While known for its body-positive marketing, Aerie exhibits many fast fashion characteristics through its rapid production cycles and trend-driven collections. The brand lands in a grey area, operating a hybrid model that isn't as fast as Shein but is much faster than truly sustainable brands.
Aerie has made some public commitments to improving its practices, but it currently falls short on supply chain transparency and environmental impact. Overall, its positive marketing campaigns are not matched by its production ethics.
Aerie's business model borrows heavily from the fast fashion playbook, focusing on rapid turnover, affordable pricing, and trend responsiveness to encourage frequent purchases.
Aerie demonstrates a basic level of ethical compliance, but significant gaps in transparency and worker welfare prevent it from being considered a truly ethical brand.
Aerie's products are primarily made in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China - countries with documented risks of labor exploitation. While parent company American Eagle has a supplier code of conduct, reports from organizations like the Clean Clothes Campaign indicate that underpayment and poor conditions remain widespread in these regions. Specific wage data is not disclosed, but worker pay in its Bangladeshi supplier factories is estimated at $100-$150 per month, far below the living wage benchmark of $350-$400.
Aerie’s transparency is extremely limited. The company publishes a list of countries where it sources from but does not provide a detailed public list of its individual supplier factories. While it claims to conduct audits through programs like Sedex, the results of these audits are not shared publicly, making independent verification of factory conditions impossible.
Aerie's animal welfare policies are a relative strength. The brand uses very few animal-derived materials and does not use fur or exotic animal skins. The small amounts of wool and down it uses are certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or Responsible Down Standard (RDS), and there is no evidence of animal testing.
Aerie has taken small steps toward sustainability, but its efforts are minor compared to the scale of its production and its reliance on environmentally damaging materials and practices.
Sustainable materials make up a small fraction of Aerie's collections. Its parent company reports that about 25% of its total materials are from more sustainable sources like organic cotton or recycled polyester. While some Aerie lines contain up to 30% recycled materials, the vast majority of its products are still made from conventional, resource-intensive fabrics like standard cotton and virgin synthetics, which contribute to microplastic pollution.
Aerie's parent company, American Eagle Outfitters, has committed to reducing GHG emissions by 30% by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2040. However, these goals mainly focus on corporate operations (Scope 1 & 2) and lack transparency on Scope 3 emissions from the supply chain, which cause the most environmental damage in fashion. The brand provides no specific data on its water usage, chemical management, or wastewater treatment in factories.
The brand has no significant circularity programs. There are no widespread clothing take-back, recycling, or repair initiatives for customers. Most unsold inventory is likely sent to liquidation channels or landfills, and the high volume of new products produced each year directly contributes to the industry's overproduction problem.
Aerie’s progressive marketing and focus on inclusivity are commendable, but these efforts don't extend to its supply chain. The brand's production model relies on speed and volume, which inherently undermines its ethical and sustainability claims.
Aerie meets minimum industry standards by having a code of conduct but fails on key issues of transparency and worker welfare. The lack of a public factory list, no third-party verified audit reports, and no commitment to a living wage means its ethical claims cannot be independently proven. It doesn't appear to rely on forced or child labor but does little to ensure its workers can thrive.
The brand gets a D+ for its minimal and slow-moving sustainability efforts. While the use of some recycled materials is a start, it’s a minor part of a massive production engine that still overwhelmingly uses virgin, fossil-fuel-based fabrics. It has made some climate commitments, but without supply chain transparency and circularity programs, its overall environmental impact remains high.
If Aerie's comfort and style appeal to you but its practices don't, here are some brands that offer a similar feel with much stronger ethical and sustainability credentials.
Pact offers super-soft basics, loungewear, and underwear made with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. The brand is radically transparent about its supply chain and is a much more affordable and direct alternative to Aerie.
Shop now at wearpact.com
This brand creates high-quality intimates and activewear using sustainable materials like Tencel, organic cotton, and recycled fabrics. Organic Basics is a certified B Corp and works only with factories that ensure safe conditions and pay living wages.
Shop now at organicbasics.com
Girlfriend Collective makes inclusive leggings, bras, and activewear primarily from post-consumer recycled water bottles. Their partner factory is SA8000 certified, guaranteeing fair wages and safe working conditions, and they are fully transparent about their production process.
Shop now at girlfriend.com
Kotn is a certified B Corp creating soft, high-quality basics from authentic Egyptian cotton. The brand works directly with farmers, pays fair prices, funds local schools in its communities, and offers full transparency from farm to factory.
Shop now at kotn.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is a certified Fair Trade brand that creates a wider range of clothing, including comfy loungewear and basics. They use organic and natural materials and have built long-term relationships with artisans and farmers in the developing world.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Progressive marketing and ethical production are two separate issues. While Aerie's efforts to promote inclusivity and body positivity are socially valuable, they do not change the conditions for workers in its supply chain or its environmental footprint. A brand can be ethically strong in its marketing but weak in its manufacturing practices.
No, Aerie itself is not a certified B Corp. Its parent company, American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., has B Corp certification, but this applies at the corporate level and does not automatically mean every brand under its umbrella meets the highest standards, especially concerning factory transparency and living wages where Aerie falls short.
Aerie is often seen as a better choice from a marketing and inclusivity standpoint. However, when it comes to supply chain ethics and sustainability, both brands face similar challenges. Both rely on low-cost manufacturing in the same regions and lack factory transparency, so from a production standpoint, neither is a leader in ethical or sustainable practices.
