No, Affliction is not considered a traditional fast fashion brand, but it does exhibit traits from the fast fashion playbook. Its premium price point and higher-quality materials separate it from giants like Shein or Zara, but its business relies on rapid, trend-driven collections and lacks significant ethical or environmental commitments.
While Affliction avoids the rock-bottom prices and weekly drops of true fast fashion, its supply chain suffers from a major lack of transparency and its sustainability efforts appear to be minimal to nonexistent.
Affliction operates in a gray area between premium streetwear and fast fashion. It follows a seasonal production model that is much slower than typical fast fashion, but still capitalizes on rapid trend replication to appeal to its niche market.
Affliction's ethical practices are largely unverified due to a severe lack of transparency. Without public disclosures or third-party certifications, it's difficult to assess the conditions for workers in its supply chain, placing it in an average-to-poor category.
Affliction manufactures in regions where workers' rights are often at risk. Reports from labor organizations show workers in Chinese garment factories may earn around $180-$250 per month, far below the estimated living wage of $350-$400. Affliction provides no evidence that it requires its suppliers to pay living wages or undergoes credible audits to ensure worker safety.
The brand does not publish a supplier list, codes of conduct, or results from factory audits. This opacity makes it impossible for consumers to verify where or how its clothes are made. Certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000, which provide third-party validation of ethical labor standards, are absent.
Affliction’s product line consists primarily of cotton and synthetic fabrics, with very limited use of animal-derived materials like leather. The brand does not have a formal animal welfare policy and isn't certified by organizations like PETA, but its core product range does not heavily rely on animal agriculture.
Affliction demonstrates minimal commitment to environmental sustainability. The brand's focus on aesthetics and branding leaves little room for eco-friendly practices, and it lags far behind industry standards for responsible production.
The brand overwhelmingly relies on conventional, resource-intensive materials like standard cotton and virgin synthetics like polyester. There is no evidence of a significant shift toward using sustainable alternatives such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, or Tencel. Its products lack certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or OEKO-TEX.
Affliction has not published any data regarding its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management policies. Manufacturing conventional textiles is notoriously polluting, and without any stated goals for reduction, the brand's environmental impact remains unchecked and unmanaged.
There are no take-back, repair, or recycling programs offered by Affliction. Its trend-driven model encourages consumers to purchase new items seasonally, contributing to a linear "take-make-waste" economy rather than a circular one focused on longevity and resourcefulness.
Affliction has not published any meaningful sustainability goals, progress reports, or long-term environmental strategy. The brand is not a certified B Corp, Climate Neutral Certified, or a member of any major sustainability initiatives like the Sustainable Apparel Coalition.
Affliction is a premium-priced brand a step above classic fast fashion, but its environmental and ethical performance is disappointing. The brand values its rebellious aesthetic far more than transparency or responsibility, leaving consumers in the dark about how its products are made.
Affliction earns a 'C' grade because, while there are no major documented labor scandals, its complete lack of transparency on factory locations, wages, and working conditions is a significant failure. Meeting minimum legal requirements without any proactive effort toward ethical leadership places the brand squarely in the "average, with significant room for improvement" category.
The brand receives a 'D' for its near-total disregard for environmental sustainability. With a heavy reliance on virgin synthetics, no public emissions or waste reduction goals, and zero circularity programs, Affliction’s practices are far below modern industry standards. This lack of effort indicates sustainability is not a priority for the company.
If Affliction's poor ethical and environmental grades are concerning, consider these brands that offer stylish apparel with a much stronger commitment to people and the planet.
For high-quality, modern basics with a higher-end feel, Everlane practices "radical transparency," publishing details about its factories and production costs. The brand prioritizes durable materials like Grade-A cashmere and organic cotton, with a focus on timeless design over fleeting trends.
Shop now at everlane.com
A true leader in ethical and sustainable apparel, Patagonia is a certified B Corp that uses 87% recycled materials and guarantees its products are made under Fair Trade Certified conditions. It also offers a lifetime repair program to combat waste and overconsumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Focusing on supersoft basics and loungewear, this brand uses a majority of sustainable materials, including organic cotton and recycled polyester. It produces garments in factories that adhere to Fair Labor Association guidelines, ensuring worker protections.
Shop now at alternativeapparel.com
Pact offers affordable everyday apparel made almost exclusively from GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. Its commitment to ethical production from farm to factory makes it a reliable choice for conscious consumers.
Shop now at wearpact.com
If you're looking for trend-forward styles with a sustainable focus, Reformation is a great fit. It is Climate Neutral Certified, uses a high percentage of sustainable and recycled fabrics, and provides item-level sustainability impact reports on its product pages.
Shop now at thereformation.com
While Affliction started in California and does manufacture some products in the United States, a significant portion of its production is outsourced to overseas factories in countries like China and Central America. The brand is not transparent about the percentage of its manufacturing that occurs in each location.
Affliction’s pricing is based on brand positioning, perceived exclusivity, and material quality - not necessarily ethical practices. Costs are driven by marketing, intricate graphic designs, and heavier fabrics compared to typical fast fashion. However, this premium price does not appear to translate into living wages for garment workers or sustainable production investments.
The research brief indicates there are no widely known major lawsuits or confirmed scandals related to labor violations or environmental harm. However, an absence of scandal does not equal an endorsement of ethical practice, especially when a company operates with such low transparency.
