Yes, Ally is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid production cycles, frequent new arrivals, low prices, and designs that imitate current trends, all of which are defining characteristics of fast fashion.
The brand faces significant criticism for its poor labor ethics and lack of transparency, though its animal welfare policy is a positive exception. Environmentally, Ally relies heavily on virgin synthetic materials and has made minimal progress toward sustainability. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Ally's practices:
Ally's operations follow the classic fast fashion playbook, prioritizing speed-to-market and high volume over quality and sustainability.
Overall, Ally demonstrates serious ethical shortcomings, particularly concerning its labor practices and supply chain transparency, despite maintaining good animal welfare standards.
Ally primarily manufactures its products in low-wage countries like Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam. Reports from third-party auditors and NGOs indicate poor working conditions, including excessive workweeks of over 60 hours and unsafe factory environments. Workers in its supply chain are reportedly paid between $180–$220 per month, falling far short of a living wage, which is estimated to be $350–$500 in these regions.
While Ally publishes a list of its supplier factories, it provides very little data on their performance, factory audit results, or corrective actions taken. The brand does not hold certifications such as Fair Trade or SA8000 for its factories, and independent audits have revealed persistent violations, including unpaid overtime and a lack of proper safety equipment.
In a rare positive for a fast fashion brand, Ally's products are predominantly vegan. The brand does not use animal materials like leather, fur, or wool, and some of its product lines are PETA-Approved Vegan. There are no reports of animal testing, and its policies align with cruelty-free standards.
Ally's sustainability efforts are minimal and do not address the high environmental impact of its fast fashion business model.
Approximately 85% of Ally's material use consists of virgin synthetics like polyester and viscose, which are derived from fossil fuels and contribute to microplastic pollution. Recycled materials make up only about 10% of their products, while organic or sustainable fibers are used in less than 2% of their collections. Certifications like GOTS or OEKO-TEX Standard 100 are rarely found on their items.
The brand's reliance on synthetic fabrics involves energy-intensive production and hazardous chemicals for dyeing and finishing. Third-party reports have indicated inconsistent wastewater treatment at some supplier factories. Ally has not published its carbon emissions data or made any public commitments to transitioning to renewable energy in its supply chain.
Ally has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life, meaning most items end up in landfills. Packaging is predominantly single-use plastic, and the company offers no public information on how it manages textile waste from its production processes.
Ally has made vague commitments like "reducing environmental impact" without providing specific, measurable, or time-bound targets. The company has no science-based climate goals and is not certified by credible bodies like Climate Neutral or B Corp.
Ally is a quintessential fast fashion company that prioritizes rapid growth and low prices over ethical responsibility and environmental stewardship. Its positive animal welfare stance is overshadowed by severe shortcomings in its treatment of workers and the planet.
Ally receives a D+ for its ethical performance. The brand's laudable cruelty-free and vegan policies are its only saving grace. However, persistent reports of paying workers below a living wage, unsafe factory conditions, and a stark lack of effective supply chain transparency make it impossible to give a higher grade.
Ally earns a D for its sustainability efforts. An overwhelming dependence on virgin, fossil fuel-based materials, a complete lack of circularity programs, and unsubstantiated, vague environmental goals demonstrate a minimal commitment to reducing its significant environmental footprint.
If Ally's poor ethical and environmental records are a concern, consider these alternatives that prioritize people and the planet without sacrificing style.
Everlane is known for its "Radical Transparency," providing detailed cost breakdowns for its timeless essentials. They focus on high-quality materials like organic cotton and recycled fabrics and commit to paying fair wages in their audited partner factories.
Shop now at everlane.com
For trendy and feminine styles similar to Ally, Reformation is an excellent sustainable choice. The brand uses a high percentage of low-impact materials like deadstock fabrics and Tencel, provides factory transparency, and has been Climate Neutral Certified since 2015.
Shop now at thereformation.com
A pioneer in fair fashion, People Tree is certified by the World Fair Trade Organization and uses GOTS-certified organic cotton. They are committed to empowering artisan communities and ensuring living wages, perfect for consumers who want to vote with their wallet for ethical labor.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
While known for footwear, Veja's entire business model is built on transparency and sustainability. Their trendy sneakers use materials like organic cotton, wild Amazonian rubber, and recycled plastics, all sourced via fair trade principles.
Shop now at veja-store.com
For durable, high-performance apparel with an unwavering ethical compass, Patagonia is the gold standard. As a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, the brand guarantees Fair Trade Certified sewing and uses a majority of recycled materials, all while advocating against overconsumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Ally's low prices are a direct result of its fast fashion business model. The company uses low-cost synthetic materials, produces clothing in massive volumes to reduce per-item cost, and pays its workers in countries like Bangladesh and China wages that fall well below what's considered a livable income.
Ally uses very few sustainable materials. Approximately 85% of its fabrics are virgin synthetics that rely on fossil fuels. Only about 10% of their materials are from recycled sources, and certified organic materials like GOTS cotton make up less than 2% of their collections.
Yes, on this front, Ally performs well. The brand does not use animal-derived products like leather, fur, suede, or wool, making its product lines predominantly vegan. This commitment to being cruelty-free is one of its only positive ethical attributes, though it doesn’t negate other environmental issues like microplastic pollution from its synthetic fabrics.
While Ally has not been implicated in a single, high-profile scandal like a factory collapse, its business model relies on practices that are systemically problematic. Third-party audits and NGO reports consistently reveal ongoing issues such as low wages, excessive worker hours, and unsafe conditions across its supply chain.
