Fred Perry
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 3 sources
London label best known for its laurel-wreath polo shirts.
There's no proof Fred Perry pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 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.
Good requirements 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsSome of its products are made in China and Thailand, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not 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 (cotton and leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeTraced or certified: cotton. Only in a few products: leather
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made partly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From Fred Perry's own disclosure: it publishes its supplier list.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Low |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Portugal | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Germany | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Passes the raw-material check for clothes and shoes: traces or certifies its cotton.
- Publishes supplier list
- Modern slavery statement
- Uses leather in only a few products and doesn't show where it comes from. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
- Traces or certifies most but not all of its cotton. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Fred Perry uses independent suppliers: in 2023 it sourced from 32 factories in the UK, China, Vietnam, Portugal, Germany and Thailand, with the top five factories making 81% of products, but gives no split by country. It shares its tier 1 factories on Open Supply Hub, and its two Leicester factories reached 'performing' status in the Fast Forward UK audit programme. Its own team audits tier 1 factories, with third-party audits as an extra check. All 2023 cotton was Better Cotton and Xinjiang cotton is banned; footwear tanneries are mapped but not named. It makes no living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Publishes a UK modern slavery statement; the 2024 statement covers 2023 and names six sourcing countries and 32 live factories. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Listed | Company profile links Fred Perry to one story on mass layoffs after brands cancelled orders, with one response request that was not answered. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- Fred Perry Ltd - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre · search the archive · One story on mass layoffs from cancelled orders; one response request, 0% response rate
Published by Fred Perry or its owner
- Fred Perry Modern Slavery Statement 2024 · search the archive · 2023: 32 factories in UK, China, Vietnam, Portugal, Germany, Thailand; top 5 make 81%; 403 staff; all cotton Better Cotton; footwear tanneries mapped
- Fred Perry: The Made in England Fred Perry shirt · search the archive · Made in England Fred Perry shirts are made in central Leicester by UK Piqué (fabric) and ESP (garments)
Company details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Employees
- About 403
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Fred Perry ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/fred-perry, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded footwear
None of the footwear brands we know to make shirts or activewear is Good yet. These are the strongest so far. Jumbo Ugg Australia, Redback Boots and Veja are Good, but we don't know that they make shirts or activewear. Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Fred Perry.