Did you know humans are now consuming 400% more clothing compared to 20 years ago? And that the average American generates 82 pounds of textile waste every single year? People are buying more clothes than ever, but are wearing them a lot less. The explosive growth of fast fashion over the past two decades mainly explains this phenomenon.
We want to start this article by stating that this post targets consumers who buy more clothing than they actually need. We do not want low-income shoppers struggling to purchase from a sustainable brand if fast fashion is the only thing they can afford. However, these fast fashion brands only exist because of overconsumption. It’s about the amount we buy as consumers, and in the States, many of us have more than we need.
What Are the Worst Fast Fashion Brands?
The worst fast fashion brands are companies that produce large volumes of cheap, trend-driven clothing using synthetic materials and low-cost labor. These brands often rely on rapid production cycles, encourage disposable clothing habits, and lack transparency around environmental impact and worker conditions.
Why These Fast Fashion Brands Are Harmful
Fast fashion brands are built on a business model that prioritizes profits above almost everything else. In order to produce thousands of new styles each year, many companies rely on inexpensive synthetic fabrics, extremely rapid production cycles, and factories where labor costs are kept as low as possible.
This model encourages a culture of disposable clothing. Instead of designing garments meant to last for years, fast fashion brands release constant new trends that push consumers to keep buying more. Many of these pieces are worn only a handful of (typically 7-10) times before being discarded.
The environmental impact is significant and very worrisome. Producing cheap clothing at this scale contributes to massive textile waste, high carbon emissions, and microplastic pollution from synthetic fabrics like polyester and acrylic.
Transparency is another issue. Many of the largest fast fashion brands provide limited information about their supply chains, making it difficult to verify working conditions or environmental standards.
For these reasons, brands that depend heavily on rapid trend cycles, synthetic materials, and high production volumes are often considered some of the worst offenders in the fast fashion industry. If you’re curious to learn more about these issues, please read our post ‘What is Fast Fashion?‘.
What is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion refers to brands that produce high volumes of clothing throughout the year. Brands are now making clothes at a fraction of the price they used to. As a result, consumers can update their wardrobes very quickly and affordably. But this over-consumption of cheaply-made clothes is leading to the huge growth of textile waste, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources. It is raising social issues that we can no longer ignore, such as human rights violations. The best thing we can do, as consumers, is to stop supporting this industry. We should avoid fast fashion brands and start supporting sustainable clothing brands instead.
How to Identify a Fast Fashion Brand
Most fast fashion brands release new collections of clothing every week and use marketing techniques to encourage consumers to buy into new trends. Many of these companies often lack transparency and provide vague information about their suppliers and the manufacturing processes used for their products. They don’t give any specific information about what exactly they’re doing to mitigate their environmental impact. They also do not provide evidence that they offer their workers decent and safe working conditions, as well as living wages. Many fast fashion brands are greenwashing. They are disclosing misleading information to fool customers into thinking they’re an ethical and sustainable company. Cheap prices are also a great indicator of fast fashion products and their poor quality. It’s impossible to produce a $5 t-shirt, pay garment workers fairly, and have manufacturing processes that do not harm the environment. Read our complete guide to Fast Fashion here.
& to be honest, most fashion today is unethical, unsustainable and most definitely, fast.
50 Fast Fashion Brands We Should Avoid
Here are 50 examples of fast fashion brands you should avoid if you want to have a more ethical and sustainable wardrobe!
1. Shein
With over 20 million followers on Instagram, Chinese brand Shein quickly became popular thanks to social media. It adds 500 products to its website each day, at very cheap prices. Doing this, the brand contributes to the throw-away culture fast fashion brands are promoting, which comes at the cost of the environment. There is no evidence that Shein trying to mitigate its environmental impact. The brand chooses not to share information about where it makes its products and keeps its supply chain details unclear.
Shein assures that it doesn’t use forced or child labor and that it offers its workers above-average wages. Yet, it is hard to believe that the company pays its workers fairly, selling products that are so cheap. In 2020, the brand was widely criticized for posting on its website a necklace in the shape of a swastika as well as Islamic prayer mats.
Here is a list of our favorite sustainable & ethical alternatives to SHEIN.
2. Zara
Zara is a Spanish fashion brand that belongs to the group Inditex. While the brand uses recycled packaging and has a textile recycling program, it is not transparent about the number of resources that go into the production of its clothes. We also do not know if it’s on track to meet its target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. A positive point is that Zara has a more transparent supply chain compared to other fast fashion brands.
The company revealed a list of suppliers, but not for its whole supply chain. It’s conducting audits of subcontractors to review if they’re following their Code of Conduct, but results aren’t entirely public. The company also doesn’t pay its garment workers living wages. In 2017, Zara customers in Istanbul found secret messages in clothing. Garment workers wrote the statements to claim they had to work for free before the manufacturer producing clothes for Zara went bankrupt.
Here is a list of our favorite sustainable & ethical alternatives to Zara.
3. H&M
H&M, a famous Swedish brand, is the second-largest fashion retailer in the world, and one we should avoid! In 2018, despite its promises, the company failed to pay 850,000 garment workers a living wage. Many female workers are also physically & sexually abused. H&M hasn’t implemented anything to stop these practices in their suppliers’ factories. The brand was also accused of turning a blind eye to the plight of garment workers who denounced inhumane working conditions leading to the deaths of more than 100 people.
Is H&M more sustainable than it is ethical? The brand has made great progress in eliminating harmful chemicals, like PFCs, phthalates, and APs/APEOs from its products. It also has a textile recycling program, but only 35% of clothing gets recycled. The brand should do better to mitigate its environmental impact and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Maybe H&M should start by donating its unsold clothes instead of burning them?
4. Temu
Temu does not disclose any information on its labor practices. We can’t determine if the people making these goods receive fair treatment, but it’s reasonable to conclude that with such low price points, paying a living wage becomes incredibly challenging. When you conduct a quick search for a ‘sundress,’ you’ll find an overwhelming number of options available at remarkably low prices. While the specific materials used may not always be readily apparent, it seems that the majority of these clothing items are made from synthetic fabrics, particularly polyester. These synthetic fabrics are derived from petroleum, essentially making them a form of plastic.
The production of synthetic fabrics has negative implications for the environment, and these materials take hundreds of years to decompose. Due to Temu’s consistent lack of accountability in ensuring product safety, it is advisable to prioritize caution and favor companies, particularly those based in the US, that adhere to more stringent regulations. Additionally, Temu’s parent company, Pinduoduo, has been embroiled in multiple privacy scandals over the past few decades, further raising concerns about their business practices.
5. Forever 21
Forever 21 is an American fashion retailer that sells very cheap clothing, but this comes with a social and environmental cost. On its Social Responsibility page, we can read: “Forever 21 also shares the goal of eliminating child labor and forced labor”. Does it mean that the company still uses these abusive working practices? US Labor Department investigators found that workers at a factory in Los Angeles were paid as little as $4 per hour, much less than the state minimum wage.
Forever 21 also refused to sign the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, which shows how much the company cares about its workers. The brand lacks transparency regarding the production methods of its products and their origins. We also do not know if it’s doing something to mitigate its huge environmental impact. Alongside many other scandals, Forever 21 was accused of body-shaming after sending diet bars to customers who ordered plus-size clothing.
6. Amazon
Although some people who do not have access to sustainable products locally can find great options on Amazon, this giant online marketplace is far from being ethical and eco-friendly. This is particularly true when we look at its in-house fashion brands (there are more than 50 available!). These brands do not use sustainable fabrics to make their clothes, nor do they take action to minimize their waste and use of water or hazardous chemicals. Amazon frequently uses excessive packaging when shipping its products.
The company powers its direct operations with renewable energy, but what about its supply chain? Amazon’s business model also raises many ethical issues. Workers work in terrible, inhumane conditions; former employees revealed they were forced to pee in bottles and placed under surveillance. Because of the company’s next-day delivery service, workers also have to work at an incredibly stressful, unhealthy pace. We also do not know whether Amazon pays all its workers a living wage. Plus, some of its suppliers in China were accused of using forced labor!
7. Nike
Nike is the largest and most recognizable athletic brand in the world, with sales reaching over 49 billion dollars in 2022. The brand has come under fire multiple times in the past for using sweatshops and child labor, paying workers below minimum wages, and offering them terrible working conditions. Since then, it has made efforts to improve its reputation, but many of its practices remain problematic. In 2017, Nike prevented labor rights experts from assessing its factories.
A year later, a report by the Clean Clothes Campaign revealed that the company still failed to provide garment workers with decent, living wages. Two former female employees also sued Nike for creating a toxic culture of gender discrimination and sexual harassment. And more recently, in 2023, it faced a lawsuit over greenwashing claims. While Nike has started using some sustainable fabrics, like recycled nylon and organic cotton, and has taken steps to reduce its environmental footprint, there is still a lot of room for improvement. Come on Nike, just do it!
8. Lululemon
Lululemon, recognized as one of the leading brands in the athleisure industry, has faced increased scrutiny over a variety of concerns in recent years, including allegations of greenwashing, racism, fatphobia and child labor. One of their notable marketing campaigns, titled “Be Earth,” claims to prioritize environmental responsibility, stating that the brand’s “products and actions avoid environmental harm and contribute to restoring a healthy planet.”
However, this declaration raises questions when we consider that Lululemon uses a significant portion of petroleum-based synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, in its product line. These materials come from non-renewable resources and contribute to environmental degradation through their production processes and disposal at the end of their life. Given the reliance on these harmful materials, many critics argue that Lululemon’s efforts fall short of genuinely fostering a healthier planet, revealing a disconnect between their branding and actual practices related to sustainability.
9. Adidas
Adidas has a long and complicated history regarding labor practices within its supply chain, particularly in relation to the manufacturing of its products in developing nations. Many of the factories producing Adidas items are located in countries such as China, Indonesia, and Vietnam, where labor conditions often raise significant ethical concerns. Workers in these facilities frequently endure low wages that do not align with the cost of living, leading to financial insecurity.
In addition to receiving inadequate compensation, these workers often face hazardous working conditions. Reports from organizations like the Clean Clothes Campaign have shed light on various issues, including inadequate safety measures, excessive working hours, and a general disregard for labor rights. These conditions can result in not only physical harm but also mental strain for the employees. Despite Adidas’s efforts over the years to enhance labor practices and improve worker welfare—such as implementing codes of conduct and engaging in various corporate social responsibility initiatives—reports indicate that challenges persist. Investigations have highlighted ongoing violations related to workers’ rights, pointing to a complex web of supply chain management issues that the company continues to grapple with. Therefore, while advancements have been made, the quest for fair and ethical labor practices within Adidas’s supply chain remains an ongoing struggle.
10. Uniqlo
Uniqlo, a Japanese retailer founded after World War II, has grown into a global brand with over 2,300 stores. However, the company has faced multiple accusations for violating human and labor rights in recent years.Workers in Uniqlo’s factories are compelled to work excessive hours in an unsafe environment, earning unfair wages, and they are regularly punished.
A former Uniqlo employee in Australia reported that they had to fold seven shirts per minute, work 18-hour days, and everyone developed some form of PTSD because of the toxic bullying culture. In 2021, Uniqlo shirts were blocked at the US border because they were suspected to have been made with cotton from the Chinese Xinjiang region where there have been cases of forced labor. Although the company has a recycling program and it uses some eco-friendly materials in its products, Uniqlo is still far from being sustainable. The brand doesn’t seem to be doing much to reduce its carbon footprint.
11. Fashion Nova
Fashion Nova is an American retailer that was the most searched fashion brand on Google in 2018. It became so popular thanks to various Instagram influencers and celebrities. However, the brand is one of the most opaque we can find, as it received a score of 0% in the Fashion Transparency Index in 2021. The company’s business model is also far from being sustainable. Fashion Nova releases around 600 new products each week, thus promoting hyperconsumption. Not to mention that most of its clothes are made with synthetic materials, like polyester, acrylic and nylon.
To top it all, Fashion Nova has been accused of working with Los Angeles factories that underpay their workers, offering them less than minimum wage. Some of these employees earned as little as $2.77 per hour! Others reported that the working conditions were very bad and that they worked alongside cockroaches and rats.
12. Gap
Gap was founded in 1969 and it is now the fourth largest fashion retailer in the world, based on sales revenue. The company owns other smaller brands like Athleta, Banana Republic and Old Navy. We have no evidence that Gap pays fair wages and offers decent and humane conditions for its workers. Over the years, the brand has been accused of partnering with factories using child labor and it is hard to know whether the company stopped this practice.
Gap also does not disclose anything about where its materials come from. And, even though the brand states that it has been working on using more sustainable materials, it remains unclear on the topic. We do not know if the company achieved its goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in 2020. Did Gap’s silence mean it did not meet its target? Probably! More recently, in 2021, Gap was fined $200,000 for violating Canada’s anti-spam regulation. Another reason for avoiding this brand!
13. Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing retailer that is owned by Gap Inc, and it has more than 1,000 stores across the world. In 2013, Old Navy was accused of working with factories that employed girls as young as 12 years old. In other partner factories, workers were regularly beaten and pregnant women were fired or forced to work for 100-plus hours a week. As Old Navy’s supply chain is not certified by any labor standards, it is difficult to determine whether these unethical practices have stopped.
The company received a score of 49% in the Fashion Transparency Index in 2021. While it is far better than many other fast fashion brands, it is still not enough. Old Navy should provide more information about the manufacturing process to its customers. Old Navy has been using water-saving techniques to produce its denim as well as some sustainable materials. A significant amount of clothing still uses synthetic fibers, and the brand can take more effective steps to reduce its environmental footprint.
14. Primark
Irish company Primark is one of Europe’s largest fashion retailers. As the brand outsources the manufacturing of its products, it has no influence over the working conditions of garment workers. Primark states that factories must adhere to a Code of Conduct, but evidence shows that workers do not receive fair wages and often work in unsafe and unsuitable conditions. Customers have found “SOS” messages in Primark clothing, written by Chinese inmates working in garment factories. They were claiming to work for 15 hours each day and denouncing inhumane labor practices.
While Primark shares the locations of most factories it is working with; there’s room for improvement in terms of transparency. The company is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and it has been donating unsold clothing to charities. Yet, there is not enough relevant information about what Primark is doing to reduce its huge environmental footprint. It also should do better to mitigate it.
15. Victoria’s Secret
Victoria’s Secret is one of America’s most famous lingerie brands. The company signed the Greenpeace “Detox my Fashion” campaign aiming to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from its products and supply chains by 2020. At this point, we do not know whether the brand met its target. Victoria’s Secret hasn’t made any noticeable progress in reducing its environmental footprint, and the company primarily uses unsustainable materials in its products. Additionally, it falls short in the social aspect because its supply chain lacks certification by official labor standards. This raises concerns about whether garment workers receive fair wages and are treated ethically.
While ten years ago, the brand was accused of using child labor, it is again at the heart of another scandal. Many models were sexually harassed and bullied by two top executives, and those who complained about this lost their jobs shortly after.
16 (17&18). Urban Outfitters (also Anthropologie & Free People)
Founded more than 50 years ago, Urban Outfitters is one of America’s largest fashion retailers. But does it mean we should shop there? Apart from saying that it installed LED lighting in its stores and solar panels on the roof of its distribution center, Urban Outfitters doesn’t disclose any specific information about what it’s doing to help the environment, probably because it’s not doing much! Customers do not have access to information about the brand’s supply chain and where its suppliers are located. The company does not provide evidence that it pays its workers fair wages.
Back in 2015, Urban Outfitters asked its employees to work for free on the weekends, as it would be a “great team-building activity”. In 2020, the company was, once again, accused of stealing the design of an Australian indigenous artist and using it to sell outdoor rugs.
Find sustainable & ethical alternatives to Free People & Anthropologie.
19. American Eagle
Founded in 1977, American Eagle is a lifestyle, clothing and accessories retailer that has over 1,000 stores around the world. The company seems to have taken a few steps to become more sustainable, like with its sustainable jeans collection made from 100% organic cotton. But, there is still so much the brand can improve! American Eagle states it plans to become carbon-neutral by 2030, but it does not provide information for us to know if it is on track to meet its target. The brand was ranked among the worst in Remake’s second annual accountability report published in 2021.
American Eagle recently decided to stop selling plus-size clothing in its physical stores, and it is now only selling them online. This discriminatory practice is a good enough reason to stop shopping there! The brand also works with Chinese factories that are using sandblasting to make jeans, a dangerous process that can cause a fatal respiratory disease called silicosis.
20. ASOS
ASOS has become one of the most popular fashion brands in the past few years, with almost 15 million followers on Instagram. It has its own collections, but also carries hundreds of brands, many of which you can find on this list. The brand constantly changes its styles to follow trends and often hosts flash sales to encourage us to spend more.
ASOS had previously taken steps to introduce sustainable fabrics in its clothes with the “Responsible Edit” collection. However, the brand took this collection down in 2022 without any public announcement. Surprisingly (or not), it happened just several weeks before the British Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation regarding potential greenwashing issues. Even worse, ASOS was caught using child workers in its supply chain a few years ago, and it is difficult to know whether the brand has stopped these practices. There is also no evidence that workers in its supply chain receive a decent living wage.
21 (22). Abercrombie & Fitch (also Hollister)
Abercrombie & Fitch, a fashion retailer, has a 130-year history and has gained significant popularity among young people over the past 20 years. The company could be more transparent with its customers. Although Abercrombie & Fitch published a list of factories it is working with, it does not provide evidence of any third-party audits that might have taken place to monitor the working conditions. It is hard to believe that labor rights are respected as the brand failed to sign the new Bangladesh Accord on workers’ safety in 2021.
Abercrombie & Fitch regularly faces criticism for its discriminatory and body-shaming practices. For a long time, the company did not produce or sell XL and XXL sizes.. CEO Mike Jeffries stated that he “doesn’t want larger people shopping in his store” and that they “hire good-looking people”. Although Abercrombie & Fitch has begun to take steps toward being more eco-friendly, it still primarily produces clothing using unsustainable and synthetic materials. There is a lot of room for improvement!
Read more about why we avoid Abercrombie in this post here.
23. GUESS
GUESS, the American designer clothing brand founded in 1981, has gained immense popularity worldwide. The brand has taken steps towards sustainability by implementing water-saving practices in its supply chain. However, it still has a long way to go before earning a reputation as truly eco-friendly. GUESS has launched a more sustainable clothing line using eco-friendly fabrics like linen, Tencel, organic cotton, and recycled materials. Despite this effort, these sustainable fabrics often compose only a small percentage of each garment, and the majority of GUESS’s clothing remains made from unsustainable materials.
Part of its supply chain is certified by Sedex, WRAP, and BSCI, but we do not know whether the company ensures payment of living wages to all its workers. One of GUESS’ founders was also accused of sexual harassment and assault by different models working for the brand. Some of the accusations date back to 2009, and the company had turned a blind eye to the issue up until recently!
24. Boohoo
British fashion retailer Boohoo has been growing quickly in the past decade. The brand seems to make many promises, but doesn’t do much to improve in the social and environmental spheres. The company states it’s going to disclose in 2021 its factory list and purchasing practices, as well as its social impact strategy to support local communities. We’re still waiting, Boohoo! The Sunday Times recently investigated and found that workers in a Leicester factory were making as little as £3.50 per hour. It’s far below the national minimum wage.
Workers were also compelled to go to work while being sick with COVID-19, and the company provided barely any protective equipment nor hand sanitizer.The Environmental Audit Committee published a report naming Boohoo as one of the least sustainable fashion brands in the UK. Not surprising for a brand selling so much bad quality clothing!
25. PacSun
This teen-oriented brand offers a wide range of clothes, including pieces from other brands like Brandy Melville and Adidas. Of course, some of these are more or less sustainable and ethical than others. Most products on PacSun’s website use unsustainable materials. The brand features a “sustainability shop” that offers clothes made from eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton and recycled polyester. However, many of these items contain mixed synthetic materials. It also has jeans made from “sustainably sourced cotton”, but the company does not explain what it means.
PacSun has a recycling program for old jeans as well, but these sustainability initiatives are not enough. PacSun should be doing more to reduce its environmental footprint. The brand fails to demonstrate that all workers in its supply chain receive fair wages. To top it all off, in 2015, a former employee filed a wage theft lawsuit against PacSun!
26. Hot Topic
Hot Topic is a fast fashion brand selling pop culture and music-inspired clothes and accessories in about 700 stores across the United States. The company has a Code of Conduct its suppliers must follow, but it is far from being enough. In 2021, workers at the Rochester store (in Minnesota) walked out to protest low wages and poor workplace conditions. They said they could no longer support themselves and their families! Hot Topic also does not even have a “sustainability” page on its website, which shows how little it cares about the planet and its environmental impact. So we do not know whether it does something to reduce its footprint.
Hot Topic primarily uses conventional cotton and synthetic fabrics such as polyester and acrylic for nearly all its clothing. Additionally, the company does not provide information about the factories it collaborates with or the locations of its product manufacturing.
27. Pretty Little Thing
Pretty Little Thing operates as a British brand owned by Boohoo, which is often criticized as one of the worst fast fashion brands. Like Boohoo, Pretty Little Thing embraces the fast fashion model by quickly releasing new styles and offering them at very low prices. On Black Friday 2020, it even sold dresses for as little as £0.08! With such low retail prices, it’s impossible for workers in the supply chain to receive fair wages. The brand also received a score of 24% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index, which shows its lack of transparency about what it does for the environment and human rights, and its impacts throughout its supply chain. Not so pretty!
The company primarily makes its clothes from polyester, and it actively encourages customers to return their unwanted items for recycling in exchange for discount coupons. This practice promotes overconsumption and contributes to waste.
28. Wish
Wish is an online e-commerce platform selling about 900,000 items per day, among which many clothes, shoes, and fashion accessories. The company offers extremely low prices, which encourages overconsumption and waste. We can find clothes retailing for as little as $1! With prices this low, we can confidently say that there is no way Wish pays its supply chain workers fairly. It is also no surprise that customers constantly criticize the quality of the products and say they fall apart after just a few wears.
The company does not seem to be doing anything to mitigate its impact on the planet and to guarantee its workers’ well-being. And it is not transparent about its supply chain at all. Furthermore, Wish has come under fire for selling counterfeit goods, and it is even offering dangerous and illegal products. Another reason to avoid this unethical and unsustainable fast fashion brand!
29. CIDER
With almost five million followers on Instagram and more than four million likes on TikTok, CIDER has become one of social media’s most popular fashion brands since its creation in 2020. But it is definitely not the most sustainable and ethical! The brand states that “the monthly wages of all employees shall not be lower than the local minimum wage”. The problem is that the minimum wage in China, where CIDER produces its clothes, is way below what people need to live decently.
The company also only discloses three of its suppliers as an example, but how about the others? CIDER has not provided any evidence that it ensures humane treatment and safe working conditions for its workers. Although CIDER has introduced some recycled polyester in its products, nearly all of them still consist of virgin polyester and other synthetic fabrics. The brand says it adjusts its production based on real-time demand, which helps reduce waste. But it stays very vague, and it does not seem to have taken action to minimize its greenhouse gas emissions.
30. Topshop
Topshop, a British fast-fashion brand owned by ASOS, is a brand we should actively avoid. In 2010, many demonstrations took place in the United Kingdom to protest against Topshop’s owner, Philip Green, who deliberately avoided paying hundreds of millions of pounds in tax. While Philip Green’s net worth was £4.3 billion in 2016, cleaners who worked at Topshop stores reported that their wages didn’t cover rent and food as they were paid below the London living wage. When they asked for decent wages, the staff was bullied and victimized.
Topshop recently created a vegan shoe collection and a clothing line using sustainable materials. However, the brand hasn’t set any greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, nor has it implemented anything to reduce water usage and hazardous chemicals in the supply chain. The company also produces very cheaply-made, trendy clothing, so its business model itself is unsustainable and unethical.
31. Brandy Melville
Brandy Melville is an Italian fashion brand founded in the 1980s in Italy. It opened its first store in the United States in 2009, and it quickly became very popular among teens. The most striking issue with this brand is its unique sizing. Brandy Melville states that “one size fits most”, so almost all its clothes are made in size XS/S only. Doing so, the brand promotes the idea that all women should be very skinny, which makes many girls feel uncomfortable in their own skin and want to lose weight, even when they don’t have to. The brand’s body-shaming is inadmissible!
Brandy Melville also does not seem to do anything to reduce its (huge) environmental footprint, and it is far from being an ethical company. Many employees reported being fired for cutting their hair or gaining weight. Others stated that your appearance determined the pay rate and that “you will not get hired at a Brandy store if you are black”
Read more about why we avoid Brandy Melville in this post here.
32. Garage
Garage is a Canadian fashion retailer that has over 230 stores across North America. The brand could do a lot better in terms of transparency: it does not disclose anything about how its products are made and where, and there is no information about the factories involved in the manufacturing process. Garage’s supplier code of conduct is very short, and it states that factories must set their working hours, wages and overtime pay in compliance with applicable laws. However, if the clothing is made in developing countries where those laws are non-existent, workers’ rights might not be respected. It is probably the case when we look at how cheap the brand’s products are!
Garage’s clothing is made with a lot of synthetic fabrics, which are very unsustainable. The company started a “sustainable denim” line, praising the fact that its jeans are made with organic cotton. But when we look closely, the fabric is made using only 25% of organic cotton. Garage, you can do better!
33. Romwe
Founded in 2010, fast-fashion brand Romwe encourages people to “discover new things you didn’t know you needed” on its website. This statement already says a lot about the brand and how it promotes hyperconsumption. Encouraging its customers to buy more and more clothing and accessories, Romwe’s business model is inherently unethical and unsustainable. Its prices are extremely cheap, so I highly doubt that the workers who make Romwe’s clothing are paid fairly.
The brand’s customers regularly complain about sizes being completely off, deliveries taking months to arrive, and clothes being so cheaply made that they quickly fall apart. Romwe’s customer service is almost non-existent, and it is very hard to get a refund if you want to return a product. The company was also caught selling animal fur that was marketed as cruelty-free and vegan faux fur. Plus, Romwe doesn’t seem to do anything to reduce its environmental footprint.
34. Nasty Gal
Nasty Gal is a Los Angeles-based retailer owned by Boohoo that sells cheaply made clothes for young women. Even though the brand launched a (small) sustainable line, the initiative seems minuscule compared to the fact that the vast majority of Nasty Gal’s clothing is made from synthetic materials. Nasty Gal is also very opaque and should disclose more information about its supply chain. The brand stated that it would publish its factory lists and purchasing practices in 2021, but nothing has been done. What is it waiting for?
We cannot know if its workers are paid fair wages and treated humanely, but it is very unlikely they are. In 2015, Nasty Gal was sued for firing four employees after they became pregnant and were about to go on maternity leave. The company has also been widely criticized for its toxic work environment. Nasty Gal, another nasty brand we should avoid!
35. Mango
Mango is a Spanish fashion retailer with a large network of stores in 110 countries. The brand has been making some progress to become more sustainable. It’s producing more and more clothing with organic cotton and recycled polyester, and it has taken steps to eliminate the hazardous chemicals PFCs. While it discloses the precise numbers of its factories’ greenhouse gas emissions, Mango has not yet set a target to lower them. It has also not revealed how it plans to reduce them and has not published a list of its factories.
The brand’s Code of Conduct reveals that minimum-wage workers are paid the “legal minimum, not the recommended wage level”. Mango should do better and pay its garment workers living wages! The brand also refused to disclose its donation to the fund that was set up to compensate the families of the 1,134 garment workers who died in the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh back in 2013.
36. Missguided
Missguided, a UK fashion retailer, markets itself as not only selling fast fashion, but also “rapid fashion”. Indeed, the brand launches 1,000 new styles every week!With this practice, Missguided is promoting over-consumption, which contributes to the massive amounts of textile waste we produce each year. Apart from disclosing vague information on its Corporate Social Responsibility page, the company doesn’t seem to be doing anything specific to reduce its environmental impact.It’s not so surprising that, like Boohoo, Missguided was named one of the least sustainable fashion brands in the UK.
While the brand’s mission is to “empower women”, female workers are paid significantly less & are less likely to receive a bonus compared to male employees. We also don’t know if these workers are paid living wages.In 2017, the brand was caught selling products that were supposedly “faux fur”, containing real fur from cats, raccoon dogs, minks, and rabbits.
37. YesStyle
YesStyle is an online retailer that sells fashion, skincare and lifestyle products from multiple Asian brands. The main issue with YesStyle is how opaque the brand is. As consumers, we are allowed to know where the products we buy come from and who made them! The brand does not disclose anything about its supply chain, how the products on its website are made and where. YesStyle also does not have any greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, and it does not seem to take steps to reduce its environmental footprint.
YesStyle does not have any code of conduct for the brands it works with and their suppliers. It means that there is no evidence that these brands ensure fair wages and decent working conditions for their workers. Some customers reported that they had received misshapen and damaged clothes. It is not surprising as all the products sold on YesStyle are extremely cheap, which probably reflects their poor quality.
38. VRG GRL
Australian fashion brand VRG GRL has taken steps to use sustainable fabrics in its pieces. It has an entire line of clothes made from linen, and some of its products contain recycled polyester or Tencel. So it is a start, but definitely not enough! Most of its clothes are produced with synthetic fabrics and other unsustainable materials like conventional cotton. It also uses wool without disclosing its sources. Another striking point is its complete lack of transparency about its supply chain. VRG GRL does not share anything about its suppliers and factories, and we do not even know where its clothes are made.
The brand describes itself as “passionate about fashion and freedom”, but does it really care about the freedom and rights of its workers? We do not know! One great thing though is that VRG GRL uses compostable packaging, and recycled mailers for larger orders. It also claims to donate 10% of its profits to different charities. However, it does not seem to be doing anything else to mitigate its environmental and social footprints.
39. Edikted
Edikted is a Gen Z-oriented brand that releases new styles and collections every week to keep up with the latest fashion trends. Not only is its business model inherently unsustainable, but the brand also regularly hosts flash sales, which encourages overconsumption. Edikted primarily makes its clothes from polyester and cotton, and it does not seem to have introduced more sustainable fabrics in its collections. It states that it has a clothing line made with organic cotton and recycled polyester using a made-to-order model, but I could not find it. Does it even exist? Not sure!
We also do not know whether it is doing something to reduce its carbon footprint, water consumption, and chemical use. Plus, Edikted fails to share its supplier list or provide evidence that it has a Code of Conduct and pays its workers fair living wages. With clothes available in sizes XS to XL (to L for many), it is also far from being size-inclusive!
40. Stradivarius
Stradivarius is a Spanish brand owned by Inditex that has over 850 stores all around the world. I could not find much on its website about what it does to reduce its environmental footprint and ensure workers’ well-being in its supply chain. Inditex shares more about the entire group’s sustainability goals, but we do not have detailed information about what has been done to meet them. The only thing Stradivarius discloses on its website is how it has implemented different energy- and water-saving initiatives at its headquarters. This is definitely not enough!
The company does not seem to be using any sustainable materials, and we do not know whether workers in the supply chain get paid a decent wage and work in safe, healthy conditions. Plus, Stradivarius uses wool and leather, yet it does not disclose anything about its sources and what it has done to ensure animal welfare.
41. Peacocks
Initially founded in 1884 in the United Kingdom, Peacocks has become a popular fashion brand selling clothes, shoes, and accessories in many countries in Europe. The fact that it has several thousand styles available on its website and t-shirts retailing for as little as £2.50 demonstrates the brand’s fast fashion business model. With such low prices, it is impossible to ensure workers in its supply chain are not exploited. Both Peacocks and its parent company, the Edinburgh Woolen Mill group, disclose zero information about the brand’s sustainability and social responsibility practices. Of course, there is no factory list, which shows how little Peacocks values transparency. This is unacceptable, we have the right to know how the clothes we buy are made and where!
What’s more, during the 2020 pandemic, Peacocks’ parent company canceled orders for thousands of items, demanded huge discounts, and withheld payment for goods already manufactured or shipped. The group owed over £27 million to factory owners, who could not pay their workers because of it. Even more scandalous when we know the group is owned by a billionaire!
42. ChicWish
ChicWish positions itself as a vintage-inspired brand; however, its supply chain raises significant ethical concerns. The brand provides little transparency regarding its manufacturing processes, worker conditions, and materials. They often use low-quality, synthetic fabrics and questionable labor practices, resembling a fast fashion label masquerading as “affordable luxury.”
43. Kiabi
Kiabi is a budget-friendly French retailer, but this affordability has its downsides—particularly in terms of environmental and social impact. The brand primarily relies on synthetic and non-sustainable fabrics, contributing to microplastic pollution. Additionally, the absence of clear commitments to fair wages and ethical production practices positions Kiabi as another player in the fashion waste crisis.
44. Pimkie
Pimkie embodies the typical fast fashion model with its rapid production cycles, overconsumption tendencies, and questionable ethical practices. The brand mass-produces trendy, low-quality garments that wear out quickly, fueling the growing problem of textile waste. Furthermore, Pimkie offers minimal transparency about its supply chain, leaving consumers unaware of the working conditions faced by its garment workers.
45. Skims
Although Skims champions body positivity and inclusivity, it falls short on sustainability. The brand relies heavily on synthetic fabrics like nylon and spandex, which release microplastics and are derived from fossil fuels. Additionally, there is a lack of transparency regarding ethical labor practices, raising concerns about its genuine impact on both people and the planet.
Read more reasons why we avoid Skims in this post here.
46. St. Frock
St. Frock is all about fast-paced online fashion, always dropping new arrivals to keep shoppers coming back for the latest looks. This quick-turnover approach pushes people to buy more and toss clothes sooner. Most of their pieces use synthetic fabrics like polyester and elastane, materials derived from fossil fuels, and that take centuries to break down in landfills. St. Frock shares very little about who makes their clothes, which factories they use, or their environmental impact. With no real transparency or trusted sustainability certifications, St. Frock’s business model follows the usual fast-fashion playbook: speed and low prices come first, while long-term responsibility takes a back seat.
47. Lindex
Lindex calls itself a “more sustainable” brand, but it still runs on the same fast fashion formula, churning out lots of clothes in constant new drops. While they’ve started using recycled materials and have a few “sustainable” collections, most of their stock is still made from regular polyester, synthetic blends, and conventional cotton. That means more microplastic pollution, heavy pesticide use, and loads of water wasted. Making so many cheap clothes also leads people to treat them as throwaways. Unless Lindex seriously changes how much it makes, where it sources materials, and how open it is about working conditions and wages, it won’t meet true sustainability standards.
48. Hiworld
Hiworld might not be a household name, but it follows the same ultra-fast fashion model as bigger brands, cranking out cheap, trendy clothes as quickly as possible. The company doesn’t share much about where its clothes are made or what workers deal with. Like many fast-fashion brands, Hiworld mainly uses synthetic fabrics like polyester and acrylic, which create microplastic pollution and tons of textile waste that persists for ages. The low prices and constant new styles make it easy for shoppers to treat clothes as disposable. When a brand stays this secretive about its supply chain and environmental impact, it’s hard to trust them on labor rights or sustainability.
49. NAF NAF
NAF NAF is a French label famous for trendy, easy-to-wear styles, but it’s stuck in fast fashion habits. Every season, the brand pumps out loads of new clothes and doesn’t say much about its environmental impact or how workers are treated. Many items are made from synthetic or mixed fabrics that are hard to recycle and usually end up in landfills. While NAF NAF tries to market itself as a modern lifestyle brand, its lack of openness and focus on high-volume output shows it cares more about chasing trends than making durable, ethical, or sustainable clothes.
50. Francesca’s
Francesca’s runs on a classic fast fashion model, using fresh inventory, limited-time collections, and constant sales to get people buying on impulse. This fast pace keeps shoppers coming back for new looks, but it also means tons of overproduction and clothes that go out of style quickly. The brand isn’t upfront about where its clothes come from, factory conditions, or what it’s doing for the environment. Most pieces are made from synthetics like polyester and acrylic, which come from fossil fuels and shed microplastics in the wash. With so much focus on quick trends, Francesca’s adds to the growing problem of textile waste and a throwaway culture for clothes.
Better Alternatives to Fast Fashion
You don’t have to give up your style or stop enjoying clothes just because you’re skipping fast fashion. There are plenty of ways to build a wardrobe that’s fun and true to your values. Whether it’s shopping secondhand or supporting responsible brands, even small changes in how you shop can really add up.
1. Affordable Sustainable Clothing Brands
Sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be expensive. These days, lots of brands are making ethical clothes you can actually afford. They usually use natural fibers, keep their supply chains transparent, and produce smaller batches than most fast fashion brands.
If you want to shop sustainably on a budget, take a look at my guide to affordable sustainable brands.
2. Organic Cotton and Natural Fiber Brands
Another helpful approach is to choose clothing made from natural fibers, such as organic cotton, linen, hemp, and responsibly sourced wool. These materials tend to be more biodegradable and often require fewer synthetic chemicals than conventional fabrics.
Many sustainable brands focus on these types of fibers to reduce the environmental impact of clothing production. Find our favorite natural clothing brands in this post here.
3. Secondhand and Resale Platforms
Shopping secondhand is one of the easiest ways to be more sustainable. Thrift stores, consignment shops, and resale websites help keep clothes in use longer, instead of sending them to the landfill.
Buying secondhand reduces the need to make new clothes, and it’s a great way to find unique pieces without spending a lot. Click here for our favoite secondhand clothing apps.
4. Buy Less and Choose Better
Maybe the best way to avoid fast fashion is just to buy less and pick out pieces that are built to last. If you buy what you really love, fix your clothes when they need it, and keep wearing them for years, you’ll help cut down on clothing waste in a big way.
Sustainable fashion isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making smarter choices when you can and breaking free from the constant shopping cycle that fast fashion pushes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fast Fashion Brands
What are the worst fast fashion brands?
Many well-known fast fashion brands produce large volumes of cheap, trendy clothing. Shein, Temu, Zara, H&M, Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, and Fashion Nova are often mentioned because they produce new styles quickly, use synthetic materials, and are not very transparent about their supply chains. They release new clothes all the time, which encourages people to shop more often.
Why are fast fashion brands harmful?
Fast fashion brands focus on making clothes quickly and cheaply, but this can cause problems for people and the environment. Making so many clothes leads to more waste, higher carbon emissions, and microplastic pollution from synthetic fabrics. Often, these clothes are made to be worn just a few times and then thrown away, which makes people see clothing as disposable.
Which brands are considered fast fashion?
Fast fashion brands are typically companies that release new collections frequently and focus heavily on trend-driven, low-priced clothing. Some well-known examples include Zara, H&M, Forever 21, Boohoo, Fashion Nova, and Shein. These brands rely on rapid production models to bring new styles to market quickly.
What is ultra-fast fashion?
Ultra-fast fashion is a faster version of traditional fast fashion. Brands such as Shein and Temu release thousands of new items every day, using social media trends and data to produce clothing quickly. This leads to even more overproduction and waste.
Are luxury brands also fast fashion?
Most luxury brands do not use the same fast production methods as fast fashion companies. Still, just because something is expensive does not mean it is sustainable. Some luxury brands use synthetic materials or produce many seasonal collections. What matters most for sustainability is the materials, how the clothes are made, and how transparent the brand is, not just the price. We wouldn’t categorize luxury fashion as ‘sustainable’ without first understanding each brand. Check out our post on the worst designer brands here.
How can consumers avoid fast fashion brands?
To avoid fast fashion, try to buy fewer clothes and choose better quality items made from natural or responsibly sourced materials like organic cotton, linen, hemp, or wool. You can also shop secondhand, support brands that are open about their practices, and pick classic styles instead of following every trend.
Are all affordable clothing brands fast fashion?
Not all affordable brands are fast fashion. Some focus on making durable clothes, using ethical factories, and choosing natural fabrics while keeping prices low. The main difference is how the clothes are made. Brands that are transparent about their processes, use high-quality materials, and make clothes more slowly are usually better choices than fast fashion.
Check out our most popular posts:
Learn More About Sustainable Fashion
Do you have questions about other brands? Ask us in the comments below!
Today, most fashion brands are unethical & unsustainable. While this list only showcases around 50 brands, most brands you find in the malls and online would most likely qualify as fast fashion. Cheap prices, lack of transparency, lots of product drops and synthetic fabrics are all indications of fast fashion.
All these fast fashion brands are promoting disposable fashion. Their business model is inherently unsustainable and unethical. They’re producing too many poor-quality clothes at too low of prices, encouraging consumers to buy and dispose of more clothes than ever before. Doing so, these brands are having a huge environmental impact and putting the lives of garment workers at risk.
Fortunately we do not have to support these practices. Instead, we should avoid shopping at fast fashion brands and start purchasing from sustainable and ethical brands, shopping secondhand, and loving the clothes we already have.
If you want to learn more about sustainable fashion, this in-depth guide will help you understand everything you need to know to get started! We also have a guide to sustainable fabrics here.
Well I’ve never been fashion minded. I buy second hand of any brand or I make it. My home made clothes last a long time. Plus I don’t look cookie cutter and have the same outfit as every one else. Great article, people like Stella McCartney have always been ethical in there clothing line and nobody talks about her. Sad.
Nice initiative by Global Fashion Brand
Horrible article, H and M and shein, forever 21 from experience are amazing and a GIANT amount of people shop these places, they fit with the trends and without them teens wouldn’t be able to wear any trendy clothes, for the price in these places the clothes are good quality, any many people say the clothing goes by so quick and it wears away color, it’s not true AT ALL, I’ve had shein orders last a VERY long time, so before you are quick to judge, shop from these places first and then write your article, people who write articles need to learn from experience too. This is a very disgusting and false article.. and I’m a teenager myself saying this, along reading it with my mother. 🤦🏽♀️
I want to be very clear, I do not care how long items from Fast Fashion brands have lasted. They truly are made to fall apart so you can buy more – some may last at time, but this wasn’t intentional for them to make a quality product to last for years. What I do care about is how they sexually & physically abuse their workers, destroy the planet & KILL. Since you are a teen, I understand there may be a lot of things for you to learn still about the fashion industry & how these businesses are not here to please you & your love of trends. They just want to make money and cut every corner they possibly can.
My first suggestion would be to watch The True Cost, and read up on the mistreatment of workers within the fast fashion industry.
I agree, this is (like you said) ‘a disgusting article’ because those brands DO disgusting things and we are sharing those things with you.
I’m also the owner of this site and I’ve been in this industry for almost a decade. Everyone that is involved with Sustainably Chic used to shop fast fashion. We were in the same boat as you and realized it wasn’t something we wanted to support anymore after we learned the truth. You have the opportunity to take what you want with the information and decide from there. We aren’t forcing anyone to quit fast fashion, we are just showcasing the shitty system it is. Also, we do not condemn those who purchase from these stores because we do not understand everyone’s financial situation (& education on the matter). However, many people are over consuming these brands & several of them could afford to buy less, buy better. When you see the statistics at the beginning of this post, you will see what I am talking about.
Damn your one VERY selfish kid. I am a teenager myself (aged 15) and believe that this article is very honest and accurate. I as well like you follow trends and also have shopped at shops that store which I must say aren’t the most environmentally friendly, but just because you like to shop at these places and have had Shein item last doesn’t mean that these brands aren’t damaging. This isn’t the first website that I have seen calling out these brands for being environmentally damaging. Next time you leave a dumb comment like this I suggest researching more.
you really shouldnt buy from shein though. its really bad for the planet and they dont treat their workers well. please stop buying from them.
and yes, their clothes might last a while and be okay quality but please dont buy from them
I agree, I feel these brands are in style and inexpensive. I can’t be thrifting all the time for clothes, I like going to stores and looking for my type of style yknow. Growing up in a middle class family, these stores listed are my favorite. Most of these stores are at your local shopping mall, most of the ethical stores are online and expensive.
Hone your own style and you won’t care what new things they have to offer anymore. They literally just push new trends on you daily, and make you feel like you need more than you do. I don’t think the argument ‘in style’ is okay to shop from them. Now, if it is purely budget reasons, then I understand. However, when you see how much these brands make and sell daily, you will question if people are truly buying because of budgets or wants. We all see those Shein TikTok hauls … it’s excessive. Has nothing to do with a type of style.
It is a sad reality that this comment could have been written by an employee of Shein. If it wasn’t, then it shows that their work in pushing for their consumerist mode of living has taken a toll on the youth of our world.
Frankly, when these large corporations find ways to brainwash the general population into thinking they are good entities and want what is best for the average costumer, it makes me worried that these are the uniformed people who vote in our elections. With an army of zombies eagerly willing to spend their every last dollar on these corporations, penalties or restrictions become almost impossible to implement. Which, in turn, makes starting the radical changes necessary to fight off climate change almost impossible.
It is not because you once had a good experience with one of these brands that the larger picture is as squeaky clean as yours. It is not because you follow the trends like the rest of the herd and that they allow you to do so (nevermind the fact that they control the trends and make the changes as frequent as possible to maximize their profits.) that they should be pardoned for all their moral wrongdoings in turn. And, it is not because they have killed of almost all the alternatives and corner most of the market alone that they are a good option to go to. Yes ethical stores are expensive, but that’s just the price of making garments when the lives of the global south is not being exploited.
Before leaving your opinion on a debate, read into other sources than your personal experience. You’ll probably find that certain things are not as perfect as you once thought.
It is not about the articles, but the people who make them and how much they’re paid, working conditions etc..
The sustainable companies are expensive and do not have plus size clothing. What do you suggest to people that cannot afford that clothing.
More & more are offering plus size clothing, but yes this is a huge issue in the industry. We understand people buying from fast fashion brands when they need to because of size and budgets, we just hope this post teaches people to not over consume from them.
lots if not all thrift stores provide plus size options! and a lot of them might not be cute, you can still get essentials like basic monochromatic tees, jackets, shoes, etc. also even if you cant find any plus size clothing worthy of your money, you can thrift other things that aren’t clothing to do your 2 cents to help the enviornment, like thrifting blankets, decor, books, silverware, pots + pans, hats, scarves, belts, furniture, and more!!
I used to shop a lot on shein and forever 21 too. They never last. I started thrifting all my clothes because I get really good fabric and quality. Now I can instantly see how shitty the fabric is that these cheap stores use. I didn’t know about the labor and toxic waste part either. Such a shame.
Yeah & what’s even more unfortunate, our thrift stores are now full of crap fast fashion clothing 😛 it’s almost difficult for me to find pieces I know will last me years.
Hi. That was a very interesting article and brought me to think that what are the good brands? Are there any lists of trusted brands which are also affordable?
Again thx for sharing this with others!
Yes! We have linked up our brand directory at the end of the post plus an easy guide to sustainable fashion. We also have a list here: https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/25-affordable-ethical-fashion-brands-sustainable-clothing – and many of the brands use payment plans if that is something you could budget ( I don’t want to promote going in debt). Also, sign up for newsletters to get discount codes!
great list to follow, thanks! I’d strongly disagree on uniqlo though, their focus on timeless basics that don’t go out of style that quickly, plus their increasing focus on quality have resulted in me owning some of their pieces for close to 4 years and counting.
Good to know on the quality! My past experience has not been great, and they still are not transparent enough about their manufacturing. I’m not completely sold on them yet until their labor practices change, but thanks for your input!
What type of stores should we shop from them???
We linked our sustainable brand directory at the end of the post along with a guide for sustainable fashion 🙂
Great information I just didn’t give much thought to. I knew Walmart brands has used formaldehyde in their clothing at one time as a preservative and that concerns me, so I’ve avoided buying clothing from them. . Its ao hard to buy sustainable clothing because of the high pricetags attached. Our US factories seem to not get that and after the almighty dollar. Thanks for passing valuable information so I can decide for myself.
It’s amazing how many gross chemicals are thrown into the synthetic clothing you find in these stores. & the way they pollute waterways in other countries. It’s heartbreaking.
so basically every store that offers affordable clothing 😆.. i try to buy sustainable quality items i wear often like sweaters, coats, shoes.. but those items were 100$ at a minimum. I use Old Navy and target for basics like tees, socks, underwear, childrens clothes etc. It is hard to avoid fast fashion when it is so affordable and easy to acquire. I try to buy quality when i can but again hard to avoid the cheaper stores.
As long as you aren’t over consuming these brands then we understand where you are coming from <3 See above comment.
I would love to buy from these ethical brands, however, some of the prices are simply way too expensive for me. I try to buy from charity shops but it seems like the world doesn’t want me to… nothing seems to fit from there. 🙁
We empathize with your struggle. Prices can be much higher for ethical clothing. We do have a post featuring more affordable ones here: https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/25-affordable-ethical-fashion-brands-sustainable-clothing & my tip would be for you to sign up for their newsletters to learn when sales approach.
& finally, if there is something you need and you can’t find it anywhere but a fast fashion store because of your budget/size/style/time/what have you, then that’s where you should go. We are really just trying to eliminate the overconsumption of these brands rather than make things more difficult for shoppers who are truly working on a budget. <3 Hope this helps!
I must say: I was surprised this list isn’t longer. There are few brands that seem to truly give a caring attitude towards sustainability. As a man, I actually think it’s much tougher but am still susceptible. I am a gorp kind of style guy and choose brands like burton, arc teryx, Patagonia, and others based on their commitment to sustainable materials, sustainable workers and factories, and in the case of burton, an ability to repair. I’d love to see a follow up that focuses on men as I struggle. Especially with shoes: I won’t buy any think Nike due to their ethics, but am a bit leery of all large manufacturers (Adidas are my preferred shoe). Nonetheless I really appreciate the insight here. Cheers!
We recently added some more with examples of why not to shop; however, this list could go on for days 😀 Most clothing is made poorly with unfair labor, but we wanted to focus on the most popular in this post. I wouldn’t personally shop Nike, either, but I do applaud them for their sustainable initiatives over the last few years. They still have a lot of work to do! We do have a post for men here: https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/mens-sustainable-clothing-brands – that we hope you find helpful! Thanks for the insight!
What about Cotton On?
Another one I would avoid.
Wow, this was eye opening!! Thank you for the information. Had no idea about this.
Hello Eva,
Thank you for the valuable information.
I believe that sustainability is a continuous process, it’s a journey and we all have the responsibility to do our best and look ahead to improve to create the future that can be enjoyed for generations to come. And you are doing your part beautifully.
Dr. Narrain, (Sustainability enthusiast)
CEO – Dotaddi LLC , UAE
Thank you for sharing this. However, I think all clothing brands are trying to sell as much as possible. So, regardless of brands.. The main key is buyers’ self-awareness. We can’t control sellers, but we always can control ourselves. Trust me, if you stop supporting these brands. There will be other brands doing the same in future. Most importantly your article educates us not to over-hoard.
Thank you for this information it really helps for me and for the others to avoid or lessen of buying towards this listed brands that are not eco friendly. #LettheEarthBreathe
Thank you so much, I was not aware how widespread unethical, unsustainable practices are, even among brands I have supported in the past. It really helps to understand the opportunity leading edge, sustainable brands have to differentiate themselves from these fast fashion brands, and produce timeless clothing at the real cost of materials and labour. Thank you for this invaluable research.
I mean this in like the nicest way possible cause i don’t know any other way to say it, but what are your sources because i can’t find them?
If we refer to numbers or an actual incident it is hyperlinked 🙂
Ok I get that all of these brands contribute to a lot of bad things affecting this earth, but how do I find cute and budget friendly clothes that fit my style then? Can you make a brand that has clothes that are sustainable and cute ? I can not find any clothes form these eco friendly brands that are not bland and basic. Also expensive . In the nicest way possible your article seems to point out the problems but does not give any solutions to it other than “stop buy”.
The very end of the post we have a solution. Love what you have, purchase secondhand or buy from sustainable brands. However, we know not all of this is accessible to everyone (except loving what you have), so we just ask to not over-consume a fast fashion brand.
We also have a post on more affordable brands here: https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/25-affordable-ethical-fashion-brands-sustainable-clothing – and I’ll be updating this soon with new brands!
You need to add Cider to that list too! 🙂
Yes, another one for sure!
I think lumping brands like Shein with Old Navy is quite misleading. While you are certainly right that all of these brands can do better, you should be sending a more concrete message to shoppers on a budget about what stores they should truly avoid.
absolutely not. fast fashion is fast fashion. exploitation of workers is never okay. old navy workers matter just as much as shein. just because one fast fashion brand doesn’t exploit as much as another, does not mean it’s okay for us to not list as a place to try to avoid if you can. on another note, these brands would not be as popular if it wasn’t for overconsumption. this message isn’t for people in low-income who just need to purchase a pair of pants. it’s for the consumers who purchase more clothing than they need, which is many here in the States.
How about Pull&Bear??
What is wrong with selling islamic prayer mats? You mentioned it as one of disavantages of Shein!!
It was the way in which they were sold. If you look up the scandal you will see why it was such a big deal a few years ago.
many Muslims spoke out about it appropriating their culture – profiting off of someone else’s culture is not okay. Shein isn’t new to stealing shit though & marketing it off as their idea.
I frankly couldn’t quite give a damn. I care more that the quality of these fast fashion brands always seems to drop over time.
I have one brand to add to your list.
Tommy Hilfiger
I had purchased 5 clothings from Tommy Hilfiger. 2 of them have hole after 1 wash and all of them were only worn once and wash together in the same load.
Wrote an email, attached with picture of the damaged items and purchased receipt to them and was told to refer to their refund policy.
– Returned items must be in new and resalable condition.
– Returned items that have been damaged, soiled, washed, worn or altered will not be accepted and will be returned to the Customer.
A very simple reply of rejection to my email and a link to their return policy.
Really no after sale service.
Since they are only accepting refund for items which are resalable which could have quality issues, and if you are not lucky or miss any spot while checking. Good luck!
Thank you for sharing
Well, you need to add to list Gucci as well
They use child labor too, have lower wages than the minimum wage at least in many factories that are in Albania where they produce Gucci shoes. Also workers are psychologically abused and threatened all the time that they will get fired if they even talk.
Never buy from such brand!
There are a few brands that i feel should have been added to the list. Nevertheless i still agree with the list and your views. All these brands need to abide by the rule of law and follow the principles which will eventually lead to a better world.https://www.clothingric.com/student-discount/kaspersky
we could add thousands of brands to this list, i’m sure! most fashion today is unethical 🙁
How do you report a website for unethical content? I was shopping for clothes on emmiol and a photo they used for their ads was unsettling!
That’s why I buy most of my clothes from charity shops. They are cheaper and you are doing your bit to help the environment. If I buy from a charity shop I’m not overly concerned what brand it is as long as I like it, the money is going to a good cause and helping the environment too. I think it’s far better to wear the clothing than just to bin it and then donate it once you’ve had enough of it and need a change.
My personal opinion is trendy style & "low budget" is not much of an excuse. If you do more research on fast fashion, you will discover more "disgusting" articles. Child labor, low wages, unsafe working places, threats, assault, harassment, not sustainable or environmentally friendly. The list goes on & on.
If you’re buying to keep up with "trendy styles," then honestly, I don’t know how you could look in the mirror with all the disgusting things these brands do. Undeniably selfish. If on the other hand this is your first time reading about these unethical practices, I hope you make the decision to say no thank you to cheap labor & exploitation of workers & the harmful impacts these brands have on the earth. I hope you realize having the "latest trends" is not what is important here, as how could you care about your appearance than the people suffering the consequences from your actions?
As for the excuse of shopping at fast fashion brands for financial reasons, it doesn’t mean much of an excuse either. Sure, it’s affordable & cute, but at what cost? It goes both ways, you don’t have the money, but the workers more so suffer because not only are they underpaid (VERY MUCH). How are they to feed themselves or their family with not even $5 per hour?? And for the long hours they work for without so much of a break? Food is not the only factor, let’s not forget the cost of shelter & mistreatment they endure.
I know it sounds so easy-peasy for ME to talk, but keep in mind as a young adult I’ve got a minimum wage job, that even with overtime barely covers the cost of the roof over my head. Of course, that doesn’t include the cost of the medication I rely on to stay alive. There are such cute & cheap items from these brands, but I ask myself, do I really need it? Even if i have to wear the same clothes, is it worth exploiting these workers who have much less & killing the already dying planet? My opinion in the end is no.
For you it may not be so cut-thoat, but I hope you take a moment to think about the less-unfortunate. You’re feelings are valid & I’m sorry for those struggling, but we must remember to be grateful for the clothes we do have & yada-yada.
Life sucks, I wish I could help those struggling to survive as well as the exploited people.
I’ll stop buying clothes when people stop breeding and overpopulating the planet. Let’s address the real problem here. Too many people that consume too much. Stop selfish breeding and you will reduce do many problems.
Overconsumption is a huge issue we can’t ignore just because of overpopulation. You don’t ignore problems you can easily fix because you think there are bigger ones at hand. That wouldn’t make much sense to us. <3
Girl, you missed Temu!!
Temu is definitely among the worst this year and needs to included! This post needs a little update 🙂
Hi, thank you for your time, this was quite informative. What is your opinion on ChicWish?
So glad you liked this post!
ChicWish looks a little greenwash-y to us. Their sustainability page is pretty basic when it comes to manufacturing – with their price point, it is hard to believe they can pay fair wages. They also seem to use a ton of synthetic fabrics, which we like to avoid. This would be a good brand to dive into and possibly add to this post! Thank you.
Not even one brand from France???? really? I think that because France hasn’t been able to catch up new mass fashion trends, that doesn’t means they are not involved… Brands like Kiabi and Pimkie have tried their best. It would be nice to have honest articles.
This post is featuring the top fast fashion brands in the world. Kiabi and Pimkie are smaller than most of these but are just as unsustainable. Fabrics made of plastic and prices so low, there is no way they can pay makers a fair wage 🙁 fast fashion brands can’t ‘try their best’ at sustainability. They are inherently unsustainable.
Shein with over 20 million followers on Instagram is a prime example of fast fashion gone wrong. It releases 500 products daily, fueling a throw away culture. I was reading this on the subway, and it really made me think about my own shopping habits. Wow, it’s eye opening. game generator
This list is eye-opening! It’s sad how fast fashion harms people and the planet. On a lighter note, I’ve been using <a href=”https://img-2-img.net/”>img2img</a> to refresh old clothes with new styles instead of buying more. It’s a fun way to reduce waste!
Not sure if anyone has started, but can we get a list of companies that are on THE LIST so we can stop supporting child SA trafficking?