Is Lululemon ethical or sustainable? That’s a bit of a stretch

Lululemon is a high-end activewear chain that offers yoga-inspired athletic apparel for most sweaty pursuits. While the brand claims to be dedicated to sustainable practice, does Lululemon really put its best foot forward for people, the planet, and animals? Or is it a s-t-r-e-t-c-h to call it ethical? Read on to find out what its impact is really like as we answer the question: how ethical is Lululemon?

Environmental impact

Lululemon claims sustainability as one of its core principles, but its environmental impact is “Not Good Enough”.

Lululemon only uses some eco-friendly materials, including recycled materials. While it has set a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its owned operations and supply chain by 60% by 2030, it is unclear whether it is on track to meet its target. There is no evidence it has taken meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals, nor that it has policies or initiatives on water reduction.

On the sustainability section of its website, Lululemon talks about ways to improve environmental impact. Although this is positive, it doesn’t reflect any meaningful action. For a global brand such as Lululemon, there is no excuse not to do its part for the environment.

Labour conditions

Regarding workers, Lululemon falls short again, with a “Not Good Enough” rating. It discloses some policies to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19, but the good news ends there.

Lululemon’s supply chain is not certified by labour standards that ensure worker health and safety, living wages or other labour rights. There is no evidence the brand implements practices to support diversity and inclusion in its supply chain, and it has made little to no progress toward payment of a living wage. It received a score of 41-50% in the Fashion Transparency Index, and to top it all off, it sources its final stage of production from countries with extreme risk of labour abuse. It has also been linked with sourcing cotton from the Xinjiang region in China at risk of using Uyghur forced labour and has taken insufficient steps to remediate.

Animal welfare

Lululemon’s score for animals is “It’s a Start”. While it does not use fur, angora, leather, or exotic animal skin, there is no evidence it has a policy in place to minimise the suffering of animals. It uses down feathers accredited by the Responsible Down Standard, which is a plus, but it also uses wool and exotic animal hair. It traces some animal products to the first stage of production.

Overall rating: Not Good Enough

So, how ethical is Lululemon? Based on information from our research, we’ve given Lululemon an overall rating of “Not Good Enough”. When it comes to labour, we’re glad to see some level of transparency in the supply chain, but it still falls short. If the brand’s employees aren’t being paid a living wage, it’s simply not good enough to be considered truly ethical conduct. On the environment front, we’d like to see less talk and more action.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Luckily there are numerous ethical activewear brands that have our full support, which you can see below.

Good swaps

“Good” and “Great” alternatives to Lululemon

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REVOLVE, e-commerce and sustainability leader?

Founded in 2003, REVOLVE has grown rapidly to become a fashion e-commerce leader, going public in 2019 and now boasting 5.4 million followers on Instagram.

But growth isn’t a smooth process and the brand has known its ups and downs. In 2018, REVOLVE had to remove a fat-phobic sweatshirt from its platform. More recently, REVOLVE received backlash on social media after the failure of its Coachella-like, influencer-only festival which “not only failed to meet attendees’ expectations, but jeopardised their physical safety in a disaster of mismanagement” according to The Harvard Crimson.

When it comes to sustainability, the brand says it understands “the importance of using [its] platform to create meaningful change in the way [it does] things today to ensure a better tomorrow” and that it is “committed to do its part to help protect the resources that we all share and depend on for our future” and “to stand up and make a substantial and long-lasting impact to fight inequality”. But is that really the case? How is REVOLVE really impacting people, the planet, and animals? In short: how ethical is REVOLVE?

Environmental impact

We rate REVOLVE “Very Poor” for its impact on the environment. It uses few eco-friendly materials, and we found no evidence that the brand reduces its carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain, that it has taken meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals, or that it implements water reduction initiatives.

The fashion industry is a massive consumer and polluter of fresh water. According to Common Objective, the industry is said to use around 93 billion cubic metres of water per year, enough to meet the needs of 5 million people. Water is a scarce resource, and it’s become crucial for REVOLVE to manage its water use and treatment of wastewater.

Removing invoices and offering paperless returns is nice, but it’s not enough.

Labour conditions

REVOLVE also rates “Very Poor” for people. The brand sources its final stage of production from countries with extreme risk of labour abuse and we found no evidence it has worker empowerment initiatives such as collective bargaining or rights to make a complaint. It also doesn’t appear to have any policies or safeguards to protect suppliers or workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19.

More importantly, we found no evidence REVOLVE ensures payment of a living wage in its supply chain. A living wage is the bare minimum wage required for workers to live a decent life. It’s different from the legal minimum wage, which is usually far below the living wage. Garment workers need to be protected and treated fairly.

Animal welfare

Finally, REVOLVE’s animal rating is “Not Good Enough”. Despite not using fur, down, angora, or exotic animal skin, the brand still uses leather and wool. We found also no evidence the brand has a policy to minimise the suffering of animals or that it traces any animal product to the first stage of production.

Overall rating: We Avoid

REVOLVE isn’t creating positive change through its operations like it claims, and the brand’s sustainability statement smells of greenwashing. REVOLVE is clearly not doing enough to reduce its impact on the planet and its inhabitants. It needs to do far more: starting with being more transparent about its practices, using more eco-friendly materials, ditching the harmful animal-based ones, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and making sure its workers are paid a living wage and treated fairly.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Good swaps

Our favourite “Good” and “Great” alternatives to REVOLVE

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Here’s where the mid-year brand ratings landed

Brand ratings are the backbone of our mission at Good On You: to help you discover the very best sustainable fashion brands from around the world. Since 2015, we have been reading between the seams for you, uncovering brands doing harm, calling out greenwashing, and highlighting the sustainable brands doing good for people, the planet, and animals. Download our app or check out the directory to easily shop your values.

This month, we’re sharing four brands doing “Good” (including high-tech resortwear, eco-friendly underwear, colourful designs from the UK, and non-seasonal knitwear made in LA), but also five brands that aren’t doing enough.

4 newly rated brands worth checking out

The post The 9 Best and Worst Newly Rated Brands of June appeared first on Good On You.

From sweatshops to ‘It’s a Start’

Though it seems every man and his dog owns a pair of Nikes, not so long ago, the Nike image was synonymous with sweatshops and unethical manufacturing. So how does this brand rate today when it comes to its treatment of People, Planet, and Animals? How ethical and sustainable is Nike?

Nike sweatshops

Nike had been accused of using sweatshops to produce its sneakers and activewear since the 1970s, but it was only in 1991 when activist Jeff Ballinger published a report detailing the low wages and poor working conditions in Nike’s Indonesian factories that the sportswear brand came under fire. Soon after, it became the subject of an aggressive and sustained campaign by United Students Against Sweatshops. Nike was initially slow to respond—but under increasing pressure, it eventually made some changes by improving its monitoring efforts, raising the minimum age of workers, and increasing factory audits.

The brand has since earned plaudits far and wide for its efforts. A few years ago, Business of Fashion reported that Nike has successfully transformed its tarnished image to become a “recognized sustainability leader.” Morgan Stanley even ranked Nike “the most sustainable apparel and footwear company in North America for environmental and social performance, including its labour record.”

But is this actually the case?

A step backwards

Though Nike has successfully improved its reputation and has become the top-selling activewear brand globally, many of its practices are still problematic.

In 2017, Nike took a big step backwards, as the International Labor Rights Forum reported that the company had turned its back on its commitment to the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC). This move effectively blocked labour rights experts from independently monitoring Nike’s supplier factories. But in 2021, Nike received a 51-60% score in the Fashion Transparency Index (in the same scoring range as the previous year), showing it started going in the right direction again. It’s like Nike is in an on-again-off-again relationship with doing the right thing, begging for some stability.

Environmental impact

We rate Nike “It’s a Start” for the planet. Though Nike has made a few positive changes to its environmental practices and is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, it still has a way to go before it can truly be called a sustainable brand. Nike uses some eco-friendly materials, including organic and recycled cotton and polyester, and has water reduction initiatives in its supply chain. The brand has also set a deadline to eliminate hazardous chemicals by 2025 and the good news is that it is on track to meet its target. But while Nike has set a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its operations and supply chain, there is no evidence it is on track to meet its target. 

Labour conditions

Nike’s labour rating is also “It’s a Start”. Though the brand has focused on female empowerment and inclusiveness in its advertising campaigns, the women who work for Nike—from factories to headquarters—are seemingly left out of this picture. In 2018, Nike was sued by two former female employees who accused the sneaker giant of creating a culture of gender discrimination and sexual harassment.

On a positive note, the company is Fair Labor Association (FLA) Workplace Code of Conduct certified. It also implements practices to encourage diversity and inclusion in some of its supply chain and discloses adequate policies to protect suppliers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19 but not workers. 

The Foul Play report by the Clean Clothes Campaign and Collectif Ethique sur l’Etiquette shows just how far Nike has to go when it comes to living wages. It highlights the difference between the ever-increasing amount of money paid on sponsorships to sports stars and other marketing expenses, compared to the reduction of the share of the final price of your sports gear paid to workers in the supply chain. The report calls on both Nike and Adidas to commit to paying living wages across their supply chains by a specific date and other supporting action. Read more about living wages for garment workers here.

In previous ratings of Nike, we couldn’t find evidence the brand ensured payment of a living wage in most of its supply chain. When we reviewed the brand in February 2022 however, we found that Nike now ensures payment of a living wage in a small proportion of its supply chain, which is an improvement. Of course, it’s a tiny step in the right direction, and we urge Nike to expand this initiative to its entire supply chain.

Animal welfare

Nike does not use fur, angora, or other exotic animal hair or skin in its products, which is a step in the right direction. However, it does use leather, wool, and down feather without specifying sources. This lack of transparency is problematic as the welfare of animals and workers is unknown. Because of this, we have given the brand a rating of “Not Good Enough” for animal welfare and hope for more progress soon.

Overall Rating: It’s a Start

So, how sustainable is Nike? Overall, we rate Nike “It’s a Start” based on information from our own research. Though Nike has a few promising environmental measures in place, it’s clear that the company is not doing as much as it should and needs to make serious changes in most areas. With an annual revenue of over $44 billion in 2021, the sportswear giant can certainly afford it.

Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Good swaps

If you love the Nike vibe but prefer to support brands doing “Good” or “Great”, we’ve rounded up some more sustainable alternatives to Nike for you below.

The post How Ethical Is Nike? appeared first on Good On You.

Sustainability embroidered into the garments

Love the crochet tops resurgence but want to avoid the ultra fast fashion brands pumping them out like hotcakes? Meet Mochi.

Artisanal fashion brand Mochi was founded in 2013 by designer Ayah Tabari, inspired by her love of “colour, beautiful fabrics, and traditional methods of embroidery.” Today, the brand is based in Amsterdam and is worn by the likes of Rita Ora, Cara Delevigne, and Blake Lively. Its clothing is colourful, unique, and designed to “contribute to a better world”. Let’s take a closer look at Mochi’s impact on people, the planet, and animals and answer: how ethical is Mochi?

Environmental impact

Mochi gets our highest score of “Great” for the planet. The brand is built on the idea of slow, meaningful creation of long-lasting pieces. Its designs are handmade and combine deadstock fabric or pieces from previous collections with vintage classics sourced from all over the world.

Using a high proportion of eco-friendly materials reduces the brand’s climate impact and limits the amount of chemicals, water, and wastewater used in production.

Always working to be better than the day before, Mochi is currently working on finding more sustainable materials for its pieces and working alongside suppliers to reduce the use of water in the supply chain. It is also doing its best to offer less-in-demand sizes on pre-order to minimise overproduction and deadstock.

Labour conditions

When it comes to people, Mochi is doing “Good”. Its final production stage is undertaken in the Netherlands, a low-risk country for labour abuse. It traces most of its supply chain and regularly visits most of its suppliers.

While one of the brand’s three pillars of sustainability is “People”, and it states: “We ensure all our suppliers are providing fair and safe working conditions”, it is unclear whether Mochi ensures payment of a living wage to its artisans. Clarifying this could boost the brand’s score here.

Animal welfare

Mochi is also rated “Good” for the animals. The brand avoids fur, leather, down, exotic animal skin, and angora. However, it does use recycled wool and exotic animal hair in some pieces, so be sure to double-check the garment’s composition before purchasing if you’d rather avoid animal-based fabrics.

Overall rating: Good

Overall, we’re happy to award Mochi our second-highest score of “Good” for its efforts across the board. This fun and popular brand is doing right by people, the planet, and animals in its striking designs and is well worth supporting.

See the rating.

Shop Mochi.

Check out our selection of “Good” and “Great” colourful clothing brands

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Another trendy, low effort TikTok brand

Based in the US, Edikted is a Gen Z-oriented online fashion brand, heavily influenced by pop culture, technology, and style. While the brand seems to focus on the latest styles and trends and is hugely popular on TikTok, it has stayed far away from making any inroads when it comes to sustainability or ensuring worker’s rights. Let’s take a look and answer the question: how ethical is Edikted?

We’re not so Edikted

In our “How Ethical Is” series, we usually have a closer look at a brand’s rating and break it down so that you know more about how the brand is performing across the three key areas of environmental impact, labour conditions, and animal welfare.

Unfortunately, for Edikted, there isn’t much to say for people and the planet. Our team scoured the brand’s website, but Edikted provides insufficient relevant information about its environmental impact or labour conditions, earning it our lowest score of “Very Poor” across those two key areas.

Not appearing to use any animal products in its pieces, though not explicitly stating it is a vegan brand, Edikted rates “Good” for animals.

Overall, the brand is rated “We Avoid”, our lowest possible score. As a shopper, you have the right to know how Edikted’s production practices impact the world and its inhabitants.

Edikted should start disclosing more information about how, where, and by whom its items are produced, as well as the materials used. Transparency is crucial to ethical and sustainable fashion and is the first step towards reducing a business’ impact.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Love the Y2K vibes of Edikted but want to support brands doing better? We’ve rounded up some alternatives that might meet your needs. Also check out our Y2K article for more inspo on how to achieve the look sustainably.

Good swaps

“Good and “Great” alternatives to Edikted

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Fashion’s water impacts: The industry is a thirsty one

The fashion industry is a massive consumer and polluter of our fresh water. According to Common Objective, the industry is said to use around 93 billion cubic metres of water per year, enough to meet the needs of 5 million people. Worryingly, this amount is expected to double by 2030.

Water is used throughout the production process of any garment, starting with growing the plants or animals needed to make fabrics. Cotton, in particular, is a thirsty crop: a single cotton garment requires thousands of litres, as well as large quantities of pesticides and insecticides, which then wash into waterways and enter the ecosystems.

The fashion industry is said to use around 93 billion cubic metres of water per year, enough to meet the needs of 5 million people.

The manufacturing stage also contributes to the water footprint of fashion. Fabric dyeing and treatment are responsible for untreated wastewater being pumped back into our water systems, contaminating them with toxins and heavy metals. As highlighted in the groundbreaking documentary, RIVERBLUE, each year, textile companies not only consume water but also discharge millions of gallons of chemicals into our waterways, causing both environmental damage and diseases. Denim, in particular, is very water intensive: it’s heavily dependent on cotton fibres, and it requires water intensive dyeing and finishing processes.

Sadly, items keep polluting waters long after they’ve left the shelves. Polyester is one of the world’s most common fibres, and it uses the same material found in plastic bottles. And when we wash our polyester clothes, thousands of plastic microfibres are passed into the waterways. These microfibres end up in our oceans, where they threaten ecosystems and end up in our food chain.

Water is a scarce resource, and it’s become crucial for fashion brands to manage their water use and treatment of wastewater. But water management isn’t just about the quantity of water used. The real risk lies in the geographical location. Thirsty crops are often located in water-stressed basins, in which water is scarce, polluted or necessary for vulnerable local communities. Being water efficient is not enough and brands made sure their products aren’t made in water stressed areas.

How Good On You rates brands for water

Good On You analyses brands on three key areas of concern to consumers: the environment, labour, and animals. Water is one of the elements we consider when looking at how a brand impacts the environment.

As mentioned earlier, when managing water use within the supply chain, it is important not just to consider how much water is used, but also where the water is being used. “Unlike climate change, where one tonne of CO2 has a similar impact wherever it is released in the world, the value of one megalitre varies”, says Kristian Hardiman, Good On You’s Head of Ratings. Water impact is a complex issue that needs to be considered at the local level.

Unlike climate change, where one tonne of CO2 has a similar impact wherever it is released in the world, the value of one megalitre varies.

Kristian Hardiman – Good On You’s Head of Ratings

The Good On You approach for large brands is to firstly map their traced suppliers to determine whether they are operating in water-stressed basins. Based on this, we’ll look at whether the brand engages with local stakeholders in that basin to assure strong water management, sets targets and goals. Often the actions with suppliers will involve implementing water reduction initiatives and wastewater treatment and discharge.

Because smaller brands have less influence, we focus less on the stakeholder engagement, and more on whether brands have water reduction and waste water treatment initiatives in place. Often small brands meet this by sourcing certified materials which ensure lower consumption of water

Certifications like Cradle to Cradle Platinum and Gold, Bluesign, GOTS, STeP by Oeko-Tex, and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) will often provide evidence that a brand is working towards reducing its water footprint. And if a brand discloses to CDP Water, we will incorporate the score into the rating.

The sad truth: most brands do very little for water

Over the years, we’ve analysed thousands of brands, and sadly, very few of them have implemented water reduction and wastewater management initiatives. This is, in part, because many brands are still unaware of how to manage water properly.

57% of large brands we have rated since 2021 get our two lowest scores for water management and reduction initiatives.

Another issue we’ve faced is brands’ lack of transparency regarding their environmental policies in general, which means we don’t know exactly how these brands are impacting our waterways. Cider, Dolls Kill, ThirdLove, and Skims are examples of such brands.

54% of large brands we have rated since 2021 get 0 points in our methodology for their water management and reduction initiatives.

But what about the other brands? The ones that do share some information about their environmental impact? We analysed all the brands in our database to find the worst water use offenders: the ones that don’t disclose any information about water, that receive a poor score from CDP Water, do not track and measure their water impact and use, set water targets or goals, or measure their wastewater produced.

These brands are amongst the worst water use offenders

The post Fashion’s Water Impacts: The Largest Brands Are Doing the Least appeared first on Good On You.

Avant-garde is great, but sustainability is better

Maison Margiela, formerly known as Maison Martin Margiela, is an avant-garde haute couture brand, founded in 1988 by Belgian designer Martin Margiela. The brand is known for its inventive, deconstructed, and unconventional designs and shows. You might have already heard about the Tabi boot, a split-toe shoe taking inspiration from the traditional Japanese socks bearing the same name. Like many luxury fashion labels, Maison Margiela even collaborated with H&M to launch a limited edition collection in 2012.

But how is Maison Margiela impacting people, the planet, and animals? In short, how ethical is Maison Margiela?

Environmental impact

We couldn’t find evidence that Maison Margiela is actively working to reduce its impact on the environment. For this reason, we rate Maison Margiela “Very Poor” for the planet. The brand uses few eco-friendly materials and there is no evidence it minimises textile waste, reduces its carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain, or has taken meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals. With a climate crisis afoot, brands need to take responsibility for their impact on the planet or risk getting left behind.

Labour conditions

Maison Margiela also rates “Very Poor” for people. Despite most of its final stage of production being undertaken in Italy, a medium risk country for labour abuse, the brand isn’t transparent enough: Maison Margiela received a score of 0-10% in the Fashion Transparency Index. The brand publishes limited information about its supplier policies and audits. It also doesn’t disclose any information about forced labour, gender equality or freedom of association, or any policies or safeguards to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19.

More importantly, we found no evidence Maison Margiela ensures payment of a living wage in its supply chain. A living wage is the bare minimum wage required for workers to live a decent life. It’s different from the legal minimum wage, which is usually far below the living wage. Garment workers need to be protected and treated fairly.

Animal welfare

Maison Margiela rates “Very Poor” for animals, too. The brand has a general statement about minimising animal suffering but no formal animal welfare policy. Maison Margiela doesn’t use fur and exotic animal skin, but it still uses leather, wool, angora, down, and exotic animal hair. For these animal-derived materials, we found no evidence they were traced even to the first stage of production. There is no way to know how the animals are treated along the supply chain without transparency here.

Overall rating: We Avoid

Maison Margiela rates “Very Poor” for the three key areas of people, planet, and animals.

The brand is clearly not doing enough to reduce its impact on the planet and its inhabitants. It needs to be more transparent about its practices, use more eco-friendly materials, ditch the harmful animal-based ones, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make sure its workers are paid a living wage and treated fairly.

Until Maison Margiela improves its rating, “We Avoid” the brand and we recommend you do too.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Good swaps

“Good” and “Great” alternatives to Maison Margiela

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ILYSM is taking steps in the right direction

Community-driven sneaker brand ILYSM is known for its split-toe or “Tabi” sneakers in neutral and colourful silk and vegan ranges. On its About page, ILYSM says: “We bring balance and purpose to every step you take with beautiful materials, functional integrity, innovative technology, and sustainable practices.”

It sounds promising, but let’s step behind the scenes and see if the brand practices what it preaches regarding people, planet, and animal impact. How sustainable and ethical is ILYSM?

Environmental impact

ILYSM is making a start for the environment, reaching our middling score of “It’s a Start”. It uses a medium proportion of eco-friendly materials in its products, including recycled cotton and TENCEL Lyocell. While it doesn’t appear to minimise packaging or take any specific steps to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, its use of eco-friendly materials reduces its climate impact and limits the amount of chemicals, water, and wastewater used in production.

Labour conditions

The weakest area for ILYSM is labour conditions. Rated “Not Good Enough”, the brand doesn’t appear to have a Code of Conduct, though it has a formal statement covering worker’s rights and traces and visits suppliers in the final production stage. It sources its final stage of production from countries with extreme risk of labour abuse, like China. Although it states that “the average wage at our factory is 3.44x the minimum wage in Guangzhou, China”, there is no evidence it ensures payment of a living wage across its supply chain.

Animal welfare

Coming out on top is the brand’s animal welfare rating, reaching “Good”. ILYSM doesn’t use fur, leather, down, exotic animal skin, exotic animal hair, or angora. It uses wool and silk in some products, but most of its range is marketed as vegan-friendly.

Overall rating: It’s a Start

Overall, we have awarded ILYSM a score of “It’s a Start” overall based on our own research. With “up to 135 workers touching each sneaker during the assembly process”, we’d like to see evidence the brand supports every one of them. Increasing its proportion of eco-friendly materials and removing or tracing the animal-based ones would also help its sustainability journey.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

If you want to shop more in line with your values, Good On You recommends you support brands that embrace a more ethical and sustainable fashion model. We’ve rounded up a few of our favourite similar brands to ILYSM.

Good swaps

“Good” and “Great” alternatives to ILYSM

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How sustainable are custom-printed brands?

Sustainable fashion is becoming increasingly popular. After learning how to avoid falling into greenwashing traps, it’s easy to find more sustainable options for t-shirts, hoodies, accessories, and more.

But what if you want to zhuzh things up and have something a little more unique?

Enter: custom-printed brands. Custom t-shirts are a great way to get a message across, whether you’re a small business looking for merch or an individual who wants to commemorate an event.

Unfortunately, not all custom printing companies are created equal. Let’s take a look at the most popular print on demand brands and how they’re impacting people, the planet, and animals. Keep reading to see how sustainable custom-printed brands are and discover more sustainable options.

The post How Sustainable Are Custom-Printed Brands Like Printful and Printify? appeared first on Good On You.

The top newly rated sustainable brands of May

Brand ratings are the backbone of our mission at Good On You: to make shopping your values simpler. Since 2015, we have been uncovering brands doing harm, and highlighting those doing good for people, the planet, and animals. You can download our app or check out the directory to discover the best brands for you. If you’re all about discovering new “Good” and “Great” brands from around the world to support, this roundup is for you.

This month, we’re looking at 5 newly rated brands, and there are some real gems—from refugee-made upcycled bags and shoes by Up-Fuse (Egypt) to waste-busting menswear made with care by Neem (UK). Here we go.

The post We’re Loving These 5 Brands Newly Rated in May appeared first on Good On You.

A not-so-mindful yoga brand

With almost 3 million followers on Instagram, Alo Yoga is one of the world’s most well known and well-loved yoga brands, alongside Lululemon.

It all began in Los Angeles in 2007 when Alo Yoga’s founders decided to “spread good by bringing yoga to the world”. Alo Yoga claims to elevate yogis’ practices, whether they’re beginners or more advanced on their yoga journey. But Alo isn’t just a yoga brand—it’s also worn outside of the studio by celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Kendall Jenner.

But how sound is the good that Alo Yoga claims to be spreading? How is Alo Yoga impacting the world beyond the yoga mats? How ethical is Alo Yoga? Let’s take a look.

Environmental impact

We rate Alo Yoga “Very Poor” for its impact on the environment. It uses few eco-friendly materials, and we found no evidence that Alo Yoga minimises textile waste, reduces its carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain, or that it has taken meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals.

Having a “solar-powered office, electric-car charging stations, and an advanced recycling program that reduces waste to that of a small household” is a good step, but it’s not enough.

Labour conditions

Alo Yoga’s labour rating is “Not Good Enough”. Again, we noticed a lack of adequate initiatives to protect workers and ensure they are treated fairly. We found no evidence Alo Yoga has worker empowerment initiatives such as collective bargaining or rights to make a complaint or that it provides payment of a living wage in its supply chain.

Alo Yoga traces some of its supply chain, and its final stage of production is certified by WRAP, which focuses on addressing social issues and labour rights in manufacturing facilities, including all ILO Fundamental Principles, payment of a minimum wage (which is different from a living wage), worker health and safety provisions, working hours, and protections for subcontractors.

Animal welfare

Finally, Alo Yoga’s animal rating is also “Not Good Enough”. Despite not using fur, angora or exotic animal skin, the brand still uses leather, down, exotic animal hair, and wool. We found no evidence Alo Yoga has a policy to minimise the suffering of animals or that it traces any animal product to the first stage of production.

Overall rating: We Avoid

Based on information from our own research, we rate Alo Yoga “We Avoid” overall.

“Ahimsa”, or non-violence, is one of the core principles of yoga, and it asks yogis to cause no harm in thought, speech, or action to any living being. Sadly, it seems that Alo Yoga is not living by this principle.

The brand doesn’t share enough information about how it impacts the planet, people, and animals. Its lack of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste or protect workers and animals in its supply chain is worrying.

Alo Yoga needs to be more transparent and step up its ethical and sustainable practices if it really wants to spread good.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Looking for cute and conscious yogawear? We found some “Good” and “Great” alternatives to Alo Yoga, serving up some of the best yoga clothing on the market—with values and practices to match.

Good swaps

Our favourite “Good” and “Great” alternatives to Alo Yoga

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Vibram isn’t quite toeing the line

If you’re in the running scene, you’ve likely heard of (or even tried) the infamous “toe shoes”, designed to mimic barefoot running. Perhaps the most well-known brand offering “FiveFingers Shoes” is US-based Vibram. Toe shoes are likely poor for your health when running, not to mention aesthetically questionable—but how does Vibram specifically treat people, the planet, and animals in production? How sustainable and ethical is Vibram? Let’s jump in—in better-looking footwear, please.

Environmental impact

For a brand that has an entire section of its website dedicated to “the sustainable way to a careful footprint”, Vibram isn’t taking enough steps to tackle its environmental impact. Rated “Not Good Enough” for the planet, the only positive we can see is that Vibram uses some renewable energy in its supply chain to reduce its climate impact. But when you’re producing hundreds of styles made from unsustainable, plastic-based materials, there’s only so much renewable energy can do.

Vibram does not use eco-friendly materials, and there is no evidence it minimises textile waste. It also doesn’t appear to have a policy to protect biodiversity in its supply chain. There’s a long way to go before Vibram could be called sustainable, but we’re curious to see where its “Sustainable Way” project leads.

Labour conditions

Unfortunately, things are only looking worse when it comes to labour conditions, for which the brand gets our lowest score of “Very Poor”.

While Vibram states it has a Code of Conduct, it doesn’t publicly share it, which is a misstep in the era of transparency. There is no evidence it has worker empowerment initiatives such as collective bargaining or rights to make a complaint, nor does it appear to audit its supply chain. Worst of all, we found no sign the brand ensures payment of a living wage to its workers.

Step up for people, Vibram.

Animal welfare

Vibram is also “Not Good Enough” for animals. While the brand doesn’t use fur, down, angora, or exotic animal skin, it does use leather and wool without stating sources. We found no evidence of a policy to minimise animal suffering, nor that the brand traces animal products even to the first production stage.

Overall rating: We Avoid

So, how sustainable and ethical is Vibram? Overall, we have rated Vibram our lowest possible score of “We Avoid” to reflect its lack of concrete action across the three key areas of people, the planet, and animals. Vibram could start by being more transparent about its policies and progress, work towards paying a living wage across its supply chain, and consider animal welfare for the animal-based materials in its footwear.

See the rating.

Note that Good On You ratings consider 100s of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

Okay, we may not have a direct sustainable swap for toe shoes, but these brands create sneakers and running shoes with values and practices worth a spot on your shoe rack.

Good swaps

“Good”, “Great”, and second hand alternatives to Vibram

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Dolls Kill is killing its image with murky practices

Founded in 2011, Dolls Kill is a San Francisco-based online boutique with “a rebellious spirit and attitude, mixed with a bit of punk rock, goth, glam, and festival fashion”.

Sadly, Dolls Kill’s “rebellious spirit” has led the brand to be criticised on social media for its position on the Black Lives Matter movement, questionable t-shirt lines, and allegedly stealing ideas from smaller designers.

But how is Dolls Kills doing when it comes to sustainability? How does this free-spirited brand impact people, the planet, and animals? In short: how ethical is Dolls Kill? Let’s take a look.

A dire lack of transparency

In our “How Ethical Is” series, we usually have a closer look at a brand’s rating and break it down so that you know more about how the brand is performing across the three key areas of environmental impact, labour conditions, and animal welfare.

Unfortunately, in Dolls Kill’s case, there isn’t much to say. Our team scoured the brand’s website, but Dolls Kill provides insufficient relevant information about how it reduces its impact on people, the planet, and animals. This means that, at the time of writing, there isn’t enough information for us to dig deeper into the brand’s practices.

As a result, the brand is rated “We Avoid”, our lowest possible score. As a shopper, you have the right to know how Dolls Kill’s production practices impact the world and its inhabitants.

Dolls Kills should start disclosing more information about how, where, and by whom its items are produced, as well as the materials used. Transparency is crucial to ethical and sustainable fashion and is the first step towards reducing a business’ impact.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

If you want to rebel against the fast fashion industry and wave goodbye to unethical and unsustainable brands, we’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find five amazing brands that are just as cool as Dolls Kill, but way kinder to people, the planet, and animals.

Good swaps

“Good and “Great” alternatives to Dolls Kill

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The merging of worlds

With decades of combined experience in the fashion industry, one Skype call between two friends—Karen Wood in New York and Angela Postels in New Delhi—turned into a long conversation reimagining what it means to be a fashion brand in a time of global awareness and environmental consciousness. The pair felt it was time to make some changes and put their heads together to create beautiful wardrobe staples at more attainable price points sourced from a clean supply chain. And so, Neu Nomads was born.

We are entrepreneurs, fashion industry insiders, and modern nomads. We’ve been on an exciting journey collaborating across three continents to bring our vision for Neu Nomads to life.

Read on to discover how this luxurious womenswear brand bridges the gap between fashion and a more sustainable and equitable world for people, the planet, and animals.

Planet: everything considered

Neu Nomads stands out for its efforts in reducing the environmental impact of its clothing. Achieving our highest score of “Great” here, the brand’s use of a high proportion of eco-friendly materials and renewable energy in its supply chain limits the amount of chemicals, water, and wastewater used in production. This leads to a smaller climate impact, addressing one of our time’s most crucial planetary issues.

The brand focuses on biodegradable and plant-based fabrics like silky TENCEL Modal, sustainably sourced linen, and organic cotton blended with innovative SeaCell, made from seaweed and eucalyptus fibres in a closed-loop system. Its use of non-toxic and AZO-free dyes coupled with zero waste packaging further round out its efforts here. Championing its belief we should “do more with less”,  every piece in the collection is designed to be endlessly wearable, washable, and versatile, discouraging overconsumption.

People: high standards

From the beginning, Neu Nomads knew they wanted to work with artisans who are valued for their work in creating fine quality clothing for the modern minimalist and conscious consumer.

The brand also rates “Great” for workers, owing to its prioritisation of traceability, transparency, and fair work for all. It has a formal statement covering workers’ rights, ensures payment of a living wage in the final stage of production, traces most of its supply chain, and visits its suppliers regularly. “85% of our garments are produced in a family-owned factory in Delhi that maintains healthy working conditions, health care benefits, and compensation far above the living wage. The rest of our collections are made between Portugal, Lithuania, and Nepal in female-owned factories that meet the same standards.”

Animals: eco-cashmere

While most of Neu Nomad’s products are animal-free, it does incorporate its blend of soft cotton and cashmere, dubbed “eco-cashmere”, into some of the range. Produced in a co-operative in the valleys of beautiful Kathmandu, the manufacturing process uses SGS lab certified Mongolian origin yarns. “Our factory is one of the country’s most modern and invests in the children of marginalised and underprivileged employees by sponsoring their education at private schools to ensure quality education.”

Overall rating: Good

Overall, Neu Nomads is rated “Good” thanks to its work considering its impact on people, the planet, and animals. Working every day to make sure “everything is considered”, this brand challenges the overproduction and overconsumption rife in the industry by encouraging a higher quality, slowed down approach to curating our closets.

See the rating.

Shop Neu Nomads.

Our 7 favourite pieces from Neu Nomads

Neu Nomads has been growing organically since its founding in 2018, and likes to take a “step by step” approach to building a business, so nothing is rushed. This allows a slower, more considered look at the design process, and for all its pieces, fabric research comes first: “It’s been extremely challenging to build a collection using only sustainable fabrics but we set out from day one to do things differently and have never strayed.”

Discover our favourite sustainable essentials and a few standouts from the new SS22 collection below.

Easy Slip Dress

Bias Cut Slip Dress

Grace Gown

Karlie Jacket + Allie Ankle Pants

Twiggy Boyfriend Shirt

Accessories

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“California cool meets NY chic.” Founded in 2019 by Dacey Trotta, Rumours has seriously taken off in a heavily influencer-driven world, with stars like Jordan Sloane and Emma Lager jet-setting in this up-and-coming brand. But how does the brand impact people, the planet, and animals in production? How ethical is Rumours? Let’s take a look.

Not good enough? That’s no rumour

Let’s cut to the chase: Rumours doesn’t provide enough information about its products or practices for a comprehensive review. Transparency and traceability are essential for a brand to be on the path to more ethical and sustainable practice, and Rumours falls short on both counts.

We had to give Rumours our second-lowest score of “Not Good Enough” for this lack of information. At the end of the day, you have a right to know how the products you buy affect the issues you care about.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Good swaps

Here are some “Good” and “Great” alternatives to Rumours that prioritise workers, the environment, and animals in their production.

The post How Ethical Is Rumours? appeared first on Good On You.

Sustainable fashion with flavour

What started as an organic t-shirt brand championing artist collaborations in 2006 has grown into the effortlessly cool lifestyle brand Dedicated that makes “sustainable fashion with flavour”.

Coming out of Stockholm, Sweden, founder Johan Graffner witnessed the horrors of the modern fashion industry first-hand in his travels to the world’s textile production hubs and decided to dedicate his work to making a difference: “I was saddened to see the massive environmental destruction caused by the textile industry, as well as seeing poor workers being exploited. At this time, the responsible brands weren’t very fashionable, and the fashionable brands were not being responsible. So when I started this company in 2006, the vision was to become ‘best in class’ in terms of certifications, CO2 impact, and ethics right from the start.”

Our sustainable clothing brand is built on transparency, honesty, and sticking true to our values.

Read on to discover how Dedicated is a driving force of change in the fashion industry, proving that it is possible to design and produce inspiring, colourful, and creative clothing and, at the same time, care for people, the planet, and animals.

Planet: don’t panic, it’s organic

Rated “Good” for the environment, Dedicated is committed to leaving a light footprint by incorporating a high proportion of eco-friendly materials, like GOTS certified organic cotton, GRS certified recycled PET plastic, and TENCEL Lyocell. Fun fact: its first-ever t-shirt run back in 2006 was made in Turkey from GOTS certified organic cotton.

The carbon impact of Dedicated’s clothes is drastically reduced compared to other garments on the market thanks to its use of more conscious materials. This practice also means a limited amount of chemicals, water, and wastewater are used in production. As a bonus, the brand rejects shopping holidays like Black Friday and instead partners with One Tree Planted for “Plant Friday”. So far, it has donated over 20,000 fruit trees to local farmers in India.

People: transparent, fair treatment

Dedicated receives our highest score of “Great” for labour conditions. It has a Code of Conduct that covers all of the ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles, traces its supply chain, and ensures payment of a living wage in most of its supply chain.

You can rest assured knowing the farmers, ginners, spinners, dyers, printers, and sewing workers are getting a fair wage without forced or unpaid overtime and with safe working conditions: “We only work with suppliers that share the same values, and that are certified by reliable and legit social standards. Long-term partnerships that allow us to grow together and build trust. By doing this, we can sleep easy knowing that everyone involved in our brand is treated with respect.” Don’t just take their word for it—here is their impressive list of certifications.

Animals: left out, literally

The most ethical way to use animals in fashion is not to use them at all. Dedicated recognises this and leaves animals out of the equation entirely. Hide nor hair can be found in the collection, and the brand is 100% PETA certified vegan-friendly. We love to see it, which is why the brand also rates “Great” for animals.

Overall rating: Great

Overall, we’re happy to award Dedicated our highest possible score of “Great” for its efforts across the board. By using eco-friendly materials, providing fair wages, and leaving animals out entirely, this Swedish brand has cracked the code for conscious clothing that aligns with your values, all while looking fab.

Armed with an eco-conscious team, a love of contemporary clothing, and plenty of pop music to keep us going, we’ve created a brand that is thoughtful from start to finish.

See the rating.
Shop Dedicated.

Our 7 favourite designs from Dedicated

Dedicated is quite unique in the sustainable fashion space as it collaborates with so many relevant creators. And by collaborating with photographers, illustrators, and artists from all over the world, the brand is able to give you unique, fun, and diverse collections.

Kiss boring ethical fashion goodbye with our seven current faves from Dedicated, including some stylish essentials like the corduroy work pants and oversized puffer jacket, and the iconic Beatles limited collection.

Dress Bornholm | Palm Leaves Beige

Made from 100% TENCEL Lyocell, the Bornholm dress is soft and comfortable and features a relaxed, loose fit with a button-up front and tie waist.

Puffer Jacket Haparanda | Secret Garden

The ultimate puffer jacket, Haparanda, is made out of 100% GRS certified recycled polyester. It is water repellent and features a two-way zipper, four pockets, and a stunning nature-themed print.

Workwear Pants Vara Corduroy | Deep Blue

These versatile pants work hard to keep up with the demand of everyday wear while keeping you looking good. Made to last with organic cotton.

T-Shirt Stockholm | Work Hard Pizza White

The perfect crew neck t-shirt, made sustainably with care for people and the planet in collaboration with British artist and illustrator David Shrigley.

Padded Jacket Vallentuna Corduroy | Brown

This Harrington-inspired men’s jacket is made from organic cotton corduroy and features a front zipper and quilted lining with recycled polyester padding.

T-Shirt Mysen Sgt Pepper’s | Black

Dust off your old records—Dedicated just dropped a nostalgic Beatles collection. Prints and patterns inspired by iconic album covers. Don’t miss out on this limited collection made in organic and fairtrade certified cotton.

Sweatshirt Malmoe Abbey Road Embroidery | Grey Melange

If you prefer a more subtle look while repping your Beatles pride, we love this embroidered Abbey Road sweatshirt in organic cotton.

What is Dedicated up to next?

Always on the lookout for up-and-coming material innovations, Dedicated will continue to support developments in recycled fabrics and soon start using ROG cotton, which is regeneratively and organically grown, making it CO2 negative. It is also on the path to becoming a B Corp certified brand, continuing its thread of earning some of the most comprehensive fashion certifications that currently exist.

The post ‘Great’ Brand Dedicated Is Proving Fashion Can Be Both Conscious and Cool appeared first on Good On You.

The good, and not so good

Brand ratings are the backbone of our mission at Good On You: to help you discover the very best sustainable fashion brands from around the world. Since 2015, we have been reading between the seams for you, uncovering brands doing harm, calling out greenwashing, and highlighting the sustainable brands doing good for people, the planet, and animals. Download our app or check out the directory to easily shop your values.

This month, we’re sharing 5 brands doing “Good” or “Great” (including vintage fashion from the UK, eco-friendly swimwear from Australia, and organic clothing from India), but also 6 brands you’re better off avoiding.

5 newly rated ‘Good’ and ‘Great’ brands

The post The 10 Best and Worst Newly Rated Brands of April appeared first on Good On You.

ThirdLove, the “bra brand darling of millenials”

Described by Forbes as the “bra brand darling of millenials”, ThirdLove is an American underwear brand founded in 2013 by Heidi Zak and her husband David Spector.

The brand is known for its body-positive and inclusive marketing, offering bras in many different sizes, including half cups. ThirdLove claims it’s helped over 18 million women find a bra that actually fits.

But is ThirdLove helping people, the planet, and animals in production? What’s ThirdLove’s impact on the Earth and its inhabitants? It’s time we answer the question: how ethical is ThirdLove?

How ethical is ThirdLove?

Sadly, there’s not much to say about ThirdLove. Usually, in these types of articles, we have a closer look at the brand’s rating and break it down so that you know more about how a brand is performing across the three key areas of environmental impact, labour conditions, and animal welfare.

But for ThirdLove, we didn’t find much.

The brand does talk about the factories it’s working with in Asia and that it makes sure all its partners are providing good working conditions and following local labour laws by working with “expert third-party auditors to audit factories at least every year”. The brand also states it is collaborating with its partners “to improve working conditions according to internationally accepted standards”.

ThirdLove also highlights its work with organisations like I Support the Girls, Soles4Souls, Good360, and St. Anthony’s, to which they’ve donated over $50 million of products to help women. When returned products can’t be donated or resold, the brand says it works with Texaid to upcycle these materials into new uses.

But, this is not enough. Overall, ThirdLove provides insufficient relevant information about how it reduces its impact on people (including whether it pays a living wage), the planet, and animals. You have a right to know how the products you buy affect the issues you care about. ThirdLove is rated “We Avoid” overall.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

We know how important underwear is, so if you’re on the lookout for size inclusive, sustainable, cool brands at different price points, have a look at the brands below.

Good swaps

“Good” and “Great” alternatives to ThirdLove

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Peloton Apparel is not keeping pace on sustainability

You might know Peloton as the stationary exercise bike and treadmill brand that caused the shocking demise of a certain character in the “Sex And the City” reboot “And Just Like That…”, but did you know it also has its own line of active apparel?

Despite existing to improve fitness and wellbeing, Peloton’s clothing line may not be as good for our health and the planet’s health as one might think. With a range boasting technical blended fabrics with fancy names like “Cadent”, “Agility”, and “Striving”, made almost exclusively from harmful plastic-based materials like virgin polyester, nylon, elastane, and spandex, we’re not sure Peloton Apparel got the memo.

Let’s take a closer look at Peloton Apparel’s rating and answer the question: how ethical is Peloton?

Environmental impact

Unsurprisingly for a brand that pumps out polyester blends on the reg, Peloton Apparel scores rock bottom with “Very Poor” for the planet. It doesn’t use eco-friendly materials or minimise textile waste, nor does it seem to be taking any action to reduce its carbon and GHG emissions or eliminate hazardous chemicals in its supply chain. Hazardous, indeed.

Labour conditions

Peloton Apparel’s DEI and anti-racism campaign slogan insists “‘Together we go far’ means all of us can’t win if some of us are being held back”. But is the brand ensuring the workers in its supply chain can “go far” by, say, being paid a living wage?

Sadly not. There is no evidence Peloton Apparel has a Code of Conduct; worker empowerment initiatives such as collective bargaining or rights to make a complaint; or any safeguards to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19. While it does trace some of its supply chain, its lack of living wage information is a massive red flag.

While we commend its starting efforts on diversity and inclusion—a crucial step towards a more ethical workforce—we can’t help but question the brand’s integrity here. It isn’t clear in the “Peloton Pledge” whether these efforts extend throughout the supply chain, which is part of the problem. In order to comprehensively address inequality in the industry and foster resilient and adaptable supply chains, companies must work to ensure their policies extend further than mid- or high-level employees.  “Very Poor” for people, too.

Animal welfare

Peloton gets a bit of a boost for animals with a rating of “It’s a Start”, mainly owing to the lack of animal-based fabrics in its range. It still uses wool and exotic animal hair, though, and there is no evidence that it has a policy to minimise animal suffering in that particular part of its supply chain.

Overall rating: We Avoid

So, how sustainable and ethical is Peloton? Overall, we had to give Peloton our lowest score of “We Avoid” due to its lack of substantial action for people, the planet, and animals. Peloton could improve its score if it considered the health and wellbeing of the environment and the workers in its supply chain by incorporating more sustainable fabrics and ensuring payment of a living wage.

See the rating.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

Disappointed by Peloton’s rating? Don’t fret: there are a whole host of more ethical and sustainable “Good” and “Great” activewear brands at comparable price points (but incomparable ratings).

Good swaps

“Good” and “Great” rated alternatives to Peloton

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Embodying a slow fashion practice

One of the key features of a slow fashion brand is to reject trends, and Slovenia-based Mila.Vert embodies that to a tee. This is one brand that considers the longevity of its designs from the cutting room to your wardrobe and beyond, tapping into a timeless aesthetic in high-quality and eco-friendly fabrics to leave a big impact on your wardrobe, but a light one on the planet.

In 2015, Tina Logar Bauchmüller became a mother and a fashion designer, and she knew from the beginning that her core value of showing respect to everyone and everything must be the foundation of her label: “For me, Mila.Vert represents the story of empowerment, of following your passion and being kind to yourself and to others. And this is how I want to make you feel.”

Every single piece of Mila.Vert clothing represents me, so I want every single piece to be kind to you. At the same time, it should also be kind to nature and the people who made it.

Tina Logar Bauchmüller – Founder

Read on to learn exactly how this conscious and chic brand is leaving a mark on the evolving sustainable fashion space by empowering its workers and customers to live life a little slower, a little kinder, and leave the earth a little better than they found it.

Planet: working with nature

Mila.Vert believes in working with nature, not against it, and this philosophy is evident in its careful selection of organic and low-impact materials. It uses a high proportion of more earth-friendly fabrics like GOTS certified organic cotton, hemp, and linen, limiting the amount of chemicals, water, and wastewater used in production.

Taking it a step further, Mila.Vert manufactures everything locally in two Slovenia-based factories for the greatest level of transparency and traceability and follows a made-to-order approach to eliminate leftover stock and avoid overproduction. We’re pleased to award Mila.Vert our highest score of “Great” for its environmental impact.

People: a responsible approach

Good On You believes in a world where everyone is empowered by their work in the fashion industry and beyond, instead of belittled by it. Mila.Vert feels the same way, and to embody this principle in their designs, they manufacture all their garments close to home in Slovenia. By visiting suppliers directly and regularly, the brand can ensure safe working conditions and fair wages.

Mila.Vert has a formal statement covering workers’ rights and traces most of its supply chain. Thanks to its GOTS certification, it also ensures payment of a living wage in most of its supply chain. Thanks to these efforts, it is rated “Good” for workers.

Animals: a cruelty-free focus

With another “Good” score here for animal welfare, Mila.Vert intentionally avoids virgin wool and other animal fibres in its products, but acknowledges the problem of textile waste and uses recycled wool along with other recycled fabrics in some winter coats. The vast majority of the range is PETA-approved vegan, however, which can be easily spotted on each product page by the handy symbol.

Overall rating: Good

Overall, we’re happy to award Mila.Vert “Good” for its efforts for people, the planet, and animals. This is one brand exemplifying a fairer fashion industry, proving it’s possible to create beautiful, long-lasting clothes that are kind to the earth and all its inhabitants.

See the rating.

Shop Mila.Vert.

Our 6 favourites from Mila.Vert’s SS22 collection

Mila.Vert’s SS22 collection combines the elegance and timelessness of minimalist design with the lighter footprint of fabrics like organic cotton, TENCEL, and recycled wool. Mix and match the neutral tones and complementary textures for a chic wardrobe this season and many to come. Mila.Vert is also beginning an exciting expansion into home decor. First up? Premium organic cotton blankets available in two sizes and three colours to fit effortlessly in any home setting.

A favourite piece of clothing fits plenty of occasions and can be worn again and again, so we design quality classics rather than respond to trends.

Oversized White Shirt

The oversized white shirt is as timeless as it gets. With an oversized fit, a classic shirt collar, and a hidden button placket, this shirt will go with any outfit and any occasion.

Knitted Strap Dress

The knitted strap dress takes inspiration from the brand’s best-selling knitted strap top. It features a relaxed fit, a deep front and back V-shaped neckline, and wide shoulder straps.

Tencel Sarong

Thisl sarong is a multipurpose tencel fabric sheet. It can be tied in different ways, either as a skirt or as a dress, while the luxuriously smooth surface adds a touch of glamour to this versatile garment.

Oversized Standing Collar Coat

Featuring a classic minimalist shape, the coat is versatile and may be worn in a relaxed, oversized fit without a belt or with a belt in the belt loops for a more structured look.

Straight Twill Trousers

With a relaxed straight fit, a high waist, and an ankle length, these trousers are designed to be as versatile as possible.

Organic Cotton Knitted Blanket

Mila.Vert’s cosy blankets showcase a unique knitting pattern with subtle square shapes on their surface. They are gentle on your (or your pet’s) skin, and warm yet breathable at the same time.

The post ‘Good’ Brand Mila.Vert Adds an Element of Sophistication to the Sustainable Fashion Space appeared first on Good On You.

Superdry is making a start on sustainability

With more than 740 Superdry stores in 61 different countries, UK-based Superdry is a clothing brand with a significant presence around the world. We decided it was high time we took a closer look at the brand’s sustainable practices.

Founded in 2003, Superdry mixes Americana and Japanese inspirations and describes itself as “energy, creativity, an incubator for a new visual identity, inspired by community, culture, and collaboration.”

The brand also aims to “become the most sustainable listed global fashion brand by 2030”, but how realistic is it? How is Superdry impacting people, the planet, and animals? How ethical is Superdry?

Environmental impact

Superdry’s environment rating is “It’s a Start”. The brand uses some eco-friendly materials, including Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) cotton, in 30% of its cotton ranges. Superdry also reuses some of its offcuts to minimise textile waste.

It has set a deadline to eliminate hazardous chemicals by 2030 but there is no evidence it is on track to meet its target just yet. When it comes to water, Superdry says it “will baseline [its] water footprint in 2022, with the aim to reduce the water [it uses] in manufacturing [its] garments by 20% by 2025 and 40% by 2030”, and it’s good to see these water reduction initiatives in action across its supply chain.

Labour conditions

Superdry’s labour rating is also “Not Good Enough”. The brand proudly states it has “completed Phase 1 of [its] Respect and Dignity programme in India, empowering over 37% of [its] third-party factory workforce”. But this is not enough.

Some of its supply chain is certified by Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit – SMETA Best Practice Guidance and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). It received a score of 31-40% in the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index.

Worryingly, there is no evidence Superdry implements practices to support diversity and inclusion in most of its supply chain. We also found no evidence the brand ensures payment of a living wage. “Leading positive change” sounds good, but making sure workers are paid and treated fairly is better.

Animal welfare

Superdry goes back up to “It’s a Start” for animal welfare. The brand has a formal animal welfare policy aligned with the Five Freedoms and traces most animal products to the first production stage. But despite not using fur, exotic animal skin, or angora, it still uses leather, exotic animal hair, wool (though certified by the Responsible Wool Standard) and down (certified by the Responsible Down Standard).

Overall rating: It’s a Start

With an overall rating of “It’s a Start”, Superdry still has work to do to achieve its goal of becoming one of the most sustainable fashion brands in the world. The brand should start incorporating more sustainable and non-animal-derived materials and ensure it is on track with its elimination of hazardous chemicals. But more importantly, it needs to ensure workers across the entire supply chain are paid a living wage. There’s no sustainability without decent pay.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the April 2022 rating.

If you’re into “statement designs, unexpected prints, assured styles”, you’re in luck. We found ethical and sustainable alternatives to Superdry that are just as cool.

Good swaps

“Good” and “Great” alternatives to Superdry

The post How Ethical Is Superdry? appeared first on Good On You.

vuori is functional but far from perfect

vuori calls itself “a new perspective on performance apparel”, inspired by the active Coastal California lifestyle. It creates functionally built, durable performance wear and talks proudly of its ethical manufacturing and sustainability.

We decided to investigate further and see if its claims match its credentials across the three key areas of environmental impact, labour conditions, and animal welfare. How sustainable and ethical is vuori? Let’s jump in.

Environmental impact

Despite its insistence we are “happier on a healthy planet” and its carbon-neutral status, vuori still has work to do in this area. It uses a medium proportion of eco-friendly materials, including recycled materials, and says it is “committed to 80% sustainable materials by 2022”. However, there is no evidence that it has taken meaningful action to reduce textile waste when manufacturing its products, nor is it taking specific steps to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

That said, its use of eco-friendly materials reduces its climate impact and limits the amount of chemicals, water, and wastewater used in production. For these reasons, we have awarded vuori “It’s a Start” for the planet and would like to see it more clearly define its goals and hit them as projected.

Labour conditions

With a website section dedicated to “Ethical Manufacturing”, you’d be forgiven for thinking vuori would score well here. Unfortunately, while it has a Code of Conduct covering all of the ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles, the good news ends there.

There is no evidence vuori investigates and reports on safety incidents, nor does it disclose where its final production stage occurs. And, most concerning, there is no evidence it ensures payment of a living wage in its supply chain. Providing minimum wages is one thing, but regularly audited fair working conditions and living wages are crucial for a genuinely ethical production process. vuori is “Not Good Enough” for people.

Animal welfare

Animal welfare is where vuori stands out, getting a “Good” rating because it doesn’t use any animal products—though it doesn’t state it is vegan, which would push it over the edge to a “Great” rating.

Overall rating: It’s a Start

So, how sustainable and ethical is vuori? Overall, we have awarded vuori “It’s a Start” to both recognise its efforts for the planet and animals and reflect how much work it still has to do for the people in its supply chain.

See the rating.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

Love vuori’s athletic aesthetic, but they aren’t quite doing it for you in the ethics department? Thankfully, there are loads of eco-conscious active and athleisure brands to meet your needs.

Good swaps

“Good” and “Great” alternatives to vuori

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The top newly rated sustainable brands of March

Brand ratings are the backbone of our mission at Good On You: to make shopping your values simpler. Since 2015, we have been uncovering brands doing harm, and highlighting those doing good for people, the planet, and animals. You can download our app or check out the directory to discover the best brands for you. If you’re all about discovering new “Good” and “Great” brands from around the world to support, this roundup is for you.

This month, we’re looking at 6 newly rated brands from all corners of the globe—from the Portuguese athleisure brand Organique to Australia’s sport and lifestyle brand JACK ACRE, to name a couple. Let’s jump in.

The post Our 6 Favourite Newly Rated Brands for March appeared first on Good On You.

The influencer brand skimming scandals

For better or worse, Kim Kardashian is one of the most influential and controversial people on the planet.

When the media mogul launched her shapewear brand in 2019, she aimed for Skims to be a solutions-oriented brand, creating the next generation of underwear, loungewear, and shapewear. And despite a rocky start (Kim had to change the brand’s original name after being criticised for cultural appropriation), the brand has grown rapidly to boast 3.8 million Instagram followers today.

Kim’s recent advice for women in business to “Get your f*cking ass up and work” has sparked a lot of rightful criticism, so we wanted to take a closer look at her shapewear brand, Skims. How is Skims impacting people, the planet, and animals? How ethical is Skims? Let’s take a look.

How ethical is Skims?

Sadly, there’s not much to say about Skims. Usually, in these types of articles, we have a closer look at the brand’s rating and break it down so that you know more about how a brand is performing across the three key areas of environmental impact, labour conditions, and animal welfare.

But for Skims, we found very little information. The brand’s FAQ gives a very vague statement, saying the brand is “committed to the highest ethical standards and legal compliance in all aspects of [its] business and product supply chain. [It] only [works] with suppliers and vendors who [it believes] in and share [its] commitment to sustainability, accountability, and transparency”.

The brand also says all of its warehouse and factory workers are “ensured fair wages, safe environments, and healthy working conditions”, without giving details about what “fair wages” mean or any proof to back up these claims. And with seven former staff members already accusing Kim of withholding wages, refusing to pay overtime, and not giving them meal breaks, we can’t help but worry about the treatment of Skims workers abroad.

The brand’s FAQ also highlights Skims has “removed all plastic and non-recyclable materials from [its] packaging and replaced them with FSC recycled paper boxes and compostable, eco-friendly bags”. However, the brand was called out for misleading claims here, as the “film packaging” its items are shipped out in are still technically made of plastic despite bold letters claiming “I AM NOT PLASTIC” on the front. This is a perfect example of greenwashing and hints at the brand’s lack of commitment to sustainability throughout its supply chain.

Skims provides insufficient relevant information about how it reduces its impact on people, the planet, and animals. As a result, Kim Kardashian’s brand is rated “We Avoid”, our lowest possible score. As a shopper, you have the right to know how Skims’ production practices impact the world and its inhabitants.

It’s time Skims “gets its ass up” and starts disclosing more information about how, where, and by whom its items are produced, as well as the materials used. Transparency is crucial to ethical and sustainable fashion and is the first step towards reducing a business’ impact. The brand needs to put essential social and environmental practices in place, and with an estimated annual salary between $50 million and $80 million per year, Kim can certainly afford it.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Luckily, the Good On You team found a few “Good” and “Great” brands to choose from if you want to support your bod and the planet.

Good swaps

Sustainable alternatives to Skims

The post How Ethical Is Skims? appeared first on Good On You.