Worst Fast Fashion Brands to Avoid at All Costs

Worst Fast Fashion Brands to Avoid at All Costs

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion is a business model characterized by rapid production, use of low-quality materials, and cheap labor, aimed at selling astronomical quantities of trendy clothing, catering to the demands of consumers looking for frequent wardrobe updates. It’s a huge sector of the fashion industry today: Many of the biggest and most popular brands rely on fast fashion principles.

The fast fashion industry has been around since Zara adopted the business model in the 90s, and it’s continued to grow exponentially over the past several decades. Rapid production cycles, efficient supply chains, and aggressive pricing have made fast fashion massive. Today, consumers largely rely on the accessibility and affordability of fast fashion brands. 

What’s wrong with fast fashion?

If the low prices associated with brands like Zara, Shein, Fashion Nova, and Forever 21 (and so many more!) seem too good to be true … it’s because they are. Unfortunately, these prices come at the cost of compromised ethics and significant environmental impact, driven by a need to keep up with the frequent trend cycle. We could write an entire article about why fast fashion is bad (and we have!), but to put it simply: The rise of fast fashion brands has led to a negative environmental impact, labor exploitation, overconsumption, and even health concerns for workers and consumers alike, due to the use of toxic dyes and chemicals. 

4-8% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the fashion industry, making a huge contribution to climate change. A fast fashion retailer prioritizes profit above all else, resorting to using the cheapest possible materials to make garments without any regard for environmental impact. They use fabrics made from fossil fuels and fibers linked to deforestation and soil depletion, and their processes intensify pollution … and that just begins to scratch the surface. 

In addition to their negative impact on the environment, fast fashion companies are notorious for overworking, underpaying, and exploiting workers, with only about 2% of garment workers earning a living wage. Work conditions are often unsafe for factory workers, and unethical practices have led to crises in the pastโ€”including the collapse of a factory in Bangladesh in 2013, which killed 1,134 people and injured at least 2,000 more.

Women sewing clothes in a factory

Worst fast fashion brands to avoid in 2025 …

So, who are the major fast fashion culprits?

We know it can be difficult to figure out if a retailer is sustainable or not, so we’ve put together the following list of some of the biggest fast fashion brands to avoid as you begin (or continue) your sustainable clothing journey. If you want to improve your social and environmental footprint, stay away from the brands on this list. 

Tip: Want to make sure a fashion brand you’re considering buying from isn’t on this list? Bookmark this article and use the search function (Ctrl + F or Command + F) each time you explore a new brand. While this list doesn’t encompass all existing fast fashion brands, it’s a good starting point for your research.

  1. Abercrombie & Fitch
  2. American Eagle
  3. Anthropologie
  4. ASOS
  5. Banana Republic
  6. Bershka
  7. Boohoo
  8. Brandy Melville
  9. Buckle
  10. Cider
  11. Cotton On
  12. Edikted
  13. Esprit
  14. Express
  15. Fashion Nova
  16. Forever 21
  17. Free People
  18. GAP
  19. Garage
  20. Guess
  21. H&M
  22. Hollister
  23. Hot Topic
  24. J. Crew
  25. Lululemon
  26. Mango
  27. Missguided
  28. Miss Selfridge
  29. Nasty Gal
  30. New Look
  31. Next
  32. Oasis
  33. Old Navy
  34. PacSun
  35. Pretty Little Thing
  36. Primark
  37. Princess Polly
  38. River Island
  39. Romwe
  40. SHEIN
  41. Stradivarius
  42. Topshop
  43. UNIQLO
  44. Urban Outfitters
  45. Victoria’s Secret
  46. Wallis
  47. Wish
  48. YesStyle
  49. ZAFUL
  50. Zara

The power of consumer choices

The power of consumer choices: a man's hand holding a credit card

Youโ€™re likely familiar with the concept of supply and demand: The more buyers show desire for a product or service, the more suppliers are willing to produce it.

When consumers (thatโ€™s us!) prioritize sustainable and ethically produced fashion, we create a higher demand for these products, and fashion brands become more likely to respond to that demand. As more and more people stop financially supporting the fast fashion industry, we have the power to create real, meaningful change.

On the other hand, if we continue to financially support fast fashion brands, they have no reason to changeโ€”causing more harm to the environment and the people who make our clothes.

Itโ€™s crucial to consider the broader impact of our choices and make informed decisions with how we spend our money.

Each dollar you spend supports someone โ€ฆ so who are you choosing to support?

Affordable and sustainable alternatives to fast fashion brands โ€ฆ

Of course, itโ€™s true fast fashion is usually an inexpensive option when youโ€™re searching for clothes. While the reasons for this are problematic (underpaying workers, using cheap and unsustainable fabrics, etc.), we get it: Fast fashion is generally affordable for the average person.

If sustainable fashion brands seem too expensive for you, there are other budget-friendly alternatives to shopping fast fashion. Here are just a few: 

  • Thrift shopping and consignment stores
  • Clothing swaps
  • Renting clothes (either locally or online โ€ฆ this is an especially good option for formal events)
  • Hand me downs from family and friends
  • Upcycle what you own already
  • Attend second-hand community events

Choosing to stop supporting fast fashion may require a shift in mindset. Overconsumption is a significant problem in todayโ€™s world, and reducing the quantity of clothing purchased in favor of quality, versatility, and personal style (instead of shopping trends) can contribute to building a sustainable wardrobe you love and that will stand the test of time.

Remember, every small step counts! If youโ€™re not quite ready to completely give up fast fashion, start by simply cutting back. Pay attention to how much money you generally spend on fast fashion, then see if you can either purchase less, or direct some of that money elsewhereโ€”to a sustainable brand or a thrift store, for example.

Bright, patterned shirts hanging on a rack

Looking for sustainable fashion brands?

Let’s wrap this up on a positive note: There are many slow fashion brands working to ensure their clothes are made with sustainable materials like organic cotton, cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions and textile waste, and ensuring their garment workers are paid a fair wage in sustainable work conditions.

These clothing brands are sustainable alternatives to fast fashionโ€”so check out our Sustainable Brand Guide to give them your support. 

Related Posts

Want to dive deeper? Hereโ€™s some posts we think youโ€™ll like:

77Shares

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top