We rate Brandy Melville “We Avoid” for its lack of transparency. But if you’re into more affordable, preppy basics, what alternatives are there? Here are seven sustainable brands you’ll love more than Brandy Melville.
Brandy Melville’s practices are sealed shut
Fast fashion chain Brandy Melville launched in Italy in the ‘80s, but its real popularity began when it hit the streets of LA in 2009. It now has over 3 million Instagram followers and an extensive range of affordable and trendy clothing and accessories for teen girls or anyone who likes a 90s throwback. But is the brand ethical or sustainable?
Unfortunately, along with other fast fashion brands we avoid, Brandy Melville isn’t hitting the mark for people, the planet, or animals. Brandy Melville receives our lowest possible score of “We Avoid” because it doesn’t disclose sufficient information about its environmental, labour, and animal welfare policies. You have a right to know how the products you buy affect the issues you care about, and we recommend steering clear of this one.
If you like the youthful preppy vibe of Brandy Melville but would like to support brands doing their bit, then keep reading—we’ve found some fun “Good” and “Great” alternatives to Brandy Melville that might tick more of your boxes.
A note on affordability
Good On You wants to help you find sustainable options no matter your budget. But we recognise that many sustainable brands appear more expensive up front. That’s because more goes into a price tag than the cost of fabric. Fast fashion prices are often low because workers are not paid living wages and sustainable practices are not followed in production, as is the case with Brandy Melville.
Fast fashion has also distorted our view of clothing prices. We now spend much less and buy far more low-quality garments than we did a few decades ago. When taking into account cost-per-wear, higher-quality items you’ll wear again and again end up costing less in the long run despite the initial investment.
We aim to highlight the range of more affordable sustainable brands, but we also encourage you to seek out the most sustainable options that work for you. Sometimes this means shopping second hand, other times rediscovering and restyling what you already own.
