Unfortunately, garment workers were not paid in the three months before the company closed, until Inditex worked with a union and other retailers such as Mango and Next to set up a “distress fund” to help the Turkish workers` group. So there you have it: 7 ethical brands that really deserve your love. In 2015, Urban Outfitters asked its employees to work for free on weekends, saying it would be a “great team-building activity.” In 2020, the company was again accused of stealing the design of an Australian indigenous artist and using it to sell outdoor rugs. The good: Zara`s parent company was one of the most transparent fast fashion brands when it comes to supply chain traceability. They require all subcontractors to undergo safety audits and participate in an ongoing review process that allows contracts to be terminated if a plant consistently fails to make improvements. For reference, Zara is owned by parent company Inditex, and I`ll look at Inditex`s reports, as Zara doesn`t have a sustainability site (a red flag in itself). Other Inditex brands are: Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home and Uterqüe. However, it has made little to no progress in paying a living wage throughout its supply chain. For a company with such a large profit margin, this is simply not enough.

We cannot know whether its workers will receive fair wages and be treated humanely, but it is very unlikely that they will be. 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 criticized for its toxic work environment. Because Old Navy`s supply chain is not certified to labor standards, it is difficult to determine whether these unethical practices have stopped. Zara certainly remains a fast fashion brand with quite significant ethical and environmental issues. I wouldn`t recommend shopping there if you can avoid it, especially since there are sustainable brands with similar sizes and prices. I will recommend them below! The Dutch brand MUD Jeans rates all subjects with “Great”! Their 100% Peta Approved vegan jeans use GOTS certified organic cotton and guarantee workers fair wages. Deadwood (good) and Monkee Genes (good) are also amazing ethical denim brands if you want to renew your wardrobe! The above ecological and ethical practices cast doubt on Zara`s “ecological” “Join Life” line, which is supposed to be sustainable due to the fabrics used. It`s great to see how Zara makes an effort, but it`s not enough to address just one aspect of its multifaceted problems. What about textile workers? Local pollution in developing countries? The thousands of clothes that still end up in landfills? Zara also continues to use materials such as wool, leather, and down in its regular collection, suggesting that it has also made strides in animal welfare. A line that uses sustainable materials is not a paving solution that can mask Zara`s deep-rooted problems in many aspects of its business model.

This type of greenwashing masks other widespread problems, and consumers need to understand that an “eco-friendly” line is not a good solution. Zara can and must do much more to deliver on its various commitments and commitments. While Zara has taken sustainability issues to heart in recent years, as evidenced by its commitments and goals, partnerships with various organizations such as Closing the Loop, and increased coverage, it remains to be seen whether these programs will lead to truly lasting change or if they are just a greenwashing tactic. All these fast fashion brands promote disposable fashion. Their business model is inherently unsustainable and unethical. They produce too much inferior clothing at too low prices and encourage consumers to buy and throw away more clothes than ever before. As a result, these brands have a huge impact on the environment and endanger the lives of textile workers.