Supply chain transparency is crucial to achieving systemic change in the global fashion industry.
The supply chains of footwear are a lot more complicated than you might think. The average shoe at Bared has 34 individual components, each with their own complex supply chain of suppliers from finished fibre, right back to the farm the raw materials were sourced from. At Bared, we firmly believe that supply chain mapping is crucial for ensuring that our products are made responsibly, with care for both people and the planet.
Our Tools: Mapping with Our Supply Chain (OSC)
To help us manage this huge task, we use the Our Supply Chain (OSC) platform, a tool that helps us track and manage every part of our supply chain, from materials to finished products.
We aim to map every part of our supply chain, especially in deeper tiers, to identify and address any risks—such as modern slavery or unethical practices—that might otherwise be hidden. The OSC platform helps us do this by collecting key information like material compositions, supplier names, and country of origin. This data creates a clear map of what we know, showing us where we’re doing well and where more work is needed.
Beyond just mapping, the system also helps us stay on top of things like audit dates, certifications, and contracts. It lets us see if any certifications are nearing expiration or if any action plans need follow-up. By using the platform, we’re making sure we don’t just collect data, but actually use it to improve our practices and hold ourselves accountable.
For us, supplier transparency isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s 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 who have implemented systems and strategies that recognise, and improve human rights within their supply chain.
At Bared Footwear, responsible sourcing isn't just a practice—it's crucial to what we do. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we've taken a holistic approach to analyse our practices through supply chain mapping, and ensuring the safety and fair treatment of workers within our supply chain through regular audits.
For us, supplier transparency isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must. We're committed to continuous improvement, learning, and growth.
Our Progress
Updated December 2024
Tier One:
These factories are defined as those that produce a finished product.
We have mapped 100% of our Tier 1 manufacturers and have direct relationships with these factories.
Tier Two:
These factories are defined as “material finishers”. They produce the finished materials and components that are used in our footwear. This includes factories such as leather tanneries and fabric weavers.
We have mapped an estimated 95%-100% of our Tier 2 suppliers.
Why is it not 100%?
Our suppliers provide the names and details of every tier 2 supplier from which they source from. As a result we have actually mapped what we believe to be 100% of our tier 2 suppliers. An important adage when it comes to mapping supply chains is that “you don’t know what you don’t know”.
As we move past tier 1 of the supply chain, mapping becomes much more complex. Whilst we have great relationships with our suppliers, it’s always possible that our suppliers have purchased top ups and alternative materials from secondary suppliers that we don’t know about. For this reason, we prefer not to claim 100% tier 2 traceability.
Tier Three:
These factories are defined as “raw material processors”. These factories process raw materials into a form that is usable for tier 2 factories to then turn into finished materials. This includes spinners, dyers, and abattoirs.
We have mapped an estimated <3% of our tier 3 suppliers.
Why is this number low?
The further into our supply chain we get, the harder it is to track our tier 3 suppliers. This is particularly the case with the leather supply chain as leather production involves multiple stages and numerous intermediaries, including farmers, slaughterhouses, traders, and tanneries, each operating independently and often without transparent record-keeping practices. Additionally, hides and skins can be sourced from various regions and mixed during processing, making it difficult to track their origin.
How are we working to improve this number?
We are currently sampling leathers that have 100% traceability back to a farm level. This is achieved by physically marking the hides at a farm level, allowing the hide to be tracked through the meat processing.
Tier Four:
This tier is defined as “raw material extraction”. This is the farm, mine, or factory in which the raw material is extracted. When it comes to natural fibres such as leather or cotton, this is the farm on which the plant or animal is grown at.
We have traced <1% of our tier four.
Why is this number low?
Tier four is the most difficult level of the supply chain to trace. Many stakeholders are involved between tier 4 and tier 1, meaning a continuous tracing of the chain of custody of materials must be maintained at each step along the way. The challenges in tracing this level are complex and not purely logistical.
In the case of leather, which is a byproduct of the meat industry, supply chains often intersect through factories and abattoirs primarily focused on producing food items. Factory owners often lack the capacity to provide detailed supply chain information, and many farm owners withhold data for security reasons.
Additionally, cows are typically received at abattoirs in bulk from multiple farms, making it difficult to trace the origin of each hide. Consequently, tracking the leather supply chain from the tannery back to the abattoir is a complex and challenging process.
How can we improve our tier 4 traceability?
As mentioned, we are currently in the process of sampling with premium hides which assure fully supply chain traceability through physical marking of the hide. We are also exploring the possibility of fibre testing - in which laboratories can trace fibres through DNA profiling. We are actively seeking out certified materials that require chain-of-custody traceability as part of their certification criteria.
Monitoring Outsourced Processes
At Bared, we recognise that outsourced processes are necessary for many footwear styles due to their complexity and multiple components. For example, hand-weaving leather is a specialist skill that requires a dedicated factory, which is outsourced to experts outside of our primary manufacturers.
We maintain close relationships with our factories, allowing them to outsource processes, but they must disclose this to us. We are also working to include these specialist factories in our auditing program to ensure they meet our high standards for quality, ethics, and sustainability.