier 1 factories produce the finished product. We have mapped 100% of our Tier 1 manufacturers and have direct relationships with these factories.
Tier 2: material finishers
Tier 2 suppliers produce the finished materials and components used in our footwear, such as leather tanneries and fabric weavers.
We have mapped an estimated 95 to 100% of our Tier 2 suppliers. In 2025, we worked to build direct relationships with all Tier 2 suppliers.
Why we do not claim 100%
Our Tier 1 partners provide the names and details of the Tier 2 suppliers they source from, and based on this we believe we have mapped all Tier 2 suppliers currently in use. However, a key principle in supply chain mapping is that you don’t know what you don’t know.
Beyond Tier 1, mapping becomes more complex. Even with strong supplier relationships, it is possible that materials have been purchased as top ups from secondary suppliers that are not disclosed to us. For this reason, we prefer not to claim 100% Tier 2 traceability.
Tier 3: raw material processors
Tier 3 suppliers process raw materials into inputs that Tier 2 factories can turn into finished materials. This includes spinners, dyers, and abattoirs.
We have mapped an estimated under 3% of our Tier 3 suppliers. In 2025, we initiated work to improve this percentage, and our goal for 2026 is to achieve 100% traceability on leathers.
Why this number is currently low
The deeper we go into the supply chain, the harder it is to trace Tier 3 suppliers. This is particularly true for leather, where production involves multiple stages and intermediaries, including farmers, slaughterhouses, traders, and tanneries. Hides and skins can also be sourced from different regions and mixed during processing, making origin tracing difficult.
How we are improving Tier 3 traceability
We are currently sampling leathers with full traceability back to farm level. This is achieved by physically marking hides at farm level, enabling tracking through meat processing.
Tier 4: raw material extraction
Tier 4 is the source where raw materials are extracted, such as the farm, mine, or facility where the raw input originates. For natural fibres like leather or cotton, this refers to the farm where the plant is grown or the animal is raised.
We have traced under 1% of our Tier 4 suppliers.
Why this number is currently low
Tier 4 is the most difficult level to trace. Many stakeholders sit between Tier 4 and Tier 1, and continuous chain of custody must be maintained at every step. These challenges are complex and not purely logistical.
In the case of leather, which is a byproduct of the meat industry, supply chains often intersect with facilities primarily focused on food production. Some facilities may not have the capacity to provide detailed supply chain data, and some farm owners may withhold information for security reasons.
Additionally, cattle can be received at abattoirs in bulk from multiple farms, making it difficult to trace each hide back to its original farm. As a result, tracing leather from tannery back through the abattoir remains complex.
How we can improve Tier 4 traceability
In addition to sampling premium hides with full traceability enabled through physical marking, we are exploring fibre testing, where laboratories may be able to trace fibres using DNA profiling. We are also actively seeking certified materials that require chain of custody traceability as part of their certification requirements.
Monitoring outsourced processes
We recognise that outsourced processes are necessary for many footwear styles due to complexity and the number of components involved. For example, hand weaving leather is a specialist skill that may be completed by a dedicated facility outside our primary manufacturers.
We maintain close relationships with our factories and allow outsourcing where needed, but outsourcing must be disclosed to us. We are also working to include specialist facilities in our auditing program so they meet our standards for quality, ethics, and sustainability.
Our list of suppliers identified by region can be viewed here.