Labour Lens

Castore

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Clothing & footwear

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources

British premium sportswear brand selling training wear and team kits.

We couldn't confirm where Castore makes most of its premium sportswear and team kits.

Also worth knowing

Most clothes and shoes are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, where pay is usually below a living wage and unions are heavily restricted.

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

  • Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
  • Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
  • It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
  • Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 2 of 6

  • Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
  • Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where clothes and shoes are usually made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
  • 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
  • Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
  • Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton

Red flags 1

  • Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

Not confirmed

We couldn't confirm where Castore makes most of its products, so this shows where clothes and shoes are usually made.

Where it's made, share by country, and conditions there
CountryShareWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
China30%No guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
Bangladesh20%No guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
Vietnam15%Systematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
India10%No guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
Cambodia8%No guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageModerate
Türkiye7%No guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageVery high
Indonesia5%No guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate
Pakistan5%No guarantee of rightsFar below a living wageHigh

Evidence

What we found

  • Modern slavery statement
  • Independent social audits of all its main factories
  • Doesn't show where its cotton comes from. Cotton is linked to forced labour in Xinjiang and Turkmenistan, and child labour in several growing regions, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.

Research notes Castore's latest published modern slavery statement (year to January 2024) says its garments come from 80 factories in seven key manufacturing locations, but it does not name the countries or publish a factory list. It says tier 1 and subcontracted factories are independently audited, names Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Xinjiang as cotton risks, and relies on suppliers' self-certified cotton policies rather than traceability. It monitors minimum wages but makes no living wage commitment. In 2024 it bought Leeds-based clothing supplier Infinity Inc.

Sources and actions

Sources 5

Show all 5 sources
  1. Castore Modern Slavery Statement (hosted on the ECB shop) · search the archive · Year to Jan 2024: 80 factories in 7 unnamed locations, tier 1 and subcontractors audited; cotton risks named; no living wage pledge
  2. Sportswear brand Castore buys clothing supplier Infinity Inc (MBS Group, May 2024) · search the archive · Castore bought Leeds-based Infinity Inc, one of its main clothing suppliers, in May 2024
  3. Castore completes acquisition of Belstaff (INEOS, August 2025) · search the archive · Castore agreed to take 100% of Belstaff from INEOS in August 2025
  4. Rugby Australia and Castore reveal landmark partnership (Australasian Leisure Management) · search the archive · Castore supplies Wallabies, Wallaroos and Sevens kit from January 2026, with retail for Australian fans
  5. Wallabies Men's 2026 Home Jersey (rebel) · search the archive · Castore-made 2026 Wallabies jerseys sold by rebel, an Australian sports retailer with physical stores

Company details

Headquarters
United Kingdom
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Castore ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/castore, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method
Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means

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