arena
On Track. Pays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources
Italian swimwear brand making racing swimsuits, caps and goggles.
arena makes its competitive and recreational swimwear in 16 countries, with about 39% in China and 15% in Vietnam, and publishes its supplier list.
Also worth knowing
It's working towards a living wage through the Fair Labor Association's fair compensation programme, but can't yet show workers are paid one.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent arena? Send a right of reply.
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Why it's graded On Track
- Not met: Meets 4 of 6 Good requirements.
- Working towards a living wage. That's enough for On Track, but Good needs proof that workers are paid one.
- Met: No red flags.
Good requirements 4 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: working towards one
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, Vietnam and Türkiye.
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier list
- Met: High-risk raw materials (such as cotton and leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range
Red flags 0
None found.
| Star | Awarded for |
|---|---|
| Gives workers a real voice |
Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From arena's own disclosure: it publishes its supplier list. Its list covers only part of its range. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 39% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Italy | 7% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Cambodia | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Japan | 5% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| India | 3% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Albania | 2% | Systematic violations | Not rated | Very high |
| Bulgaria | 2% | Regular violations | Below a living wage | High |
| France | 2% | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| Malaysia | 2% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Moldova | 2% | Strong protections | Not rated | High |
| Portugal | 2% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Slovakia | 2% | Strong protections | Not rated | Moderate |
| Sri Lanka | 2% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Tunisia | 2% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Low |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- No high-risk raw materials (such as cotton and leather) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
- Publishes supplier list
- Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)
Research notes arena's products are made by independent suppliers: it reports 43 factories in 15 countries employing about 33,000 workers. Its published manufacturers list (December 2020 update) names 42 factories: 16 in China, 6 in Vietnam, 3 each in Italy and Türkiye, 2 each in Cambodia and Japan, and one each in ten other countries; shares are counted from that list. Its social compliance programme has been accredited by the Fair Labor Association since 2017, and it says 85% of tier 1 factories have been audited. Its 2025 Impact Report describes a wage-data pilot with key suppliers but no living wage target. Most products are synthetic swimwear and equipment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | No Ethical Fashion Report score on its ethical.org.au page, including the 2026 edition; the 2026 Transparency Pledge check says its factory disclosure falls short of the Pledge. View |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Not covered | Not among the large brands (over US$400 million turnover) assessed in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index; 2025 revenue was €193 million. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- arena Group Assessment for Accreditation (Fair Labor Association) · search the archive · FLA Board accredited arena's social compliance programme in February 2017
- Arena - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Owned by Capvis; no Ethical Fashion Report score; 2026 Transparency Pledge: some supplier information, short of the Pledge
- Arena wächst weiter (FashionUnited, April 2026) · search the archive · Headquartered in Tolentino, Italy; 2025 revenue €193 million; mainly swimwear
Published by arena or its owner
- Supplier - arena (about.arenasport.com) · search the archive · 43 factories in 15 countries, 33,139 workers; FLA participating company; 85% of tier 1 audited; Centre for Child Rights and Business member
- arena Manufacturers List - December 2020 Update · search the archive · 42 factories: China 16, Vietnam 6, Italy 3, Turkey 3, Cambodia 2, Japan 2, one each in 10 other countries incl. Malaysia, Moldova, Slovakia, Tunisia
- arena FY25 Impact Report · search the archive · FLA accreditation held since 2017 and maintained; Società Benefit since 2023; wage-data pilot with key suppliers, no living wage target
- About arena (arena Swimming Australia) · search the archive · Distributed in Australia by Leisure Link (SUMMIT Global); six arena Shops in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth
Company details
- Headquarters
- Italy
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is arena ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/arena, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What On Track means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent arena.