Gymshark
Partly verifiedGymshark raises serious concerns: there are reports of forced or child labour in its supply chain, and workers in Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Türkiye are very unlikely to earn a living wage. Gymshark, ASOS and Adidas asked the Fair Labor Association to investigate allegations at RT Knits (Mauritius), including migrant workers paying return flight costs, forced overtime, harassment and bribery (FLA investigation, 2022-23). I could not confirm the findings from the excerpts I saw.
Last researched 6 October 2026
Not doing enough. Workers in the supply chain are likely underpaid, unprotected or in danger, and in the worst cases face forced or child labour. Look for a better-graded alternative. What this grade means
Good: 1 of 5
- Pays a living wage
- Respects worker rights
- Full supply chain audit, or made only in countries with rigorous labour standards
- No child or forced labour findings
- Publishes where its products are made (supplier list, named farms or its own factories)
Great: 0 of 3
- Pays beyond a living wage
- Finds and fixes problems, or invests directly in workers' communities
- Actively empowers workers
Needs all Good requirements plus two of these.
Red flags: 4
- Does not pay a living wage
- Hidden or unaudited supply chain (no certification or documentation, or major production in countries with poor worker rights without independent audits)
- Instances of forced, slave or child labour
- Failing or very low scores on independent ratings
Where it's made
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam 28% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Sri Lanka 19% | Regular violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye 14% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Bangladesh 12% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
| Mexico 9% | Some protections | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Romania 7% | Some protections | Below a living wage | Low |
| Cambodia 5% | Systematic violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Egypt 2% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Portugal 2% | Strong protections | Below a living wage | Low |
| United Kingdom 2% | Regular violations | Slightly below a living wage | Low |
Country conditions from the ITUC Global Rights Index, Global Slavery Index and living wage benchmarks. Certifications and audits can raise a company above its countries' baseline.
Why this grade
- Cotton is linked to forced labour (Xinjiang, Turkmenistan) and child labour in several growing regions.
- Publishes supplier list
- Modern slavery statement
- Signed the International Accord on garment factory safety
- Low or failing score on an independent rating
Gymshark does not own or operate its factories. It publishes a factory list and annual UK Modern Slavery Statements, and it has been a Fair Labor Association member since 2019. The FLA publishes factory assessments for Gymshark suppliers in Turkey, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam. It scored 39/100 (grade D) in Baptist World Aid's 2024 Ethical Fashion Report, and I found no evidence of living wage commitments. The production shares are my estimate from the number of Tier 1 garment factories per country, as counted by a third-party site from Gymshark's published list. Gymshark discloses no volume shares, and four Jordan factories are left out because Jordan is not an allowed country code.
Confirmed issues
Problems confirmed by a court, regulator, completed investigation or the company itself. Issues more than 15 years old, or 10–15 years old where the company made amends, are removed. Problems a company finds and publishes itself, and is fixing, are shown but don't count against it.
| When | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| Date not recorded | Gymshark, ASOS and Adidas asked the Fair Labor Association to investigate allegations at RT Knits (Mauritius), including migrant workers paying return flight costs, forced overtime, harassment and bribery (FLA investigation, 2022-23). I could not confirm the findings from the excerpts I saw. | Not known |
Sources (8)
- Where do Nike, Lululemon and Gymshark make their clothes? · Tier 1 garment factory counts by country from Gymshark's 2025 factory list, about 47 factories (third-party summary)
- Where Is Gymshark Made? · Gymshark uses independent factories (54 Tier 1 in its latest statement), does not own factories, and is led by Vietnam
- Modern Slavery Statement FY24-25 · Gymshark does not own or operate its production facilities and publishes a modern slavery statement
- Gymshark - Fair Labor Association · FLA membership and published factory assessments in Türkiye, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam
- What is Gymshark's commitment to sustainability? · FLA member since 2019, Better Work partner, signatory to the International Accord
- Gymshark - Shop Ethical! · 39/100, grade D in Baptist World Aid's 2024 Ethical Fashion Report
- RT Knits investigation CAP (FLA) · Gymshark, ASOS and Adidas commissioned an investigation into worker allegations at RT Knits, Mauritius
- Gymshark's response to 'Who pays for the crisis' tracker allegations - March 2024 · Gymshark's response to retrenchment allegations at Mactan Apparel, Philippines
Last researched 6 October 2026 · details still being verified. Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Represent this company and think something is wrong? A right-of-reply form is coming soon.