Slazenger
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
British sports brand known for tennis balls.
Slazenger is rated as part of a company that scored 5/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, and workers in the Philippines are very unlikely to earn a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production in high-risk countries and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 5/100 in 2026, for the company it's rated with). Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- 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 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as the Philippines and China, 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
- 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 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
- Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 5/100 (2026, the company it's rated with)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From press and retailer reports; Slazenger doesn't say where its products are made. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Modern slavery statement
- 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 Slazenger tennis balls, which use rubber cores, are made in the Philippines; clothing and other equipment are made by Frasers Group's suppliers in undisclosed countries. Neither Slazenger nor Frasers publishes a factory list, audit results or a living wage commitment; Frasers publishes a group modern slavery statement, scored 5/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report and 7% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. No labour abuse findings tied to Slazenger products have been reported. In Australia the brand was long licensed to Pacific Brands and later PAS Group, and is now sold in Sports Direct stores run by Accent Group.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Not rated on its own in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report; owner Frasers Group scored 5 out of 100 (2026; average 31.5). View |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Listed | Owner Frasers Group scored 7% (17.5 out of 250) in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, well below the 26% average. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Covered by Frasers Group's group modern slavery statement for 28 April 2025 to 26 April 2026; the registry summary names no countries or risks. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No stories name Slazenger; Frasers Group has not responded to worker reports from five Myanmar garment factories supplying it (2025 update), which name no brands. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Frasers Group - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Frasers Group scored 5/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5); FTI 2023 7%; no commitment to publish supplier factories
- Frasers Group's non-response to allegations of abuses in Myanmar garment factories, Feb 2025 update (BHRRC) · search the archive · Frasers Group has not responded to worker reports from five Myanmar garment factories; no brands named
- Frasers Group modern slavery statement summary 2026 (UK registry) · search the archive · Group statement covering 11 organisations, period 28 Apr 2025 to 26 Apr 2026; no countries, risks or audit details given in summary
- Accent Group ASX announcement: strategic partnership with Frasers Group (15 April 2025) · search the archive · Accent gets Frasers' owned brands via direct factory sourcing and Frasers' Australian brand development partner; pays royalties
- PAS Group chief: why we picked up Pacific Brands' sports labels (SmartCompany, 2014) · search the archive · PAS Group took over the Australian Slazenger and Dunlop licences from Pacific Brands in 2014
- Accent Group to launch Sports Direct across Oz in major Frasers deal (ChannelNews, 2025) · search the archive · Everlast, Lonsdale, Slazenger and Hot Tuna to be sold in Sports Direct and other Accent stores in Australia
- The Manufacturer: Wimbledon's tennis balls make 50,000 mile journey · search the archive · Slazenger tennis balls are manufactured in Bataan, the Philippines, after production moved from Barnsley in the early 2000s
Company details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Slazenger ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/slazenger, 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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No activewear brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Slazenger.