No, All Saints is not a classic fast fashion brand. While it creates trend-driven clothing, its smaller seasonal collections, higher price points, and emphasis on a more curated aesthetic place it in the premium high-street category rather than with giants like Zara and H&M.
However, the brand's ethical and sustainability practices are a mixed bag with significant room for improvement. It meets basic labor standards but lacks transparency, and its environmental efforts are minimal. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about All Saints.
All Saints differs from traditional fast fashion players due to its slower production cycle, premium pricing, and focus on a specific aesthetic rather than rapid trend replication.
All Saints makes surface-level ethical claims, but a lack of transparency and commitment to verifiable standards makes its practices questionable.
All Saints sources from factories in Turkey, Portugal, China, and India, and claims some are certified by standards like SA8000 or BSCI. However, publicly available data is scarce. Reports suggest workers in some Asian production hubs earn around $180-$250 per month, which is below the estimated living wage of $350-$400 for those regions. There are no clear policies disclosed on overtime or specific worker safety initiatives.
The brand offers limited transparency. While it publishes a partial supplier list, it does not disclose detailed audit results, factory conditions, or corrective action plans. This lack of disclosure prevents independent verification of its ethical claims and makes it difficult to assess the actual conditions for workers in its supply chain.
All Saints uses animal products like leather, wool, and down but lacks any key animal welfare certifications such as the Responsible Wool Standard or Responsible Down Standard. Its leather is sourced from Europe and South America, but the brand provides little specific detail on its animal welfare policies, from farm to factory.
All Saints' commitment to sustainability is minimal. The brand has not set meaningful environmental goals, relies on conventional materials, and lacks transparency about its environmental impact.
The majority of All Saints' collections are made from conventional cotton, polyester, and leather, which have high environmental footprints. While the brand mentions using some recycled or organic materials in select pieces, it does not disclose percentages or hold key material certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or Bluesign for its wider collections.
All Saints has no publicly published data on its Scope 1, 2, or 3 emissions, water usage, or chemical management. The brand has no publicly stated climate goals, science-based targets, or commitments to carbon neutrality, putting it far behind industry peers who are actively working to reduce their carbon footprint.
There are no circular programs in place, such as take-back or repair services, to extend the life of a garment beyond its first owner. All Saints also does not publicly discuss its approach to managing unsold inventory or reducing textile waste in its supply chain, both of which are critical issues in fashion sustainability.
While All Saints avoids the worst practices of high-volume fast fashion, it fails to demonstrate a serious commitment to ethical and sustainable operations. Its progress is severely hampered by a lack of transparency and a failure to address its environmental impact.
All Saints receives a C+ for meeting minimum legal labor standards and working with some certified factories. However, the grade is held back by poor transparency, no evidence of paying living wages, and a reactive approach to ethics rather than a proactive one that prioritizes worker well-being.
The grade is a D+ due to an almost complete lack of environmental action. All Saints relies on resource-intensive conventional materials, has no published climate targets, provides no data on its carbon or water footprint, and offers no circular solutions. Its sustainability efforts appear to be superficial at best.
If the gaps in All Saints' ethics and sustainability concern you, here are several brands offering a similar aesthetic with stronger commitments to people and the planet:
Reformation offers chic, trend-forward pieces with a similar vibe to All Saints but uses sustainable fabrics like TENCEL™ and recycled materials. The B Corp is Climate Neutral Certified and provides detailed "RefScale" reports on the environmental impact of each garment.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Known for its durable and stylish outerwear, Patagonia is a leader in environmental and ethical responsibility. It's a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, uses over 87% recycled materials, guarantees Fair Trade production, and offers a lifetime repair program.
Shop now at patagonia.com
As a pioneer of ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade certified and uses sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton. Its classic, timeless designs offer an alternative for building a conscious wardrobe that lasts.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Everlane focuses on modern closet staples and practices radical transparency by sharing cost breakdowns and factory information for each product. The brand is increasing its use of organic and recycled materials and is working toward clear science-based targets.
Shop now at everlane.com
For footwear with an urban aesthetic, Veja offers sneakers made from organic cotton, wild Amazonian rubber, and innovative recycled materials. The B Corp is transparent about its production process and is committed to fair wages for its suppliers.
Shop now at veja-store.com
No, All Saints is not considered a luxury brand. It is positioned as a "premium high-street" or "contemporary" fashion brand due to its price point and quality, which sit above fast fashion but below high-end luxury designers.
There is no evidence that All Saints ensures its garment workers are paid a living wage. Publicly available information suggests workers in parts of its supply chain earn salaries that meet local minimums but fall short of the income needed for a decent standard of living.
The ethical sourcing of All Saints' leather is questionable due to a lack of certifications. The brand does not publicly hold certifications from organizations like the Leather Working Group, which audits environmental and labor practices in tanneries, making it difficult to verify its claims.
Currently, there is little public evidence to suggest that All Saints is making a significant effort to improve its sustainability. The brand has not announced any major climate commitments, material goals, or circularity initiatives that would indicate a strategic shift towards sustainability.
