If you are looking to splurge on your next staple piece, here are some of the top rated more ethical and sustainable luxury fashion brands for you to browse.

It would make perfect sense to assume that paying more for clothing and supporting luxury brands is a more ethical way to shop. Somehow, the hefty price tags that come with designer items must (at least in part) signify the items’ ethical production, right? Unfortunately, this is generally not the case, and many designer brands have rather damaging practices that continue to hurt our planet and its inhabitants. In fact, only one of the 30 most popular luxury brands we recently analysed managed to secure a “Good” rating.

But there’s good news: there’s a growing number of more conscious luxury brands that offer high-quality and beautiful pieces that are also more responsibly made. If you are looking to invest in your next staple piece, here are some of the top rated more sustainable luxury fashion brands for you to browse.

More sustainable luxury brands to support

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Louis Vuitton is one of the world’s most recognised luxury fashion brands thanks to its distinctive monogrammed accessories and clothing. Unfortunately, the brand isn’t doing enough when it comes to its impact on people, the planet, and animals. So, how ethical is Louis Vuitton exactly? Let’s take a look. This article is based on the Louis Vuitton rating published in June 2023 and may not reflect claims the brand has made since then. Our ratings analysts are constantly rerating the thousands of brands you can check on our directory.

Is Louis Vuitton addressing its impact on people, the planet, and animals?

Since its inception in 1854, Louis Vuitton has been synonymous with luxury, crafting iconic handbags and accessories that have become status symbols worldwide. Founded in Paris by the visionary trunk-maker Louis Vuitton, the brand’s signature monogram and commitment to craftsmanship have defined fashion for over a century.

The appointment in 2018 of the late Virgil Abloh as Louis Vuitton’s artistic director of menswear shook up the 164-year-old French fashion house, as well as the whole fashion industry. The late American designer, DJ, and stylist was originally known for being Kanye West’s creative director, before making waves with his own luxury streetwear label, Off-White—worn by the likes of Jay-Z, ASAP Rocky, Beyonce, and Rihanna. The designer’s appointment was seen as democratising luxury fashion, bringing youth culture to an elite brand, and paving the way for more exciting designers to join the house, like Pharell Williams in 2023.

But how is Louis Vuitton doing when it comes to its impact on people, the planet, and animals? Are the brand’s sustainable practices as modern as its artistic vision? In short, how ethical is Louis Vuitton?

Environmental impact

Luxury label Louis Vuitton rates “It’s A Start” for the planet, an improvement from its past “Not Good Enough” rating. While it’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain, there’s no evidence it is on track to meet said target. The brand uses some lower-impact materials and recycles some of its offcuts to minimise textile waste. Louis Vuitton has also eliminated some hazardous chemicals but has not made a commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals in manufacturing. Finally, like numerous other luxury fashion houses, Louis Vuitton also regularly burns unsold stock, contributing even further to the damaging fashion industry that values exclusivity over sustainability at every turn.

Labour conditions

Unfortunately, the brand has not improved on the labour front and still scores “Not Good Enough” for its treatment of workers across the supply chain. It received a score of 21-30% in this year’s Fashion Transparency Index. Sadly, none of its supply chain is certified by crucial labour standards that help ensure worker health and safety and other rights. There is no evidence Louis Vuitton ensures payment of a living wage in any part of its supply chain or that it implements practices to support diversity and inclusion. The brand has also taken insufficient steps to remediate its links to cotton sourced from Xinjiang, a region in China at risk of Uyghur forced labour. People are the backbone of the fashion industry and Louis Vuitton needs to do much better and provide safe and fair working conditions for all.

Animal welfare

Louis Vuitton is also still rated “Very Poor” for animals and the brand is amongst the luxury brands that score the worst for animals. It has a basic formal policy to protect animal welfare. It uses fur, leather, wool, down, exotic animal hair, and exotic animal skin. It does not use angora. It traces some animal products to the first stage of production. And while in 2020, Louis Vuitton explained that 100% of the animals used for the company’s products are “humanely farmed”, explaining that the exotic skins industry could never be considered humane, PETA quickly shut down these claims. Such a blatant disregard for the wellbeing of the sentient creatures we share the planet with is outdated, and with so many vegan fabric innovations out there, using them in such a way simply isn’t necessary any more.

Overall rating: ‘Not Good Enough’

Louis Vuitton has been rated “Not Good Enough” overall based on information from the research done by our team at Good On You. Louis Vuitton needs to become much more transparent, and do far more to reduce its impact on people, the planet, and animals in order to meet the expectations of a new generation of fashion lovers.

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.

Good swaps

“Good” and “Great” alternatives to Louis Vuitton

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Is all that glitters green? Not necessarily. Our comprehensive data on fashion brands reveals a mixed reality for the luxury sector. The gist? Despite their high price tags, many big and popular luxury brands still fall short on sustainability. The trend is more positive among smaller luxury labels, where a significant number are making commendable progress. Let’s take a closer look at the true cost of couture.

The rise of conscious luxury

In a world marked by a cost-of-living crisis and persisting inflation, the luxury fashion industry seems to stand resilient, charting its course despite the economic turbulence. In fact, McKinsey and Business of Fashion’s State of Fashion 2023 reported that while the broader fashion industry was set to grapple with uncertainty last year, the luxury sector expected a 5-10% growth, fueled primarily by the unyielding spending habits of “wealthy shoppers [who] continue to travel and spend, and thus remain more insulated from the effects of hyperinflation,” particularly in China and the United States.

As the luxury market keeps expanding, so does the call for a more conscious fashion industry. A recent report from FARFETCH underscored this shift, demonstrating a significant rise in global demand for conscious fashion and beauty products, with searches for “Conscious” product terms on FARFETCH have surged by an impressive 78% year-on-year.

Now, the big question: does shelling out big bucks for luxury labels mean you’re supporting more ethical practices? Not necessarily. Good On You’s recent assessment of 30 large luxury brands found only one scoring a “Good” overall rating. It’s time to uncover the truth behind the shimmering facade.

Here we’re taking a close look at how the most popular luxury brands measure up when it comes to their impacts on people, the planet, and animals. But before we dive in, let’s check out what Good On You’s data tells us about the sustainable landscape of the luxury fashion sector.

Luxury brands are still not doing enough

Looking at our data on luxury brands, the conclusion is pretty clear: most luxury fashion brands aren’t doing enough to improve or reduce their impact on people, the planet, and animals:

• Only 11% of large luxury brands managed to secure a “Good” or “Great” overall rating. And among the 30 most popular luxury brands we assessed for this article, only one out of 30 achieved a “Good” rating.
• A mere 12% of luxury brands manage rate “Good” or “Great” for the planet. Digging deeper, just 26% of large luxury brands have set science-based greenhouse gas emissions targets. What’s more concerning is that of those with targets, only 29% disclose whether they’re on track to meet them. When it comes to lessening their environmental footprint, large luxury fashion brands are, by and large, missing the mark.
• Most luxury brands are doing very little for people, with 75% of these brands scoring “Not Good Enough” or below. The exploitation of workers within luxury supply chains remains a pressing concern.
• According to a report by Four Paws in partnership with Good On You, the luxury sector averages a meagre 23% in commitment to animal welfare. Even with exceptions like Stella McCartney, the sector as a whole falls short.

This being said, it’s worth noting that the luxury sector operates on a different scale from fast fashion, producing less but at higher price points. While this may imply less waste and environmental pollution, it doesn’t absolve luxury brands of responsibility. In fact, it emphasises their obligation to care for workers within their supply chains. But while acknowledging differences, we firmly believe that accountability applies to all brands, irrespective of their position within the industry or price point.

The top rated luxury fashion brand on Good On You

Most of the popular luxury fashion brands we looked at score “It’s a Start” or below. Only one brand is standing out from the pack and is leading the way in luxury fashion, making substantial strides in improving conditions for people, the planet, and animals.

The post How Do the Most Popular Luxury Fashion Brands Rate? appeared first on Good On You.

While Haute Couture has long been synonymous with dreamy, one-of-a-kind creations and an elite circle of exquisite craftsmanship, a deeper look reveals that the world of high fashion often falls short when it comes to more sustainable practices, and most brands score “It’s a Start” or below. This article is based on the brands’ ratings published between August 2022 and June 2023, and may not reflect claims the brands have made since then. Our ratings analysts are constantly rerating the thousands of brands you can check on our directory.

What is Haute Couture?

Prestigious and unique in the fashion world, Haute Couture is unapologetically Parisian. Born in 19th century France, Haute Couture is often associated with elegant, elaborate, and exclusive gowns made from high quality and very often expensive fabrics. When thinking of Haute Couture, famous designer names might come to mind like Chanel, Givenchy or Dior. But you might also be wondering how sustainable these famous brands actually are.

First, let’s look at what Haute Couture means. The phrase has been misused and misunderstood for a long time, so let’s clear things up once and for all. “Couture” is French for “dressmaking”, and “Haute” means “high”. Haute Couture doesn’t just mean “high fashion” and luxurious: high fashion isn’t Haute Couture, and not all luxury houses are Haute Couture. In fact, there are precise rules for qualification.

Charles Frederick Worth, the father of Haute Couture, created the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne in the 19th century, a union that still exists and chooses who gets to be qualified as Haute Couture. To qualify as a true Haute Couture house, the fashion houses must respect several rules: designs must be made-to-order for private clients; there must be more than one fitting; the house must use an “atelier”, and employ at least 15 full-time staff. In addition to this, the fashion houses must have 20 full-time technical workers in the work room, and present a collection of at least 50 original designs in January and July during Haute Couture weeks.

It’s only after meeting these precise criteria that brands can be admitted into this very elite circle. But Haute Couture certainly doesn’t guarantee fashion houses are more ethical and sustainable.

Is Haute Couture more sustainable?

The hidden costs of luxury fashion, which Haute Couture brands are part of, can be steep. We had a look at our comprehensive data on luxury brands, and the numbers are clear: only 11% of luxury brands score “Good” or “Great” overall. In fact, only two of the Haute Couture brands we have rated score “It’s a Start” or above. What’s more, most luxury brands are still doing very little for people, with 75% of these brands scoring “Not Good Enough” or below. 111 out of 174 (63%) large luxury brands in our database, including most of the brands listed below, were also flagged as not paying a living wage at any stage in the supply chain.

This being said, it’s important to acknowledge that Haute Couture brands operate on a very different scale from, say, fast fashion brands. They produce less but at higher price points. This distinction impacts the scope of sustainability issues faced. While Haute Couture brands’ higher price tags don’t make them inherently more ethical, their lower production volume may imply less waste and environmental pollution compared to their fast fashion counterparts. However, this doesn’t absolve them of responsibility. In fact, it places even greater emphasis on their obligation to care for the workers within their supply chains. While we recognise the differences between Haute Couture brands and the rest of the industry, we believe that all brands must be held accountable for their actions.

Consumers play a crucial role in doing just that. As individuals and citizens, we hold the power to drive change with our choices. By making informed decisions and supporting brands that prioritise human rights and sustainability, we can send a powerful message to the fashion industry.

Let’s take a look at the ratings for some of the most famous Haute Couture brands.

Haute Couture brands conscious consumers are better off avoiding

This list contains brands rated our bottom two scores of “Not Good Enough” and “We Avoid”. The conscious consumer should steer clear of supporting these harmful or opaque brands, which are either making no moves to change their production practices for the better or simply don’t publish enough (or any) information about their current practices. You have a right to know how the products you buy impact the issues you care about.

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Gucci is one of the oldest luxury Italian brands in the world. So how ethical is Gucci? We’re happy to report the brand is making some commendable progress, especially when it comes to minimising its impact on the environment. Today, we delve into the brand’s “It’s a Start” rating. This article is based on the Gucci rating published in June 2023 and may not reflect claims the brand has made since then. Our ratings analysts are constantly rerating the thousands of brands you can check on our directory.

On the right path

The logo, colours, and products are recognisable anywhere: two interlocking “Double-Gs”, red and green stripes, a monogrammed belt, timeless bags, and Instagrammable loafers. Yes, today we’re having a look at one of the oldest luxury Italian brands in the world: Gucci.

Founded in 1921 in Florence, Italy, by Guccio Gucci (hence the “Double-G” monogram), the brand started as a leather goods manufacturer. Despite a tumultuous history, Gucci has slowly grown to be one of the most popular brands of the last decade. This success—and profitability—is partly due to its creative director, Alessandro Michele, who reinvented the Gucci identity after being appointed in 2015 and who stepped down in November of 2022 to be replaced by Sabato De Sarno.

We thought it was time to dive into Gucci’s practices and policies and ask: how is Gucci impacting people, the planet, and animals? How ethical is Gucci?

Environmental impact

Let’s start with some encouraging news: Gucci’s environmental rating is “Good”. The brand has set a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its operations and supply chain, and is on track to meet its target. It has a policy to protect biodiversity throughout its supply chain, uses low-waste cutting techniques to maximise fabric use, and it reduces chromium and other hazardous chemicals from its leather tanning processes.

Gucci also uses some lower-impact materials, like in its past circular line, Gucci Off The Grid. The brand says it “uses recycled, organic, bio-based, and sustainably sourced materials”. The brand’s genderless collections also included items made from ECONYL, organic cotton, recycled steel, and regenerated polyamide. While we would like to see Gucci include more lower-impact materials as standard, its science-based approach to managing the impact of outlying materials is a big plus. Way to go, Gucci.

Labour conditions

Now, when it comes to labour, Gucci’s previous middling “It’s a Start” rating has risen to “Good”. Gucci’s supply chain auditing program is certified by Social Accountability International – SA8000 (including all of the final stages of production), and the brand publishes some information about suppliers, supplier policies, audits, and remediation processes. The brand received an increased score of 51-60% in the 2022 Fashion Transparency Index, and it now has a comprehensive policy to support diversity and inclusion in its direct operations, though not in its supply chain. It’s also good to see the Italian brand disclose policies to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19, and most notably, it now claims to have a program to improve wages, but so far there’s no solid evidence it ensures its workers are paid living wages in most of its supply chain.

Animal welfare

Animal welfare is where Gucci is letting down the team, with its score dropping from “Not Good Enough” to our lowest possible score of “Very Poor” in its recent review. While it’s good to see a high end luxury brand taking solid action like banning fur and angora, as well as having a formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of animal welfare, Gucci still uses leather, wool, exotic animal skin, shearling, exotic animal hair, and silk. It also uses down certified by the Responsible Down Standard. And while it traces most animal-derived materials to the first production stage, its continued use of cruel exotic materials such as python and crocodile brings its score down. We couldn’t give Gucci’s animal section a rating higher than “Very Poor” for all these reasons.

Overall rating: It’s a Start

So, how ethical is Gucci? Overall, we gave the Kering-owned brand a rating of “It’s a Start”. Gucci is making some commendable progress, especially when it comes to minimising its impact on the environment and improving practices for its workers. Its use of some lower-impact materials and efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions are good first steps. However, the Italian brand still has much to do regarding its impact on people and animals: Gucci needs to ensure it pays workers a living wage, and it should also use less (and less cruel) animal-derived materials.

Gucci truly is a modern and exciting brand, and we’re happy to see a luxury brand committed to creating positive change for the planet and its inhabitants.

See the rating.

If you’re a fashion-lover like us, are a fan of the Gucci aesthetic, and you want to save the planet, then you’ll be happy to know we found some cool, more sustainable alternatives to Gucci. Keep scrolling to discover these green, edgy, and sophisticated labels like Gucci.

Don’t forget you can also buy Gucci pre-owned. Buying second hand is one of the most sustainable ways to shop, and we love to recommend labels and designers you can buy pre-loved so you can keep clothes from landfill by giving them a second life. You can find amazing vintage Gucci items at Vestiaire Collective.

Good swaps

Our favourite “Good” and “Great” alternatives to Gucci.

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

Most luxury brands aren’t doing enough for people

Behind the shimmering facade of luxury fashion lies a dark side that often goes unnoticed. Contrary to popular belief, the higher price tags attached to luxury brands do not necessarily guarantee more ethical or sustainable practices. In fact, the hidden costs of luxury fashion can be steep, with many brands still not doing enough to protect workers in the supply chain.

We had a look at our comprehensive data on luxury brands, and the numbers are clear: only 11% of luxury brands score “Good” or “Great” overall, and only 4.77% of luxury brands score “Good” or “Great” on labour. That means most luxury brands are doing very little for people, with 75% of these brands scoring “Not Good Enough” or below.

Exploitative labour practices are pervasive within the fashion industry, and luxury brands are no exception. “Despite enormous revenues, luxury brands have been found to be among the poorest performers in terms of addressing risks of forced labour within garment supply chains.

Data from the Clean Clothes Campaign also showed that the living wage gap for workers linked to luxury brands assessed by Walk Free and WikiRate was significantly higher (53%) than for non-luxury brands (38%),” reports Walk Free in its latest Global Slavery Index. We found similar numbers with 111 out of 174 (63%) large luxury brands in our database being flagged as not paying a living wage at any stage in the supply chain.

Throughout the world, workers at the lower end of the supply chain—from garment factories to raw material producers—often endure deplorable conditions. In 2018, a New York Times investigation found that some workers in Italy making garments for luxury brands, such as MaxMara, Louis Vuitton and Fendi were doing so from their home for as little as €2 an hour and without contracts or insurance.

Adding to the complexity is the lack of transparency within the fashion industry. This opacity shields luxury brands from accountability, allowing human rights violations to persist unchecked. The intricate and convoluted supply chains of luxury brands further compound the issue. With numerous subcontractors and outsourced manufacturing, monitoring and regulating labour conditions becomes increasingly challenging.

There are signs that things are moving in the right direction, though. In its latest Fashion Transparency Index, Fashion Revolution reported that of all the 250 brands in the index, the biggest increases this year came from Gucci, Armani, Jill Sander, Miu Miu, and Prada. “After years of the luxury fashion sector dragging its feet on transparency, the five biggest movers this year are all luxury brands,” reports Fashion Revolution.

But we’re not quite there yet, and addressing these issues requires comprehensive, systemic solutions. Governments and industry bodies must implement and enforce robust regulations to protect workers’ rights and ensure supply chain transparency. It is essential to hold luxury brands accountable for their actions and demand higher ethical standards.

This being said, it’s important to acknowledge that the luxury sector operates on a different scale from fast fashion, producing less but at higher price points. This distinction impacts the scope of sustainability issues faced. While luxury brands’ higher price tags don’t make them inherently more ethical, as we’ve seen, their lower production volume may imply less waste and environmental pollution compared to their fast fashion counterparts. However, this doesn’t absolve them of responsibility. In fact, it places even greater emphasis on their obligation to care for the workers within their supply chains. While we recognise the differences between luxury brands and the rest of the industry, we believe that all brands must be held accountable for their actions.

Consumers play a crucial role in doing just that. As individuals and citizens, we hold the power to drive change with our choices. By making informed decisions and supporting brands that prioritise human rights and sustainability, we can send a powerful message to the fashion industry.

How labour conditions and human rights are considered in our rating system

One of the three core pillars of the Good On You rating system is labour conditions. So what do we investigate when scoring brands on labour?

On our How We Rate Fashion Brands’ page, we give a high-level overview on what issues we consider when rating brands. Our rigorous ratings methodology evaluates up to 1000 data points across more than 100 key issues, indicators, and standards systems to arrive at each brand’s score. For the people pillar, we determine how well brands address their impacts on workers across the supply chain. This includes policies and practices on child labour, forced labour, worker safety, freedom of association (ie the right to join a union), gender equality, diversity, and payment of a living wage.

We consider how well brands ensure that their policies are implemented, answering essential questions like: Do they empower workers, have supportive supplier relationships, and conduct meaningful audits? Do their policies protect workers from the impacts of COVID-19 and public health crises? Are workers treated and compensated fairly? Do they avoid sourcing from areas with high risk of modern slavery, such as cotton from Xinjiang?

The luxury brands conscious consumers are better off avoiding

Luxury brands that score ‘Very Poor’ or ‘Not Good Enough’ for people

• Barbour
• Moschino
• Maison Margiela
• Christian Louboutin
• Christopher John Rogers
• OFF-WHITE
• Heron Preston
• Alberta Ferretti
• Victoria Beckham
• Tom Ford
• Alexander Wang
• VERA WANG

Brands that have been implicated in human rights violations

All of the following brands receive a “Not Good Enough” score for people and have been linked to human rights issues in recent years. While this list is not exhaustive, it provides an overview of some of the most popular luxury brands in the market that have been implicated in human rights violations.

Fay (Tod’s)

What the rating has to say

Fay’s people rating is “Not Good Enough”. None of its supply chain is certified by crucial labour standards that help ensure worker health and safety, living wages, and other rights. It received a score of 0-10% in the 2022 Fashion Transparency Index. It has a basic policy to support diversity and inclusion in its direct operations, but there’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.

Good to know

Tod’s, Fay’s parent company, was mentioned in a 2016 Clean Clothes Campaign report on poor labour conditions in shoe supply chains and has not responded to allegations.

See the rating.

Ralph Lauren

What the rating has to say

Ralph Lauren’s people rating is “Not Good Enough”. Little of its supply chain is certified by labour standards which ensure worker health and safety, living wages, or other labour rights. There is no evidence it implements practices to support diversity and inclusion in most of its supply chain, nor does it appear to pay a living wage.

Good to know

In 2022, the BBC revealed that workers in Indian factories working for Ralph Lauren were routinely exploited. “Women working at a Ralph Lauren supplier said they had been forced to stay overnight to complete orders, sometimes requiring them to sleep on the factory floor,” reports the BBC.

See the rating.

The post The Luxury Brands Exploiting Garment Workers You’re Better Off Avoiding appeared first on Good On You.

Balenciaga is a luxury brand known for revolutionising women’s fashion. In this article, we dive into the brand’s “It’s a Start” rating, which was published in June 2023 and may not reflect claims the brand has made since then. Our ratings analysts are constantly rerating the thousands of brands you can check on our directory.

Is Balenciaga an ethical and sustainable brand?

Luxury fashion house Balenciaga was founded in 1919 by Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in San Sebastián. Based in Paris since 1937, Balenciaga rose to fame for its revolutionary silhouettes and modernisation of women’s fashion. These days, it is most well known for its motorcycle-inspired handbags but features a wide range of luxury clothes, shoes, and accessories for men and women. The Kering-owned brand has been making some efforts to reduce its environmental impact, but how is it doing for workers and animals? All in all, how ethical is Balenciaga?

Environmental impact

Our planet rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Care for the planet is where Balenciaga stands out, earning a “Good” rating, our second-highest score. Not only has it set a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its operations and supply chain, unlike many other large brands, it is actually on track to meet said target.

It has a policy approved by CanopyStyle to prevent deforestation of ancient and endangered forests in its supply chain and uses some lower-impact materials. including recycled materials. It also reduces chromium and other hazardous chemicals from the leather tanning processes. You can find these applaudable efforts across the entire Kering family of luxury brands.

While Balenciaga offers resale of second hand products, there’s no evidence it’s taking further action to address textile waste in its supply chain, which is an area we would love to see it improve in.

Labour conditions

Workers’ rights are central to our people rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Balenciaga has made progress on its labour conditions, and its score in this area jumped to “It’s a Start” in a recent re-rate.

Most of its final production stage is undertaken in the European Union a low to medium risk region for labour abuse, and it claims to have a program to improve wages, but there’s no evidence it ensures its workers are paid living wages in most of its supply chain.

It received a middling score of 41-50% in the Fashion Transparency Index, as it publishes some information about its supply chain and labour policies. It also implements practices to encourage diversity and inclusion in its direct operations but not its supply chain.

Overall, Balenciaga has some more work to do to achieve a higher rating for those who make the clothes the label is so famous for.

Animal welfare

Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our animals rating.

Unfortunately, Balenciaga’s animal rating dropped back down to “Not Good Enough” in the latest review. It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of animal welfare. The brand appears to use leather, shearling, exotic animal hair, and silk. It does use wool as well, but Responsible Wool Standard certifies some of the wool it sources.
It doesn’t appear to use down, fur, angora, or exotic animal skin, which is positive, and it traces most animal-derived materials to the first production stage. There is still work to do here too for our animal friends, like reducing the animal-derived materials in its line.

Overall rating: ‘It’s a Start’

So, how ethical is Balenciaga? Overall, we gave it a rating of “It’s a Start” in our latest review. Similarly to its Kering siblings, Balenciaga needs to work more on its labour and animal welfare practices to improve its score in those areas. It could work to implement living wages in its supply chain and phase out more animal materials. We would also like to see a transition to a higher percentage of lower-impact materials in the range, and more work done to address waste in the supply chain.

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.

Balenciaga pre-owned is a decent option for your luxury fashion needs, but we’ve found some “Good” and “Great” alternatives to look into as well.

Good swaps

Other highly-rated responsible brands like Balenciaga.

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Discover the LVRSustainable section of LuisaViaRoma that is a must-see for any fashion lovers looking to inject some sustainability into their wardrobes, featuring a range of responsible brands doing better by people, the planet, and animals in production.

What started as a humble family-owned boutique in Florence in the early 1900s has grown into an expansive luxury e-retailer well known in the fashion world: LuisaViaRoma. While the company has always cared about its customers and been involved in charity, in late 2019 it went a step further by creating its LVRSustainable section that is a must-see for any fashion lovers looking to inject some sustainability into their wardrobes.

Luxury leader LuisaViaRoma recognised that sustainable and ethical fashion was a cause well worth getting onboard with as consumers became more conscious of the impact of their shopping habits. But they weren’t just jumping on a trend—according to Maria Fernanda Hernandez, head of sustainability and global communications, the movement inspired them to “make a change and find initiatives that foster social responsibility and sensitisation about the environmental and social difficulties we are facing”.

LVRSustainable was born out of a need for a shift in the fashion industry that prioritises the protection of people, the planet, and animals. LuisaViaRoma knows they have a responsibility to embody these ever-important principles in light of their impressive ~35 million visitors per year from all around the globe, and this new curated collection helps them do just that.

Shop what matters most to you

LVRSustainable is dedicated to offering a curated selection of the best more sustainable brands, as well as special collaborations with renowned non-profits, brands, and organisations to benefit social causes. The goal of LVRSustainable is to build a global mindful community and to promote creativity by supporting conscious fashion across a selection of categories: ethical trade, organic, women’s empowerment, low impact, luxury craftsmanship, vegan, community engagement, and recycling and upcycling. While browsing the collection of over 170 brands for men, women, children, and the home, you can filter by one or more of these causes to ensure you are supporting what matters most to you—and they ship worldwide.

To dive deeper into what philanthropy and conscious business means to LuisaViaRoma, be sure to read our interview with CSO Luisa Panconesi, who shared insights with us into the company’s opportunity to make a great deal of change in the industry.

Our favourite responsible brands from LVRSustainable

LVRSustainable features a whole host of “Good” and “Great” rated brands. Here are a few of our favourites.

The post Discover the Best Responsible Brands with LVRSustainable appeared first on Good On You.

Luxury shoes are a coveted investment for many shoppers, but in the burgeoning era of conscious consumerism, how do the top luxury footwear brands rate for their impact on people, the planet, and animals? The following brands’ ratings were published on the dates per listing and may not reflect claims the brands have made since then. Our ratings analysts are constantly rerating the thousands of brands you can check on our directory.

A luxury mission changed

When I started researching this topic, I was expecting to write a guide to the luxury brands doing better in the footwear category. Unfortunately, that’s not what came back after our expert ratings team reviewed the relevant brands.

The reality is, despite popular belief, luxury does not necessarily mean better—quality or ethics. In fact, of the top 28 luxury footwear brands we looked at, only two came out with “Good” or “Great” ratings. Eight rank “It’s a Start”, and the rest rate low on the scale with “Not Good Enough” or “We Avoid” ratings.

Some of the most common reasons luxury footwear brands rank so low on the ethics and sustainability ladder is their continued use of damaging and harmful materials like polyester, leather, and exotic animal skins, and their lack of action to ensure payment of living wages.

So, whether you’re searching for your next pair of luxury shoes or just curious how the popular brands score in Good On You’s methodology, this one’s for you.

Why you can trust our recommendations

At Good On You, our mission is to make it as easy as possible to buy products that meet your needs, from brands that live up to your expectations in relation to their environmental and social performance and how they impact animals. We also support the motto “buy less, buy better” which looks like opting for high-quality, timeless, trend-transcending pieces you need that are designed for longevity so they last for many years to come.

As ever, the most sustainable choice to make is the one already in your closet. Whether that means taking care of your clothes, getting them mended or tailored, or mixing and matching to keep things fresh. The next best option is to swap or shop second hand. But sometimes you must buy new, and that’s where our expert ratings system comes into play.

We’ve rated over 5,000 brands in an easy-to-understand five-point system, and below we have curated a list of t-shirts by some of the best rated brands in the Good On You directory.

As you know, ensuring fair wages and decent working conditions for the people behind our clothes is crucial for a more fair and ethical fashion industry. It’s not just about the materials or the environmental impact—it’s also about the human impact. That’s why our selection of brands creating more affordable and sustainable t-shirts have all received at least a “Good” rating for labour conditions. These brands prioritise more responsible practices. By choosing t-shirts from these brands, you can feel confident that your purchase supports a more equitable fashion industry, where the people making our clothes are treated with the respect and fairness they deserve.

Luxury footwear brands worth a look in

Brands rated ‘Good’ and ‘Great’

The following brands are leading the way in luxury fashion that is doing better for people, the planet, and animals, and are your best bet if you are in the market for new luxury shoes.

The post The Best and Worst Designer and Luxury Shoe Brands We’ve Rated appeared first on Good On You.

Meet FUTURA Jewelry, a luxury jewellery brand with modern values at its core, crafted from 18kt certified Fairmined mercury-free gold.

Embracing responsible luxury with mercury-free mined gold

After 30 years in the luxury jewellery industry, FUTURA’s founder Bob Donofrio discovered the harsh reality of the environmental impact of mining gold for jewellery production: 99% of the world’s gold supply is produced by emitting toxic chemicals, including mercury and cyanide, into the ecosystem, and 38% of the world’s mercury emissions come from unregulated gold mining.

As most of this gold is used in jewellery production, Donofrio’s mission was to create a brand that would lead to change within the luxury jewellery industry and directly impact the reduction of mercury emissions. In New York in 2017, FUTURA was born, a conscious luxury jewellery brand that is leading the industry to adopt clean gold mining practices that will lead to a global reduction in mercury emissions.

As a jewellery industry leader, once I discovered the truth about mercury emissions and small-scale gold mining, I was overcome with an overwhelming desire to get involved and contribute to solving the problem.

Robert Donofrio – Founder

FUTURA decided to become a partner of the UN in support of the Minamata Convention in 2017, when 105 countries agreed to sign the treaty with a mission to “protect millions of children and infants from possible neurological and health damage. Governments that are party to the Minamata Convention are now legally bound to take a range of measures to protect human health and the environment by addressing mercury throughout its lifecycle.” After becoming a UN partner, Donofrio became familiar with the Fairmined Initiative and knew it aligned with his vision for a better jewellery industry for our health and the health of our planet.

Read on to discover more about how this “Great” brand is working to provide consumers with a more ethical, sustainable, and traceable fine jewellery option that gives them the power to positively improve the future of our planet.

Planet: Mercury-free

FUTURA Jewelry receives our highest score of “Great” for the environment. Its stunning pieces are handcrafted with mercury-free mined 18kt certified Fairmined Ecological gold, significantly reducing their climate impact and helping to bolster a less damaging jewellery industry overall. The brand ensures wastewater is treated and discharged properly in its supply chain, uses plastic-free packaging, and makes products to-order to further minimise waste.

“Our gold comes from the three certified Fairmined mines in the world that mine for gold without the use of toxic chemicals including mercury and cyanide,” the team tells us. “Our gold is setting the standard for the future—for the jewellery industry and for the planet. By eliminating the use of toxic mercury in mining, we eliminate the impact of harmful mercury emissions to our planet to create a safer future for everyone.”

People: Fairmined

Fairmined gold isn’t just beneficial for the planet: it ensures that the health and safety of workers, surrounding communities, and consumers are given the utmost priority. The use of mercury in mining leads to widespread contamination of the ecosystem, including soil, waterways, and wildlife. It can cause dire health effects, with inhaled mercury leading to neurological damage and other health issues, so avoiding it is crucial.

FUTURA Jewelry ensures that everyone along the supply chain has safe working conditions, stability, and gender equality. It traces its entire supply chain and provides living wages, well-deserving a “Great” rating for people.

Note: This brand makes products that are generally free of animal materials so it is not applicable to rate its impact on animals. We calculate the overall rating from environment and labour scores only.

Overall rating: Great

Thanks to its essential work in mercury-emissions reduction, transparency, and responsible practices along the supply chain, FUTURA Jewelry receives our highest score of “Great” overall.

FUTURA is about offering consumers the ability to make a personal choice that aligns with their beliefs around humanity, and collectively collaborating for the future of the planet and for human rights through making smarter, more compassionate choices.

Robert Donofrio – Founder

Make a sustainable statement with the Link bracelet

Created to represent the link between elegance and eco-consciousness, FUTURA’s new Link bracelet is a stunning statement piece that exemplifies commitment to a better future for our planet.

Crafted from 18kt Fairmined Ecological Gold, this bracelet is a work of art. Its design is both timeless and modern, making it the perfect addition to any jewellery collection. “However, the Link bracelet is not just a beautiful piece of jewellery,” says FUTURA. “It is also a symbol of hope for a better future.”

Shop the Link bracelet.

Our 10 favourite handcrafted pieces by FUTURA Jewelry

FUTURA Jewelry pieces not only do great, they look and feel great. The impeccable craftsmanship is evident in the design, weight, balance, and feel that goes into making each piece. The master artisans who create the jewellery have been in the industry for decades, so “there is a bit of history, centuries of craft, and ingenuity in every piece of FUTURA jewellery.”

This is jewellery you can wear with pride, as each piece of FUTURA jewellery sold directly reduces mercury emissions that emanate from small-scale gold mining and supports the United Nations’ mission to eliminate the harmful threat of mercury emissions to the planet. Here are our 10 favourites from the collection, all handcrafted in NYC with 18kt certified Fairmined Ecological gold that is toxic chemical free, sustainable, ethical, and clean.

Astrid Ring

This stunning hand woven ethically-sourced gold ring hails from the Viking era and was a popular style worn and treasured by both men and women.

800BC Ring

Originally hailing from its namesake, the 800BC ring is a true unique work. Ancient Greeks would wear gold spirals in their hair, and FUTURA has modernised the design by crafting a unique sustainable gold ring you can wear and treasure forever.

Le Trou Ring

Le Trou from “the hole” in French is an iconic ring originally designed by artist Man Ray. The wearer of this ring would look through the telescoping hole which is meant to alter the viewer’s perception of reality, making this a true Surrealist work of art.

Orbit Hoops

The Orbit gold hoops are a legendary twist on the classic hoop, designed by Renowned Jeweller Art Smith in Greenwich Village.

Adeia Necklace

Handcrafted link-by-link, this classic Roman style is one of the oldest known styles of chain found across the globe dating back as far as 2500BC. Featuring beechnut pendants or “leaf” shape motifs that symbolise the Greek goddess Diana who reigned over forests and woodlands.

Eterna Chain Necklace

Another classic Roman-style chain handcrafted link-by-link, the Eterna is a simple yet timeless design crafted ethically from Fairmined gold.

Endure Ring

The belt is a 300 year old motif that was mostly popular in 19th Century England for its strong symbolism of loyalty, strength, and eternity. Today, the Endure ring is a truly modern design that has just as much meaning and beauty as it did when it was originally made in 1840.

Puzzle Earrings

Release 07 originates from California, and was designed in the 1950’s by jeweller and artist Milton Cavagnaro who was inspired by the surrounding Bay Area landscape and the Bauhaus and Surrealists movements.

Love Locket

The striking gold Love Locket was designed to keep your loved ones close. Handmade in the brand’s 18kt Fairmined Ecological gold, the Love Locket features a beautiful embossing of Mother Earth on both sides, wrapped in a closed belt to represent what we hold to be most precious.

Ethereal Ring

This stunning laurel wreath design was Inspired by the ancient Greeks, symbolising peace and victory. The Ethereal wedding ring is a timeless symbol of your love and will be treasured forever.

Finally, the Forever FUTURA collection is perfect if you love elegant stacking rings.

The post The Future of Jewellery is Compassionate with ‘Great’ Brand FUTURA appeared first on Good On You.

How ethical and sustainable are luxury fabrics?

From cashmere to silk, luxurious fabrics have captivated us with their silky softness, stunning drapes, and enduring quality.

But the production of these materials can be far from the idyllic images they evoke. For example, the real cost of cashmere production is often felt by goats who, when sheared too early, can freeze to death, or by their herders who face low wages and poor working conditions.

As you become increasingly aware of the impact your fashion choices have on people, the planet, and animals, it is more important than ever to learn how these expensive fibres are made and whether you should invest in them.

How are these luxury fabrics made? And what is the true cost associated with the production of these materials? Let’s have a look.

Choose materials based on your values

We appreciate that materials and fibres in fashion is a complex issue. Through our research, we found there is no established hierarchy of sustainability for materials in the fashion industry, and very limited comparable data (eg Life Cycle Analysis). What is clear is that every single material on the market today has some sort of trade off and impact on the planet and a mixture of preferred materials is needed going forward.

At Good On You, we do our best to make sense of the complex materials world by independently analysing the information that is out there and consulting with industry experts. We recognise that the impacts of a given material can vary based on where and how it was produced. We also welcome all the innovation around novel materials. But as always, we are looking for solid science to assess them against all the main areas of environmental impact

Our list of lower-impact materials is not static and is constantly evolving as more research and data comes to light.

We believe that you are the final decision maker when choosing materials for yourself. Figure out what is most important to you and let information guide your process.

Of course, materials are not the only issue a brand should be addressing. For example, a brand using linen but not addressing greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain, hazardous chemicals in dyeing, textile waste, or labour rights issues is far from best practice, but using more sustainable materials is a good base upon which to build a responsible brand.

To learn more about our process for ranking brands and materials, be sure to check out our How We Rate page

Silk

Silk is said to have been invented in China in the 4th century and is known for its strength, smoothness, and sheen. It is also known for its wrinkle resistance and ability to keep its shape.

Silk is spun from the long threads that make up a silkworm’s inner cocoon. The fibres are, in reality, saliva produced by the worm to insulate itself until it is time to transform. Silk is made by harvesting the raw silk threads and then reeling them together for commercial use. The silkworms are killed during the process of extracting the silk.

Alternatives to the silk-making process are possible. Ahimsa silk, also known as “peace silk”, allows the moth to evacuate the cocoon before being boiled. Some silks fall under the Ahimsa umbrella include “Eri silk” and “Tussar silk”. Unfortunately, peace silk isn’t very good for the environment.

When it comes to buying silk or its alternatives, check sources to ensure that you don’t buy into exploitation or environmental destruction.

Cashmere

Cashmere is one of the rarest and most luxurious fibres in the world. This exceptionally silky material is said to be three times as warm as wool and is known to be long-lasting. However, cashmere is less sustainable than you might think: the goats this fibre comes from being the first to pay the price of cheap cashmere production. As they have very little fat, shearing them too early mid-winter means they can freeze to death. Cashmere production can also have a social impact—there’s growing concern about the working conditions of cashmere goat herders.

The increased demand for cashmere has meant herd sizes have increased, driving the desertification of Mongolian grasslands. And climate change is exacerbating these impacts: the changes in temperature in Mongolia have meant poor quality cashmere, as goats need to be sheared in a narrow range of temperatures.

People used to pay a lot more for cashmere than they do today. This isn’t unique to cashmere, as the fast fashion industry continues to spew out all kinds of garments for lower market prices while the people, planet. and animals foot the true costs.

As more people (particularly those in the West) demand more cashmere knitwear, an industry that requires four goats to be combed for a single sweater has had to ramp up its pace. This has led to far lower welfare standards for goats and reduced payments to herders and industry workers, causing socio-economic struggles.

While goats are not killed to produce cashmere, they are treated as commodities in the industry, and they don’t get to live out their entire lifespan, as once their hair thins and brittles with age, they are slaughtered.

If you want to invest in cashmere, we’d recommend looking at second hand options first, then recycled cashmere.

Pashmina

Like cashmere, pashmina is a fibre derived from goats, but they are different in terms of the type of goat and the quality of the thread.

Pashmina comes from the fine, soft undercoat of the Changthangi goat, which is native to India’s high-altitude region of Ladakh. The fibre is finer and softer than cashmere, but it is also more delicate and prone to pilling.

Pashmina production encounters the same issues as that of cashmere. Climate change is also said to have a dramatic impact on Pashmina production and the goats’ nomadic shepherds, the Changpa people. Warmer winters reduce the quality and quantity of the valuable Pashmina wool, reducing the returns for herders and weavers, who have significantly reduced in numbers as a result.

What’s more, to meet the ever-increasing demand for Pashmina, producers have started importing raw Pashmina from China and Mongolia: “Although the goats are the same breed, they are not reared in the extreme conditions required to stimulate the growth of the super-soft undercoat required to be considered 100% pure Pashmina”, says Andrew Newey for CNN.

If you’d like to add a pashmina shawl to your wardrobe, have a look at your local thrift store or on vintage online marketplaces for some second hand options.

Mohair

Mohair is a luxurious, strong, and durable fabric that is made from the hair of the Angora goat, which lives in the mountainous regions of Turkey. Known for its softness, warmth, and durability, mohair is a popular choice for sweaters, coats, and scarves. Despite its delicate appearance, mohair fibres are surprisingly strong, resisting pilling and matting even after repeated wear and washing.

However, according to PETA, mohair production negatively impacts the environment: goats must be fed between 40 and 50 pounds of high-quality feed to produce one pound of mohair, which can lead to land degradation due to overstocking and overgrazing.

Like cashmere and pashmina, we recommend buying mohair second hand.

Merino wool

Merino wool is a fine, soft, and durable wool that comes from Merino sheep, a species found mainly in Australia and New Zealand. The fabric is prized for its warmth, breathability, and softness.

However, the impact of wool production, including Merino wool, on the planet and animals is significant. There is controversy over the practice of mulesing the sheep (cutting away skin to reduce flystrike, usually done without anaesthetic), and we recommend against purchasing wool from mulesed sheep for this reason. Keep in mind mulesing is one small aspect of sheep husbandry, and even mulesing-free wool can have other welfare concerns.

Industrial scale livestock grazing can also increase land clearing and degradation. Though more holistic land management methods for grazing livestock animals are gaining popularity and support, they aren’t yet widely practised. Wool that is “superwashed” (aka infused with plastic) or blended with synthetic fabrics also loses its biodegradability.

Wool certified by the Responsible Wool Standard, ZQ Merino Standard, or the Soil Association Organic Standards can be better options, bearing in mind that the animal welfare guarantees differ.

Vicuña

Vicuña is a delicate and lightweight type of wool that is taken from the vicuña, a member of the camel family, which lives in the high mountains of South America.

The fabric is known for its warmth, softness, durability, and lightness. It is also one of the most expensive and rarest of all wools, as vicuñas can only be sheared every three years.

Unfortunately, due to the rarity of the vicuña and the high demand for its lustrous wool, the animal is often over-hunted, and its habitat threatened as a result. We recommend steering clear of this fibre.

Alpaca wool

Another type of wool from South America, alpaca wool, is a luxurious, soft, and lightweight wool taken from the alpaca, a relative of the llama. Alpaca wool is also known to be hypoallergenic and prized for its warmth and breathability.

Some people consider alpaca wool a kind alternative to sheep’s wool, as it is often marketed as small-scale and sustainable in the industry. Unfortunately, an investigation into the leading production country of alpaca wool, Peru, has shown the opposite to be true. Following the release of footage showing alpacas suffering as they are tied down for shearing, even UNIQLO has banned the fibre.

Opt for second hand alpaca wool or go for an alternative.

Linen

Linen is one of the most biodegradable fabrics in fashion history. It’s strong, moth resistant, and made from flax plant fibres, so it’s fully biodegradable when untreated (ie not dyed).

Linen can withstand high temperatures and absorbs moisture without holding bacteria.

Linen is one of the better options on the market—just be sure to purchase garments in its naturally occurring shades of ivory, ecru, tan, and grey, and especially avoid bright white linen, which has to go through an intensive bleaching process.

Go for organic linen, one of our top ranked materials, to ensure no harmful chemicals were used in production.

Egyptian cotton

Egyptian cotton is made from Gossypium Barbadense, a plant that produces long-staple cotton and which is grown in the Nile Delta and other parts of Egypt. The fabric was invented in the 18th century and is prized for its ability to remain soft and wrinkle-resistant even after multiple washings.

Like cotton, Egyptian cotton is a naturally-occurring fibre, but claims of pollution, exploitation, and slavery nevertheless haunt its production. What’s more, while Egyptian cotton refers solely to cotton made from Gossypium Barbadense, Egyptian cotton is often incorrectly used as a marketing term to include any cotton grown in Egypt.

If you can, go for garments made with recycled or certified organic cotton instead.

Fur

Traditionally, fur was worn as a source of warmth and protection. For centuries, animals were killed for meat, with their pelts providing a practical and durable material that would keep people safe from the elements. In the 20th century, fur became a regular feature of luxury fashion when Hollywood stars appeared draped in exotic pelts. Since then, fur has been marketed as a measure of wealth and glamour—expensive and desirable.

As fur’s popularity grew, fur farming became big business. At the same time, the animals involved became commodified—opening the door to inhumane practices, like being skinned alive. For many of us, wearing fur is simply cruel and to be avoided at all costs. Campaign groups such as PETA have long highlighted the inhumane practices of fur farms. That isn’t to mention all the environmental and labour issues fur-farming has, many the same as leather.

An ethical consumer motivated by the interests of animals would avoid any new product made from fur. At Good On You, we take a zero-tolerance approach to brands that use fur or fur from other non-domesticated animals.

Velvet

The word “velvet” refers to the structure of the fabric, not the actual fibre or material used. You can recognise velvet thanks to its short pile, raised loops, and tufts of yarn that cover its surface.

Velvet can be woven from any type of yarn. While velvet was traditionally woven from silk in the past, cheaper materials, such as cotton, linen, wool, or synthetic fibres, are commonly used alone or in combination. The fashion industry, especially fast fashion retailers, mostly replaces silk or other plant-based materials with polyester.

If you want a velvet item in your wardrobe, we recommend shopping second hand, in order not to increase the use of new plastics or silk. Alternatively, look for velvet made from a modal rayon from more sustainably harvested beech trees and better processing methods.

The post Your Sustainability Guide to Luxury Fabrics appeared first on Good On You.

Kinder jewellery for luxury moments

Whether you are finding that special piece to celebrate a milestone, to pop-the-question, or for that spontaneous “just because” present, luxurious jewellery is bound to be that sparkle you didn’t even know you were missing. What makes jewellery even more special is ensuring that each piece you select for yourself or your loved one is ethical and kind to people, animals, and our planet.

From our everyday pieces that almost feel like part of our skin, to our go-to statement pieces that form part of our signature look, jewellery is the kind of accessory that can really transform how you present yourself to the outside world. By supporting ethical jewellers, you embody the message that beautiful jewellery can (and should) be created more sustainably and compassionately, with respect for our Earth and all its inhabitants.

So if you are in the market for an investment piece, then look no further. Here are 16 more ethical and sustainable luxury jewellery brands for that next treat-yourself moment—or that special gift to win you infinite brownie points from your loved one.

The post The Most Ethical and Sustainable Luxury Jewellery Brands appeared first on Good On You.

How ethical are the major luxury streetwear brands? Sadly, most of them aren’t doing enough to lower their impact on the Earth and its inhabitants. Read the article to find out how each of the most famous streetwear brands score.

As usual, the biggest brands are doing the least

Streetwear is all the rage at the moment. And while streetwear is often associated with logo-heavy sweatshirts, graphic tees, and grandpa sneakers, in reality, it’s a blend of a variety of styles, from informal leisurewear to the more tailored workwear, and can often include thrifted pieces (yay, sustainability). In the last few years, streetwear has been gaining ground, and many luxury houses jumped on the streetwear bandwagon, looking to innovate and attract new audiences. Luxury streetwear was born.

But while these big streetwear brands (think popular brands like Supreme, Demna Gvasalia’s Vetements, or OFF-WHITE) know how to produce inspiring and trendy designs for the luxury market, how are they impacting people, the planet, and animals?

Today, we’re diving a little deeper to help you see what’s really happening with these major luxury streetwear brands. And while a few brands rate “Good” or “It’s a Start” overall, sadly, the biggest and most well-known brands aren’t doing enough to lower their impact on the Earth and its inhabitants.

Keep reading to find out how the major luxury streetwear brands rate for people, the planet, and animals.

How the major luxury streetwear brands rate for people, the planet, and animals

The “Good” streetwear brands we recommend

The post How Do the Biggest Luxury Streetwear Brands Rate? appeared first on Good On You.

Fashion’s use of wild animals

As most major luxury brands have moved beyond fur, “exotic skins” remain the most controversial used in fashion.

By saying “exotic skins”, the industry obfuscates the fact: these are the skins of wild animals who have not been domesticated. In fashion, wild animals commonly captured and factory farmed include foxes, raccoon dogs, minks, crocodiles, alligators, ostriches, peacocks, kangaroos, snakes, and lizards.

Crocodile skins are considered particularly luxurious by the fashion industry, used mostly in the creation of expensive handbags, wallets, and other accessories, as well as for some shoes. Extremely costly, the number of crocodiles (and other reptiles) slaughtered for fashion may be dwarfed by the number of bovine and other domesticated animals killed in fashion supply chains, but that doesn’t diminish the severity of the harm caused to animals, people, and the planet.

In Australia, where most crocodile skins used for luxury fashion are produced, many factory farms are owned by the luxury fashion industry itself. As a result, a select few multi-national brands are solely responsible for an enormous amount of suffering and harm. Bags made from crocodile skin are prohibitively expensive for most people, with prices ranging from tens to even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Let’s explore how crocodiles are factory farmed, how this impacts their wellbeing, and how they are slaughtered—before delving into the “conservation” arguments linked to the treatment of native crocodiles, their impact on natural ecosystems, the tanning of crocodile skins, and Indigenous perspectives on the commercial crocodile trade. Of course, it’s important to look at solutions, too, so we’ve outlined more just and sustainable alternatives to these skins.

The cruel crocodile skin trade

Because crocodiles are so dinosaur-like (they actually share lineage with dinosaurs, as they came from “archosaurs”, known as “ruling reptiles” who roamed the earth 250 million years ago), it can be easier to feel afraid of them than to connect with them like we would other animals.

But despite their hardened exteriors, crocodiles are sensitive, thinking, and feeling creatures like any other animal.

Crocodiles are known to enjoy playing together, within families they display strong maternal bonds, and they have highly developed social lives. They may be very different from some other animals, and from us, but in the ways that matter most, we’re all the same: sentient creatures, able to feel fear as much as joy, pain as much as pleasure.

Despite their scientifically proven capacity for sentience, crocodiles are subjected to immense cruelty and suffering for the sake of luxury fashion. Here’s what that looks like.

Factory farming an ancient species

The saltwater crocodile, or “crocodylus porosus”, is native to Australia and considered to have some of the most coveted skin in the fashion industry. Other crocodile species killed for fashion include the Nile crocodile, and a number of crocodilian species found across parts of Asia and America. Crocodiles may look the same way they did 200 million years ago, but the way they are treated in factory farms is a far cry from their natural environments.

Across the world, crocodile species in factory farm settings are confined to barren concrete pits and cages. In farms producing “cheaper” skins, crocodiles can be crammed together, packed on top of one another in these dank environments, whereas on farms aiming to produce “higher quality” skins that are free from scratches, crocodiles grow in individual cages. In both instances, gregarious crocodiles suffer mental anguish, denied their most basic natural instincts.

In Australia, where both Hermès and Louis Vuitton have bought their own crocodile factory farms in order to gain more control of their supply chains, it is claimed that “the highest standards for the ethical treatment” of these animals are met, and that local laws are followed. However, Australian codes of practice for the farming of crocodiles allows these reptiles to be confined to cages shorter than the length of their own bodies⁠—as little as 0.25 square metres.

While free, crocodiles travel up to 10km in one go, even surfing currents to travel hundreds of kilometres over their natural habitat in any given month. But when luxury brands provide crocodiles with a cage just longer than their own bodies, they are able to claim they provide a higher standard of care than is legally required. While technically true, such an environment is not conducive to crocodile wellbeing, as they are wild creatures that require space to roam.

Crocodiles are not bred into these factory farms, but captured from the wild before they have hatched out of eggs, while nests are left unguarded. These hatchlings are born into a totally foreign environment from the swampy, wetland ecosystems they have evolved to thrive in.

Killing crocodiles

Despite an average natural lifespan of 70 years old, crocodiles in luxury fashion house-owned factory farms are killed at just two or three years old⁠—at most, crocodiles live out less than 5% of their natural lifespan. Not only are decades of life stolen from these creatures, methods of crocodile slaughter in the fashion industry are particularly gruesome. Crocodiles across Vietnam, Zimbabwe, and the United States have been documented being skinned alive, before being turned into bags for brands owned by luxury fashion group LVMH. Workers have stated that it can take hours of suffering before crocodiles die, and other investigations have shown crocodiles dying as they are forcefully pumped full of pressurised air.

Even when following legal guidelines, crocodile killing is cruel. The recommended, legal method of slaughter for crocodiles is by first temporarily electrically stunning them, before they are shot in the head with a captive bolt gun. Then, the crocodile’s head is sliced open, and a metal rod is plunged into their brain, killing them. Blunt-force trauma killing is also accepted in many instances. These methods of slaughter prioritise the protection of the neck and underbelly skin, which are highly valuable.

Environmental impact of crocodile killing

The crocodile skin trade is not only cruel—it impacts the environment, too. This industry is wrapped up in a dark and complex history of species endangerment and extinction, and the alteration of natural crocodile relationships with their ecosystems, which would normally benefit biodiversity. Too, the tanning of crocodile skins is water-intensive and results in toxic pollution.

Why the “conservation” argument doesn’t add up

Siamese crocodiles across Asia were driven to the brink of extinction in the 1950s when the international skin trade expanded, and just two decades later, only 3,000 saltwater crocodiles were left in the Northern Territory of Australia. Fashion has a long history of driving animals to near and total extinction.

Following this near annihilation, crocodiles in Australia were granted protections to help save the species from extinction, and as a result, their populations healthily increased. At the same time, industry lobbying saw their protections under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) change, in order to legalise the factory farming and killing of the species. This lobbying was made possible, in part, by shifting public opinion on crocodiles, following a number of attacks. Public education relating to safe cohabitation practices between humans and crocodiles was relatively new then, and is now widespread.

Today, as a result of this move, more saltwater crocodiles live in concrete pits and cages owned by and supplying luxury fashion brands than live in their natural habitat in Australia.

Proponents of “trophy hunting” and crocodile farming alike argue that wildlife can be exploited and killed for the sake of their own conservation. Conservation aims to protect wild species and their ecosystems, yet the luxury fashion industry’s very treatment sends an utterly conflicting message that such native animals are not valuable alive. Removing the eggs of native animals⁠—who have lived on their land for at least 100 million years⁠—from their natural habitat in order to confine them to cages for profit is not beneficial to wildlife, their ecosystem, or the development of much needed improved human appreciation for wilderness.

Focusing on an economic basis for conservation which fails to address the wellbeing of the animals supposedly conserved is also out of alignment with growing calls for “compassionate conservation”, as popularised by experts like Dr Marc Beckoff. Conservationist Chris Darwin⁠—who is also the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin⁠—encouraged a just transition beyond the use of crocodiles in fashion, stating that he supports “compassionate conservation which not only looks at saving the species, but also looks at the integrity of their lives and the fact that they are living good lives.”

After viewing footage from crocodile factory farms supplying to Hermès and Louis Vuitton, Darwin continued, “this is an unacceptable way to treat any animal…the audacity to call this conservation when really it is just commerce, it seems ridiculous.”

How commercial slaughter harms biodiversity

Protecting native animals like crocodiles is a deeply important part of protecting the environment, and we must protect not only species populations, but individuals of these species, too.

When allowed to live in their natural habitat ecosystems, crocodilian species play key roles in protecting these environments around the world. Crocodiles are large predators, and their presence helps to balance broader animal populations, benefitting biodiversity. When wild crocodile populations have previously declined in the Philippines, for example, fish populations also declined drastically. Crocodiles are intensively farmed in some parts of the Philippines today.

Tanning crocodile skins is water intensive and wasteful

As with any other skins transformed into materials for use in fashion, crocodile skins must be tanned. Without tanning, all animal skins would rot; the process exists to make something organic (skin) inorganic (leather), so that products last a long time. However, this process can render skins non-biodegradable, even when vegetable-tanned.

Crocodile skins are tougher than other animals commonly used for leather, and as a result, a United Nations FAO states that vegetable tanning is generally not possible, with chromium being used instead. The vast majority of all leather is tanned with chromium, which is carcinogenic and dangerous when polluting natural environments.

The tanning process is also water intensive and wasteful, with gaseous, liquid, and solid waste being produced. Pollution caused by tanneries using this and other harmful substances can result in the contamination of waterways, negative health impacts for both wildlife and human communities, and the killing of plant life as well as decreased soil fertility.

The human impact of the crocodile skin trade

Indigenous communities and crocodiles

The crocodile skin trade and supporters of it continually attempt to use Indigenous peoples and their jobs within the industry as a justification for the continued killing of these reptiles, usually without amplifying any Indigenous voices. While Indigenous perspectives are not monolithic, as with any community, it’s important that these claims be balanced.

Australia’s commercial crocodile skin trade highlights the “livelihood benefits” they provide to Aboriginal communities in rural areas, though most of the profit from this system goes to non-Indigenous people. Aboriginal people are often employed in the egg-harvesting portion of the trade, which is extremely dangerous, given the potential for crocodile attacks from defending mothers. Payment of as little as $20AUD per egg is paid to these harvesters, while each skin from these crocodiles is made into products sold for tens of thousands of dollars.

Some Indigenous people are in support of Indigenous-owned crocodile factory farms, with community leaders advocating for their potential for job creation. Others consider decisions relating to trapping, relocating, and shooting of crocodiles⁠—even outside of their factory farming⁠—as complex, due to their totemic connections to the species. Jonah Ryan, for example, told the ABC: “I’m part of the crocodile, too. They are called Baru around Arnhem Land, and that’s my grandmother’s totem. When I was a kid, she used to tell me, ‘one day you get the right to decide what to do with the crocodile’.”

Totem animals are traditionally not killed, worn, or eaten by their people, but protected. For the Larrakia people in Darwin, the crocodile is their totem. Some Indigenous people, like Murranddo Bulanyi Yanner, support conservation tourism “green safaris” which do not needlessly kill crocodiles or put them in “prison”, but which allow people to take photos of the species in their habitat, supporting conservation and Indigenous communities alike. “It’s not just about money. We have a relationship with the animal, too.”

The fashion industry ties the value of crocodiles and their conservation to monetary gain, however, “cultural and intrinsic values can also form a strong motivation for poor people in non-western societies to conserve biodiversity.” For example, in Sierra Madre, a study exploring the flawed argument of conservation focusing on economic value showed that “respect for nature, interest in wildlife ecology, and pride in the occurrence and conservation of a rare and iconic species proved to be effective incentives to protect the Philippine crocodile.”

While Indigenous perspectives vary, the purely profit-driven view of crocodiles as commodities is out of alignment with traditional respect for animals as fellow beings on shared land.

Alternatives to crocodile skin

The intricate patterns seen on the skins of crocodiles can be appreciated and replicated without killing crocodiles themselves. Today, a range of completely animal-free and more sustainable materials can be embossed to mimic these reptilian patterns, including:

• Post-consumer recycled synthetic leather, certified with the Global Recycling Standard
• Partly bio-based alternatives to leather like mango leather
• Cork, stripped from trees without harming them
• Mycelium leather, which continues to become more widely available

As an increasing number of luxury fashion brands and fashion weeks ban the use of all wild animal skins, we’re sure to see more of these alternatives crop up, and crocodiles can be left to roam the wilds, as they have been for millions of years.

The post Is Crocodile Skin Ethical or Sustainable? appeared first on Good On You.

Prada is an Italian luxury brand founded in 1913. Since then, the brand has become one of the most iconic fashion brands out there. But how ethical is Prada? Sadly, Prada isn’t doing enough to reduce its impact on people, the planet, and animals. Keep reading to learn more about why we rate the brand “Not Good Enough”. This article is based on the Prada rating published in January 2022.

Is Prada ethical or sustainable?

Prada was founded in Milan in 1913 by Mario Prada as a luxury leather goods brand. But it’s only in 1978, when Mario Prada’s granddaughter, Muccia, took charge, that the label really took off. Since then, Prada has become one of the most iconic fashion brands out there—it’s often associated with cutting edge style and traditional yet modern sophistication. It’s no wonder the devil wears Prada.

Like many luxury houses, Prada has been making strides towards sustainability. It was one of the signatories of the G7 Fashion Pact in 2019 and launched Re-Nylon, a 100% recycled and recyclable innovative fibre, in partnership with Aquafil. More recently, the brand started exploring more responsible jewellery made from recycled gold.

But is that enough to consider Prada more sustainable? How is Prada really impacting the planet, people, and animals?

Environmental impact

Prada’s environmental rating is “Not Good Enough”. It does use some lower-impact materials, including its Re-Nylon fabric. Unlike how many synthetics are used, it is primarily used in accessories like hats and bags that are rarely washed, reducing the risks of microfibre pollution. However, we found no evidence Prada minimises textile waste or that it implements water reduction initiatives. And finally, while Prada complies with its own Restricted Substances List, there is no evidence it has taken meaningful action to eliminate hazardous chemicals. Whoops.

Labour conditions

Unfortunately, Prada is also “Not Good Enough” when it comes to labour conditions. Most of Prada’s final stage of production is undertaken in Italy, a medium risk country for labour abuse. The brand lacks transparency as it does not publish a list of suppliers or information about forced labour, gender equality, or freedom of association. Critically, we also found no evidence that Prada ensures payment of a living wage in its supply chain, nor that it has adequate policies or safeguards to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19. So much for that “equity”.

Animal welfare

Prada uses leather, wool, down, angora, exotic animal skin and hair, and we found no evidence the brand has a policy to minimise the suffering of animals. Prada did commit to eliminating fur, but that’s not enough for us to give Prada a rating higher than “Very Poor” for animal welfare.

Overall rating: Not Good Enough

So, how ethical is Prada? We rate Prada “Not Good Enough” based on our own research. The Italian label still has a long way to go before we can consider it a responsible brand.

Prada needs to improve its animal score (a common theme for luxury brands), use more ethical and eco-friendly materials, and reduce hazardous chemicals and water use. It also needs to start paying its workers a living wage. Unfortunately, like many luxury brands, one of Prada’s key issues seems to be its lack of transparency and disclosure about what it’s actually doing.

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 swap

Discover our favourite “Good” and “Great” alternatives to Prada.

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Founded in the 20th century, Dior is an iconic luxury fashion house that has revolutionised womenswear in its own way. Sadly, the brand isn’t doing enough to reduce its impact on people, the planet, and animals. Keep reading to learn more about why we rate Dior “Not Good Enough”.This article is based on the Dior rating published in January 2022.

Is Dior ethical or sustainable?

Founded in the 20th century by Christian Dior, Dior has revolutionised womenswear in its own way. The designer is most well known for being the creator of the “New Look”, a modern silhouette at the time, which broke with tradition by emphasising women’s hips and busts.

The maison, which is owned by LVMH, has been dabbling in sustainable fashion: inspired by Dior’s love of gardening, Maria Grazia Chiuri recreated a forest for the Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020 runway, promising to replant the trees in the Parisian region after the show.

But is this enough? How ethical is Dior?

Environmental impact

When it comes to the environment, Dior uses few responsible materials and has set an intensity target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its supply chain. However, there’s no evidence it’s on track to meet its target. Dior has eliminated some hazardous chemicals from its supply chain but has not set a time-bound target to eliminate all hazardous chemicals. We also found no evidence Dior minimises textile waste. Using some lower-impact materials alone is not enough and the brand no doubt has the resources available to do better for the planet. For all these reasons, we rated Dior’s environmental impact “Not Good Enough”.

Labour conditions

Unfortunately, Dior’s labour rating is also “Not Good Enough”. Although its final stage of production is undertaken in medium risk countries for labour abuse, the brand received a score of 21-30% in the Fashion Transparency Index. We also couldn’t find evidence Dior implements practices to support diversity and inclusion in its supply chain. More importantly, we found no evidence it ensures payment of a living wage. Plus, Dior does not disclose policies or safeguards to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19. The “iconic” brand has a long way to go for workers.

Animal welfare

Dior’s animal rating is “Very Poor”, our lowest rating. Dior is one of these luxury brands that are still harming animals for profit. The brand has a basic formal policy to protect animal welfare. The brand still uses fur, down, leather, wool, and exotic animal skin and hair. It traces some animal products to the first stage of production, but again, that’s simply not enough. What’s more, despite a petition demanding the brand go fur-free, Dior hasn’t made any obvious moves to remove the cruel fabric from its line. As material innovations hit the shelves, we hope to see these luxury fashion houses—who can certainly afford it—investing in animal-free options.

Overall rating: Not Good Enough

Overall, we rate Dior “Not Good Enough”. The brand has made small improvements since we last reviewed it, such as setting a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emission in all of its supply chain instead of just its own operations. It’s also using some lower-impact materials. However, the luxury fashion house still needs to reduce its use of harmful chemicals, ensure it pays its workers a living wage, and consider our animal friends. In any case, there’s still a very long road ahead.

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.

Luckily, there are some “Good” and “Great” alternatives to Dior. We recommend these responsible luxury brands that offer high quality and beautiful pieces.

Good swaps

More ethical alternatives to Dior

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Committed to circularity and conscious design, Minimalist is turning heads with its luxurious ready-to-wear styles.

A ‘Good’ brand designed to close the loop

The rise of minimalist fashion has coincided with circularity and sustainability becoming buzzwords in the industry. But some innovative brands are building their businesses from the ground up to counter the disposable consumerist narrative. New York-based brand Minimalist is one such label, propelling the ready-to-wear fashion space away from the linear take-make-waste model and towards closing the loop.

Minimalist is a curated collection of women’s ready-to-wear, defined by a commitment to circularity and purity of design.

An antidote to fast fashion

Tamara Davydova launched Minimalist in February of 2021 with the core mission of creating clothes that maximise purpose in a woman’s wardrobe while minimising impact on the planet.

Circular fashion

Minimalist is committed to a circular business model. This means that rather than following the typical linear take-make-waste path, the intentional process of closing the loop is designed into the garments from the start. Minimalist’s philosophy is anchored in creating luxury garments from carefully sourced materials with the goal of avoiding landfill through fibre-to-fibre recyclability or resale. It permeates every aspect of design, from fabrics to trims to packaging.

The brand incorporates only certified fabrics and trims, or “ingredients”, as Davydova calls them, into its garments. They include European viscose satin containing ECOVERO fibres, biodegradable TENCEL jersey made from plant-based raw material, velour crafted from organic cotton, and Japanese organic cotton and denim.

Versatile design

Minimalist design is all about paring back fashion to create the kinds of garments you’ll want to wear again and again, that are easily dressed up or down, and that can fit into your existing wardrobe with ease. This style is proven to reduce decision fatigue and boost satisfaction with getting dressed each day. And by investing in high-quality, long-lasting garments to see you through life seasons to come, the impact of your wardrobe on the planet is greatly reduced.

By focusing on more responsible materials and incorporating single-material design, Davydova has also designed the collection with a closed-loop circular future in mind. And thanks to the quality, you can opt to resell them to extend their life before they are responsibly fibre-to-fibre recycled.

About Tamara Davydova

Tamara Davydova was born in Kyiv, Ukraine. In the mid-nineties, she moved to New York City to study at the Parsons School of Design at the height of minimalist fashion. She has worked alongside designers, including Michael Kors and Monique Lhuillier, throughout her 20-year career.

In 2020, she enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Sustainable Design Entrepreneurs and Harvard Business School’s Sustainable Business Strategy programs.

Our 10 favourites from the ready-to-wear collection

All of Minimalist’s ready-to-wear garments are designed for circularity and responsibly made from lower-impact fabrics and trims, produced entirely in New York City’s garment centre in an effort to support local factories. Here are our 10 favourites from her current collection, and keep an eye out for Collection 3 in February 2023.

Karla Kimono Sleeve Satin Jumpsuit

Kimono sleeve jumpsuit produced with a luminous polished viscose satin. Featuring an easy fit, an adjustable drawstring at the waist, pockets, and a CF zipper.

Anna Halter Neck Satin Jumpsuit

Halter neck jumpsuit produced with a sustainably sourced viscose satin. Adjustable at the waist with an easy back zip closure.

Tamara Convertible Japanese Cotton Blazer

Lightweight Japanese textured cotton convertible blazer made with organic cotton yarn. Featuring a convertible zipper detail—the jacket can be worn cropped or full length.

Traci V-Neck Japanese Denim Jumpsuit

Soft, lightweight Japanese denim jumpsuit made with organic cotton yarn. Featuring an easy fit, an adjustable drawstring at the waist, a contrast topstitch, cargo pockets, and a CF zipper.

Marilyn Vegan Silk Cargo Pants

The cargo pocket pants are produced with high-quality viscose satin. Featuring an easy fit, elastic at the back waist, and cuffs.

Carolyn Luxe Long Sleeve Top With Shoulder Pads

Long sleeve top made with an airy, delicate interlock jersey. The elegant drape and natural fluid movement are achieved with the TENCEL Lyocell fabric.

Anette Italian Jersey Palazzo Pants

Cropped palazzo pants made with Italian recycled jersey. Comfortable and polished, featuring organic elastic at the inside waist.

Kerri Luxe Tee With Shoulder Pads

Sleeveless tee made with the brand’s airy, delicate interlock jersey, achieving a draping and fluid look thanks to the use of TENCEL Lyocell. Also features shoulder pads.

Gina Vegan Silk Tie-Neck Blouse

Convertible tie-neck blouse produced with a luminous viscose satin. Featuring an easy fit, a removable tie, and high-low hem detail with side slits.

Holly Organic Cotton Vest

Elegant pullover vest made with organic cotton yarn and a natural finish to create an extra soft texture. Also features pockets.

The post Luxury Fashion Rooted in Circular Design by Minimalist appeared first on Good On You.

There’s no denying Stella McCartney’s eponymous label has set some good examples for high-end brands with its initiatives—but nobody’s perfect. Read on to find out how Stella McCartney treats animals, the planet, and its workers, and decide for yourself if the brand is ethical enough for your support as a conscious consumer. This article is based on the Stella McCartney rating published in August 2022.

Is Stella McCartney ethical and sustainable?

British designer Stella McCartney has been proudly creating “sustainable luxury fashion” for almost two decades. Boasting several huge achievements in eco-fashion—including designing Meghan Markle’s wedding reception dress—lifelong vegetarian Stella has always had ethics on her mind. But does her brand have any room for improvement?

Environmental impact

Stella McCartney rates “It’s a Start” for the planet. The brand has set some good environmental standards using eco-friendly materials, including recycled polyester, organic cotton, and regenerated cashmere. It also has a policy to prevent deforestation in the supply chain. But we found no evidence Stella McCartney has set water management and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, important pieces in the sustainability puzzle for companies to address on the ground level and throughout the supply chain.

Labour conditions

This area needs the most attention from Stella McCartney if it truly aims to embody ethical practice across the board. The brand rates “It’s a Start” for people, too.

While it is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative and has adopted a Code of Conduct that includes a living wage definition, it is unclear whether Stella McCartney ensures a living wage is actually being paid to workers. While it monitors most of its supply chain and discloses policies to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19, these initiatives are only partially adequate.

Without ensuring the welfare, safety, and fair payment for the people who produce the luxury goods, it is impossible to award Stella McCartney a higher score in this category.

Animal welfare

On the animal front, the British luxury brand rates “Good”. Lifelong vegetarian and animal-lover Stella has taken some positive steps for animal welfare over the years, including partnering with PETA on various projects, never using real fur in her designs, and aiming for more sustainable animal material options. The brand has a general statement about minimising animal suffering but not a formal animal welfare policy. And while Stella McCartney doesn’t use leather, down, fur, angora, shearling, or exotic animal skins or hairs, it does use wool (from non-mulesed sheep) and regenerated cashmere, which helps negate the impact on both the environment and animals.

Overall rating: Good

Based on our research, we rate Stella McCartney “Good” overall. The brand can be proud of its achievements for the environment and animals—it is truly setting a high standard that we can only hope other luxury fashion brands take heed of in future. However, there’s always room for improvement, particularly in its labour conditions, payment of a living wage, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction initiatives. As consumers, we have the right to open and honest communication from brands about what goes on behind the scenes.

See the rating.

Shop Stella McCartney.

Shop Stella McCartney @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Stella McCartney Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

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.

Similar brands to Stella McCartney

While Stella McCartney is undoubtedly a leader in its field, it has some improvements to make and may not be exactly what you are looking for. Here are some more sustainable luxury fashion brands like Stella McCartney.

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

Many luxury brands score poorly for animals

For decades, the fur coat was a pinnacle of luxury fashion. But in the past few years, luxury’s image is changing, partly due to the anti-fur and vegan fashion movements that have garnered mainstream support.

These days, one might associate luxury with “innovation and social responsibility”, PJ Smith, fashion director at the Humane Society US, told Business of Fashion in 2018. The anti-fur movement has ebbed and flowed since the late 20th century. But thanks to social media and outspoken animal rights activism—mostly spearheaded by younger generations—major fashion houses like Prada, Ralph Lauren, and Burberry have all banned fur. Global luxury group Kering, which manages the likes of Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen, has also pushed through fur bans. And Kering is making moves to lessen the use of other animal-based materials, instead opting for recycled or innovative vegan alternatives.

Fur isn’t the only problem, though. Many brands still use cruel and often unsustainable materials like exotic animal skins and hairs (think crocodiles, minks, foxes, kangaroos, angora rabbits). Even more prevalent is the use of bovine leather, down feather, and sheep or alpaca wool—which, while hotly debated in the industry—are undeniably no-go’s for vegan fashion lovers.

In December 2021, global animal welfare organisation Four Paws released a report in partnership with Good On You assessing 111 brands across different markets on their commitment to animal welfare and sourcing transparency. As noted by journalist Lucianne Tonti for The Guardian, “While LVMH-owned Stella McCartney achieved the report’s highest score of 90%, the luxury sector fared the worst overall, receiving an average score of just 23% (lower than fast fashion at 53%).”

How animals are considered in our rating system

One of the three core pillars of the Good On You rating system is animal welfare. Whether you’re looking for cruelty-free and vegan fashion or simply concerned about animal welfare within fashion’s supply chains, checking the “Animals” section on brand listings in the directory or app can help to shed light on what matters to you.

What exactly constitutes a cruelty-free brand? And what do we investigate when scoring brands on animal welfare?

On our “How We Rate Fashion Brands” page, we give a high-level overview on what issues we consider when rating brands. Our rigorous ratings methodology evaluates 500-plus data points across more than 100 key issues, indicators, and standards systems to arrive at each brand’s score. For the “Animals” pillar, we determine whether brands use animal products in their ranges then, when applicable, investigate animal welfare policies and tracing across the supply chain.

We also identify and mark down brands that use fur, angora, and “exotic” animal skin or hair, consider wool use including “mulesing” and whether and how the brand uses leather, down, and other animal materials. We track commitments by brands to reduce the quantity of animal products, and ensure any welfare policies are being clearly implemented.

Brands rated by Good On You cannot achieve our highest score of “Great” for animals unless they are a 100% vegan brand, meaning they don’t use any animal products or by-products in their range.

The luxury brands vegans and animal lovers are better off avoiding

Wondering which luxury brands are still using harmful animal-based fabrics in their garments? Do they have animal welfare policies or trace animal products in the supply chain? And have they made any notable blunders or progress?

All of the following brands receive one of our two lowest scores for animals—“Not Good Enough” or “Very Poor”. While this isn’t a comprehensive list, it gives an overview of some of the most popular luxury brands on the market. Let’s take a closer look.

The post These Luxury Brands Are Still Harming Animals For Profit appeared first on Good On You.

Avant-garde label Maison Margiela is known for its deconstructed and unconventional designs. But how ethical is Maison Margiela? Sadly, we rate the brand “We avoid” due to its lack of transparency and concrete initiatives. This article is based on the Maison Margiela rating published in September 2021.

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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It may have revolutionised womenswear, but this century old brand will risk being left behind if it doesn’t step up for people, the planet, and animals. Let’s ask: how ethical is Chanel? This article is based on the Chanel rating published in January 2022.

Is Chanel an ethical or sustainable brand?

Fashion changes, but style endures.

These are the wise words of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, who founded the eponymous brand in the 1920s. Chanel is known for revolutionising women’s fashion by ditching the restrictive corsets and replacing them with more flattering, functional, and minimalistic silhouettes. A lesser known fact is that Chanel herself was anti-Semitic and worked as a secret Nazi agent during WW2. Not exactly one to idolise.

The late Karl Lagerfeld revived the luxury house in the 1980s, introducing the concept of the griffe (a proof of uniqueness and authenticity, hidden inside the dress) and making the brand one of the last 20th-century fashion houses still talked about today.

Style endures, but it looks like Chanel has had trouble adapting to the modern fashion industry and its efforts to become more ethical and sustainable. In 2018, and for the first time ever, the brand published a report on its environmental efforts and banned the use of exotic skins. In 2019, Chanel also took a minority stake in a green chemistry start up, showing that it’s finally starting to think about a broader sustainability strategy—but it still may not be doing enough.

With this in mind, what is Chanel’s impact on people, the planet, and animals? Is Chanel ethical or sustainable?

Environmental impact

Chanel’s environment rating is “Not Good Enough”. The brand has set an absolute target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its operations by 50% by 2030. But it doesn’t use eco-friendly materials and we found no evidence it has taken any meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals or that it implements water reduction initiatives. We are in the middle of a climate emergency, and well-established brands need to clue in or they will be left behind.

Labour conditions

Chanel’s labour rating is also “Not Good Enough”. It received a score of only 11-20% in the Fashion Transparency Index. Although the brand audits some of its supply chain, it doesn’t state what percentage. There is also no evidence it investigates and reports on safety incidents, that it ensures payment of a living wage in its supply chain, or that it lists names or addresses for any of its suppliers. We know the impact of fashion on garment workers, and it is imperative that they are afforded the rights and payment they deserve.

Animal welfare

Like many luxury brands, Chanel has stopped using fur, exotic animal skin, and angora. But it still uses leather and wool, as well as exotic animal hair and silk, which is why Chanel’s animal rating is “Not Good Enough”. Not only that, but there is no evidence it has a policy to minimise the suffering of animals, nor does it appear to trace animal products to the first stage of production. With so many alternatives, the use of these harmful materials is entirely unnecessary.

Overall rating: Not Good Enough

We gave Chanel an overall rating of “Not Good Enough”. The brand is not taking adequate steps to reduce textile waste in its supply chain, eliminate hazardous chemicals, or reduce its water consumption. What’s more, it needs to improve working conditions by investigating and reporting on safety incidents, but more importantly, ensuring workers in its supply chain are paid a living wage, and with the material innovations in the fashion industry today, there is simply no excuse for using cruel animal-based fabrics anymore. The brand has a long way to go if it intends to endure for the years to come.

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.

If you’re looking for the unique and timeless Chanel style while having a better impact on people, the planet, and animals—fear not. We found ethical alternatives to Chanel to inspire you.

Good swaps

Ethical and sustainable alternatives to Chanel

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Virgil Abloh’s brand is worn by the likes of Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Rihanna. But how does it impact the planet, people, and animals? How ethical is Off-White? This article is based on the Off-White rating published before June 2022.

In Milan in 2012, Virgil Abloh created Off-White, a brand that would skyrocket the hip hop style into the world of couture at an unprecedented rate. Abloh, who was appointed as Louis Vuitton’s artistic director of menswear in 2018, has shaken up the fashion industry after rising to prominence as Kanye West’s creative director. His popular brand is known for collaborating with other famous labels like Nike, Levi, Jimmy Choo, and even IKEA, and is now worn by the likes of Jay-Z, Gigi Hadid, Beyonce, and Rihanna. It seemingly filled the niche for exclusive streetwear targeted at younger consumers and boasts almost 11 million Instagram followers, earning itself cult-status as one of the world’s most popular luxury brands.

Off-White is rooted in the current culture, aiming to be “a young brand embracing the now in a sophisticated manner”. And as a black-owned brand, with the founder saying his goal is to “make the demographic he came from more commercially acceptable”, Off-White is in a prime position to do right by the people and animals along its supply chain and the planet we all live on. So let’s break it down and answer the burning question: how ethical is Off-White?

Environmental impact

Off-White rating is ‘Very Poor’. The brand fails to publish sufficient relevant information about its environmental policies. Transparency is the first step towards sustainability, and as shoppers, we have the right to know how a brand’s production and practices impact on the environment.

Labour conditions

The brand’s final stage of production is undertaken in Italy, a medium risk country for labour abuse, and there is no evidence of a Code of Conduct or a living wage. We didn’t find evidence the brand lists names or addresses of any suppliers, or audits any parts of the supply chain. It also doesn’t disclose policies or safeguards to protect suppliers or workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19! We rated Off-White’s labour conditions ‘Not Good Enough’.

Animal welfare

Abloh’s label uses leather, wool, and exotic animal hair, although it doesn’t use fur, down, exotic animal skin, or angora. Because of this, the brand is also rated ‘Not Good Enough’ when it comes to animal welfare.

Overall rating: Not Good Enough

So, how ethical is Off-White? We rated Off-White ‘Not Good Enough’ overall based on information from our own research. The brand is not transparent enough and provides no evidence it is providing fair labour conditions for its workers.

To get a better rating, Off-White needs to communicate more on its practices, reduce its use of unethical animal materials, and implement a Code of Conduct, ensuring its workers a living wage and safe working conditions.

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.

See the rating.

Luckily, the Good On You team has found some equally trendy and cool alternatives to Off-White, so you can bring your best luxury streetwear game while doing good for the planet, people, and animals.

Good swaps

Sustainable alternatives to Off-White

The post How Ethical Is Off-White? appeared first on Good On You.

Sadly, with the onset of fast fashion, luxury brands are transforming their business models to keep up – adopting wasteful practices, toxic materials and murky supply chains with limited protection for workers and the environment.

Transparency in luxury remains low, too. But the old arguments for keeping in-house secrets no longer stack up in an era when consumers are demanding to know where and how their clothes were made.

That’s why Good On You is committed to supporting fashion retailers to assess, curate and promote sustainable brands.

Not only do we empower our huge community of conscious shoppers to buy better, we help retailers choose better brands, too.

Good On You has partnered with Farfetch on a major new initiative to expand the sustainable fashion movement into the luxury sector. Farfetch’s latest Positively Conscious collection, launched this October, features hundreds of fashion brands that have been independently rated by Good On You for their impact on people, planet and animals.

We’re proud of the role we play in powering the sustainability agenda of Farfetch, a leading global tech platform for luxury fashion.

This partnership will see millions more people become aware of fashion’s impact and how to choose more sustainable brands. Together, we can meet the needs of the growing conscious consumer market and incentivise brands to change.

Good On You’s robust brand rating system for fashion is accessible to millions of shoppers via our app, website and online brand directory. The ratings take into account key social and environmental issues across a brand’s whole supply chain, so that people can know the impact of their clothes.

We understand that fashion retailers want to know the impact of brands, too. They need consistent, credible ways to assess sustainability performance. Good On You can help retailers identify leading brands and share with customers the information they’re looking for.

Let’s collaborate and use the power of people’s choices to create a sustainable future in fashion.

Author bio:

Sandra Capponi is the co-founder of Good On You, the leading source for sustainability ratings in fashion. Since 2015, she’s led the team to rate over 3,000 brands for their impact and empower millions of consumers to buy better. With years of experience in corporate social responsibility, Capponi has long been concerned with supply chain issues in big business. She started Good On You because she sees huge potential in using people power to drive industry change. A typical Melbournian, she loves espresso coffee, live music, and wearing black…from brands rated “Good” and “Great”,  of course. Follow her on LinkedIn.

The post Is The Future of Luxury Fashion Sustainable? appeared first on Good On You.

I’m given a platform to speak about my choice of outfit, I will have a meaningful story to tell. And it’s powerful.

Emma Watson

For Emma’s latest photoshoot – this time for the cover of UK Vogue! – we worked behind the scenes to ensure featured brands were assessed by our rating system and met Emma’s standard. Photographed by Alasdair McLellan in London, Emma chose to wear brands rated ‘It’s A Start’ or above, and a few second-hand and vintage pieces were also added into the mix. We worked directly with a couple of brands to help them become more transparent and improve their rating.

Some of the brands we already had information on, and it was a process of double-checking this was absolutely up to date. For others, we gathered information, evaluated, verified and produced an overall rating.

Sandra Capponi

It was wonderful to work with Vogue to shine a light on luxury brands that are stepping up. It’s a real testament to the progress being made by the industry, and importantly some of the biggest names in fashion.

So without further ado, here are some of the best-rated brands worn by Emma for this shoot!

The post Emma Watson x UK Vogue – Which Luxury Brands Are Stepping Up? appeared first on Good On You.

We recently teamed up with global luxury online retailer Farfetch to rate and curate their newly launched Conscious Edit collection. Here are our favourite Farfetch brands!

We’re always looking for ways to grow the amazing Good On You community and spread the word about ethical and sustainable fashion. One of the key ways we can change the industry from the inside is to work with retailers to help them stock the brands we think are doing good by people, planet, and animals.

We recently teamed up with global luxury online retailer Farfetch to rate and curate their newly launched Conscious Edit collection. Farfetch are setting the standards for big retailers with their commitment to ethical fashion and have used Good On You’s ratings to guide them. Here is a list of our favourite Farfetch brands making waves across all three areas that we are passionate about protecting.

People

The post Good On You x Farfetch – We Rate Their Conscious Edit appeared first on Good On You.