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From deforestation to labor rights violations- these are the worst fast fashion brands and tips to avoid them.
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First coined in the New York Times in the 1990s, “fast fashion” has had a meteoric rise that has simultaneously decreased our natural resources and increased landfills and waste pollution. What may have started off as good- fast fashion companies offering affordable clothing en masse- has now risen to steep environmental and ethical costs. From massive textile waste to exploitative labor practices, the industry’s impact is undeniable. This has lead many non-fast fashion companies to arise offering alternative production models and consumers looking for alternatives to build a sustainable wardrobe.
If you’re looking to shift away from fast fashion brands, this guide provides actionable strategies to curate a more conscious and long-lasting wardrobe. From understanding the “why” behind the movement to tips curated from this website, use this guide to learn how to embrace a more ethical approach to style.
The True Cost of Fast Fashion
What’s so wrong with fast fashion? Brands like H&M and Temu make really cute clothes, and we all need clothes and shoes to wear. But, behind every $5 price tag for a cotton t-shirt is another cost that is less transparent. Fast fashion companies are using Earth’s resources at an unsustainable rate. Worse still, the industry is also polluting precious resources like freshwater with toxins and microplastics. And, because of the rapid-fire model of producing new items of clothing, we as consumers have been programed to buy and waste at a model that has risen by 811% between 1960 and 2015. Perhaps, what’s worst of all, is the exploitation of the people who make these clothes, with some brands paying garment workers as little as $0.02 per item.
Knowing these facts makes it easier to quit fast fashion for good. Sustainability is more than a buzzword and fashion is about more than just a shirt; it’s about our world and its people.
Water Consumption and Pollution
Making tons of clothes uses tons of water. It’s estimated that the average t-shirt uses 2,700 liters of water. Additionally, dyeing fabrics often pollutes rivers and lakes with harmful chemicals. The fashion industry alone is estimated to be responsible for 20% of global water pollution.
Textile Waste Crisis
Since 1960, we have thrown away more and more clothes. Most of these items end up in landfills. When made of plastic-based materials like polyester, nylon, and spandex, they can take hundreds of years to break down, while these items release harmful gases like methane into the air.
Carbon Emissions in Production and Transport
All the pretty fabrics fast fashion companies have on their websites require factories to burn fossil fuels, which releases CO2, particulate matter, and toxins into the air. Additionally, these items travel around the world on ships and planes, creating more carbon emissions.
Ethical Concerns and Labor Exploitation
Garment workers often face dangerous workplaces. Some factories lack basic safety measures. Tragedies, like building collapses, have killed thousands of garment workers. Human rights organizations have exposed other violations, such as 18-hour days and no bathroom breaks. These events show how little some companies care about their workers’ lives. No shirt is worth a life.
Child Labor and Modern Slavery
Sadly, some parts of the fashion industry use child labor. Most child labor occurs in cotton fields, where children work instead of going to school. According to some reports, there are 112 million child exploited through child labor worldwide.
10 Of The Worst Fast Fashion Brands
We get it. There are a lot of brands out there. And sometimes, convenience takes precedence over the time it takes to research and read between the lines of a sustainability report when all you need is a new shirt for work. So, to help make shopping more convenient, here is a list of fast fashion brands to avoid to build a sustainable wardrobe and future.
Shein
As a billion-dollar brand adding 500 new items to its website daily, Shein’s garment workers are subjected to grueling work schedules. A 2022 report found that factory employees were subjected to 18-hour days, 7-day work weeks, and were paid as little as $0.02 per item.
H&M
While the fast fashion company has made some changes to be more sustainable, such as reducing its CO2 emissions and using recycled materials, it still has a lot of environmental and social woes. In 2018, the brand came under fire for failing to meet expectations to offer its 850,000 garment workers a living wage. In 2022 and 2025, the brand faced two lawsuits for greenwashing. And, let’s not forget that the brand churns out 3 billion garments yearly.
Temu
This fast fashion company reportedly ships 1 million packages daily. Aside from the CO2 emissions, transporting these items also contributes to single-use plastic packaging waste. Furthermore, in June and August of 2025, the company was sued for violating privacy practices by the Nebraska and Kentucky Attorney Generals.
Forever 21
A 2016 investigation by the U.S Labor Department showed that the Los Angeles factories that made Forever 21 clothing were paying workers $4 per hour. Currently, the city’s minimum wage is $18 per hour. Prior to its exploitative labor practices, the brand faced backlash when several of their purses and belts tested positive for high levels of lead.
Nike
The athleisure wear company that champions the slogan “just do it” has had a series of ethical woes over the past decade. There have been allegations of sweatshops and child labor, employee lawsuits against terrible working conditions and sexual harassment, and greenwashing lawsuits. If only the brand could just treat its employees with humanity.
Lululemon
As a brand that specializes in polyester clothing and accessories, that alone is a problem. This plastic-based material is sourced from petroleum, contributes to microplastic pollution when washed, and greenhouse gases when thrown into landfills.
Fashion Nova
In 2018, Fashion Nova was the most searched fashion brand thanks to multiple collaborations with celebrities and influencers. However, much like other fast fashion companies, Fashion Nova promotes overconsumption with its release of 600 new products weekly which are primarily made from plastic-based materials like nylon and polyester. Keeping prices low, the company has also been accused of paying its workers in Los Angeles $2.77 per hour to make all those cheap clothes.
BooHoo (Pretty Little Thing, Nasty Gal)
Sadly, Boohoo is another brand under fire for reports of slave wages, with reports showing garment workers earning as little as $4.70 per hour at its factories in the U.K. The brand, which also owns several other fast fashion labels, has a track record of workers’ rights violations from owing millions in back wages to failing to address human rights violations across its supply chains.
Zara
Similar to its counterpart H&M, Zara has taken actions to be more sustainable, such as starting a recycling program. And, just like its counterpart, it too has come under fire for safety hazards at its garment factories, failure to pay its workers, and underpaying workers. And both brands are linked to deforestation and land grabbing in Brazil.
Amazon
In 2020, the behemoth marketplace faced 37 charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board for workplace violations. There are also concerns from environmental watchdogs about the lack of transparency and regulation around hazardous chemicals, solvents, and dyes in their clothing.
Mindful Shopping Strategies to Ditch Fast Fashion
Ready to make a change? You don’t have to overhaul your entire closet overnight. Small, conscious choices not to support these brands add up. You can still love fashion without harming the world, and here are tips to help you do so.
Resist Impulse Buys
Those flash sales can be tempting, right? But buying on a whim often leads to regret. Learning to pause before you buy is a powerful tool. It helps you make smarter choices and stop buying fast fashion items you don’t truly need.
Implement a Waiting Period
Try a simple trick: don’t buy it right away. If you see something you like, wait a day or even a week. For bigger purchases, wait a month. Often, the urge to buy fades. This waiting period helps you decide if you really want or need the item.
Unsubscribe and Unfollow
Our phones and inboxes are full of tempting ads. Cut off this constant stream of temptation. Unsubscribe from brand emails. Unfollow accounts that make you want to buy new clothes.
Identify Your Triggers
What makes you buy things you don’t need? Is it boredom? Stress? Seeing a friend with a new outfit? Figure out what triggers your impulse buys. Once you know your triggers, you can find healthier ways to cope. This helps you avoid those quick fast fashion purchases.
Build a Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a game-changer. Instead of buying into trends, buy pieces for your lifestyle that you can easily mix and match. Invest in classic pieces that never go out of style- a great-fitting pair of jeans, a simple white tee, or a black blazer for endless styling options.
Embrace Pre-Loved Fashion
The most sustainable item is the one you already own. Shopping secondhand is a great way to avoid fueling fast fashion brands. Plus, these stores are full of surprises. You can find everything from fun vintage sweaters to designer bags.
Try Fashion Rental Services
Some fashion moments call for items we’ll only wear once or twice. Need a dress for a friend’s wedding? Instead of investing in something you’ll only wear once, try a rental service that lets you borrow clothes for a set time. This way, you can wear a dress once and allow someone else to rent it and wear it again.
Invest in Quality and Sustainable Brands
Sometimes, you truly need to buy something new. When that happens, make it count. Choose items that last. Look for brands that care about the planet and their workers. This is a smart way to move away from fast fashion.
Prioritize Durability Over Trends
A $3 t-shirt might seem like a good deal. But if it falls apart after a few washes, it probably isn’t. When you buy new, focus on quality. A well-made, Fair Trade, organic cotton t-shirt might cost $30, but it’s worth it to not support water pollution and slave wages and to have a piece you’ll wear for years.
Choose Natural Fabrics
Read the fabric tag. Organic cotton, linen, wool, cashmere, silk, alpaca, and hemp are all natural materials that have a smaller environmental impact than synthetic plastic fibers like polyester and nylon. Tencel, lyocell, and mulberry silk are synthetic plant-based fabrics that are also good options.
Choose Certifications and Standards
Look for special labels on clothing. Certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) mean the cotton is organic and handled well. Fair Trade certification means workers get fair wages and safe conditions. These labels help you find ethical clothes.
Look For Transparency in Supply Chains
Good brands are open about how they make their clothes. They will share where their materials come from. They will also show where their factories are. Brands that hide this information might have something to hide. Always shop for honesty.
Properly Care for Your Clothes
You already own great clothes. Learning to take care of them is a big part of sustainable fashion. Proper care makes your items last much longer. Don’t wash clothes unless they are truly dirty. Air out items between wears. When you do wash, use cold water. Cold water saves energy and is gentler on fabrics. It also helps colors stay bright.
Repair Your Wardrobe
A small hole or a loose hem, or a button doesn’t mean the end of a shirt. Fix simple issues to save items from the trash. Think of it as giving your clothes a second chance. If you can’t repair yourself, take the item to a tailor or seamstress. This investment saves a beloved piece from being tossed.
Remember these key steps: Understand fast fashion’s true costs. Pause before you buy. Build a smart capsule wardrobe. Shop secondhand often. When buying new, pick quality and ethical brands. And always care for your clothes.
Your path to a conscious closet starts now. Try one new strategy this week. Share your journey with friends. Together, we can make a difference. What will be your first step to a more sustainable style?
