Fashion label Zambesi used to claim all its clothing was made at home in New Zealand.

Now it specifies some of its garments, especially hand-crafted artisanal beaded and sequin items, are made in India. The label says because the fabric is beaded fully, to make it in New Zealand would require hand cutting, removing the beading at the seams and re-beading after construction which would have been labor intensive for its small workroom.

The brand says it orders the fabric from India and designs the garment in New Zealand. Two per cent of its clothing collection last summer was manufactured in India and China last season. This included beaded garments, embroidered caps and canvas bags.

The company says its manufacturer in India is child labor-free and meets ethical industry standards.

Zambesi, founded in 1979, possesses a consistent and unique signature. The clothes reflect both realism and imagination. The well cut, wearable garments capture attention with their clever detailing. Those unique details sit alongside precisely tailored nods to traditional and utilitarian menswear, resulting in a refined masculine style.

Similarly World, another New Zealand-based fashion brand, has been accused of selling garments that are actually made in Bangladesh. World does T-shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants.