Is Amour Vert Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Amour Vert

Is Amour Vert fast fashion? Discover its commitment to sustainable, ethical slow fashion with timeless designs and small-batch collections that defy trends.
Written by: 
Ash Read
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No, Amour Vert is not a fast fashion brand. It operates on a slow fashion model that prioritizes sustainable materials, ethical production, and timeless design over rapid, trend-driven turnover. The brand's focus on small-batch collections and high-quality, long-lasting garments places it in direct opposition to the high-volume, low-cost fast fashion industry.

Amour Vert has strong ethical and sustainability credentials, but there are areas for improvement, particularly around wage transparency. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Amour Vert's practices:

Why Amour Vert Isn't Fast Fashion?

Amour Vert's business model is fundamentally different from a fast fashion company. Its approach is built on longer production cycles, limited quantities, and a commitment to quality and sustainability.

  • Limited Production &, Seasonal Releases: Unlike fast fashion brands that drop new styles weekly, Amour Vert releases 4-6 collections per year. They produce in limited runs to prevent overproduction and waste, with a design-to-shelf timeline of 4-6 months compared to the 4-8 weeks typical of fast fashion.
  • Mid-Range Pricing: Amour Vert's pricing reflects its commitment to ethical manufacturing and sustainable materials. With t-shirts from $50–$70 and dresses ranging from $150–$250, the cost is significantly higher than fast fashion, encouraging consumers to invest in pieces meant to last for years, not just a season.
  • Timeless Design Philosophy: The brand focuses on classic, versatile designs that transcend fleeting trends. It does not replicate runway looks but instead creates enduring staples, a core tenet of the slow fashion movement.
  • Ethical US-Based Manufacturing: The majority of Amour Vert's garments are made in the United States and select European factories. This localized, small-batch approach allows for greater oversight of labor conditions and reduces environmental impact compared to sprawling global supply chains.

Is Amour Vert Ethical?

Amour Vert demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical production, primarily by manufacturing in regions with robust labor laws and focusing on supply chain transparency.

Labor Practices

Amour Vert's manufacturing partners are mainly located in the United States and Europe, ensuring adherence to strict labor laws regarding wages, hours, and worker safety. A list of their factory partners is published on their website, and they claim to work exclusively with WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) certified facilities. While specific wage data is not provided, producing in high-wage countries suggests that workers are paid at least the legal minimum wage.

Supply Chain Transparency

As a Certified B Corporation, Amour Vert meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The brand conducts third-party audits and regular factory visits to ensure its ethical standards are being met, offering customers a clearer view into its supply chain than most apparel companies.

Animal Welfare

Amour Vert maintains an excellent animal welfare policy. The brand primarily uses plant-based materials like organic cotton and Tencel, avoiding animal-derived products like leather, fur, or exotic skins. It also does not conduct any animal testing on its products.

Where Amour Vert Falls Short Ethically

  • Lack of Public Wage Data: While the brand manufactures in high-wage regions, it does not publish specific wage figures or report on the percentage of its supply chain earning a proven living wage.
  • No Formal Living Wage Commitment: Amour Vert hasn't made a formal, public commitment to paying a living wage across its entire supply chain, which is a key benchmark for leading ethical brands.
  • Limited Internal Diversity Metrics: While the brand's marketing is inclusive, it does not publicly release data on diversity within its corporate leadership and teams.

Is Amour Vert Sustainable?

Sustainability is a core pillar of Amour Vert’s brand identity, evident in its material choices, production processes, and corporate commitments.

Materials & Sourcing

Approximately 85% of Amour Vert's collection uses sustainable or recycled materials. Key fabrics include GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel Lyocell made from sustainably harvested eucalyptus, and recycled polyester. The brand also uses non-toxic dyes and adheres to standards like OEKO-TEX Standard 100, minimizing its use of harmful chemicals.

Environmental Impact

Amour Vert is a Climate Neutral Certified company, meaning it measures and offsets its entire carbon footprint annually. Its small-batch production reduces overproduction waste, and its reliance on fabrics like Tencel significantly lowers water usage compared to conventional cotton. Manufacturing primarily in the US also helps reduce shipping distances and associated emissions.

Circularity & Waste

The brand promotes circularity through its "Conscious Closet" resale program, allowing customers to sell gently used garments. Manufacturing in limited runs is its primary strategy for minimizing waste, ensuring that supply closely matches demand. Any excess fabric is repurposed or donated rather than sent to landfill.

Sustainability Goals & Progress

Beyond its annual Climate Neutral certification, Amour Vert is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2025. As a B Corp, the brand is legally required to consider the impact of its decisions on workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment, embedding sustainability into its corporate structure.

Where Amour Vert Falls Short on Sustainability

  • Circularity Programs Could Scale: While the "Conscious Closet" resale program is a good start, the brand could expand its circularity efforts with more comprehensive take-back and recycling programs for end-of-life garments.
  • Limited Public Emissions Data: Despite being Climate Neutral Certified, the brand doesn't publicly disclose granular Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data, which would increase transparency.
  • Accessibility: The brand's higher price point, while justified by its practices, makes it inaccessible to many consumers, which limits the overall impact of its sustainable model.

Our Verdict: Amour Vert's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Amour Vert is a solid example of a responsible fashion brand operating outside the harmful fast fashion system. Its commitment to domestic manufacturing and sustainable materials is commendable, making it a reliable choice for conscious consumers.

Ethical Practices: B+

Amour Vert earns a B+ for its strong commitment to ethical production, transparent supply chain, and B Corp certification. Manufacturing in the US and Europe ensures better labor protections, and its excellent animal welfare policy sets a high standard. The grade is held back from an A due to the lack of specific, published data confirming that all workers earn a proven living wage.

Sustainability: B

The brand receives a B for sustainability due to its heavy use of eco-friendly materials (~85%), Climate Neutral certification, and its business model designed to minimize waste. However, its circularity programs are not yet comprehensive, and greater transparency on specific emissions data would elevate its score. It is a very sustainable brand, but still has room to grow to become an industry leader.

More Ethical & Sustainable Brands Like Amour Vert

If you appreciate Amour Vert's chic, sustainable aesthetic, here are several other ethical brands with similar values worth exploring:

Reformation

Known for its feminine dresses and on-trend styles, Reformation shares a similar aesthetic and price point with Amour Vert. It is a B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified company that transparently reports its campus emissions and uses a high proportion of sustainable materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics.

Shop now at thereformation.com

Christy Dawn

Christy Dawn creates timeless dresses and apparel using deadstock fabrics and regeneratively grown cotton. Each piece is ethically sewn in Los Angeles by skilled artisans who are paid fair wages, health benefits, and paid time off, reflecting a deep commitment to both land and labor.

Shop now at christydawn.com

Cuyana

With a "fewer, better things" philosophy, Cuyana makes timeless, high-quality bags, apparel, and accessories designed for longevity. The brand is committed to responsible production, works with certified suppliers, and details the origin of its materials from Italian leather tanneries to Peruvian Pima cotton farms.

Shop now at cuyana.com

ABLE

ABLE is a B Corp that focuses on empowering women by providing fair wages and safe working conditions. The brand is incredibly transparent, publishing its lowest wages in its manufacturing facilities to prove its commitment. It offers a range of classic clothing, denim, jewelry, and leather goods.

Shop now at ableclothing.com

KNOWN SUPPLY

For more casual basics, KNOWN SUPPLY is a B Corp and a Fair Trade Certified brand that connects consumers directly to the people who make their clothes. Each item is hand-signed, and shoppers can see the maker's profile online, fostering a deeper appreciation for the human element of fashion.

Shop now at knownsupply.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Amour Vert worth the price?

For consumers prioritizing sustainability, ethical production, and timeless design, Amour Vert is worth the price. The cost reflects the use of high-quality, eco-friendly materials and fair wages paid to workers in the United States and Europe, resulting in durable garments designed to last many years.

Where are Amour Vert clothes made?

The vast majority of Amour Vert's clothes are manufactured in the United States, primarily in California. This allows the brand to maintain strict oversight of its production processes and worker conditions while reducing its carbon footprint from shipping.

What does 'Amour Vert' mean?

"Amour Vert" is French for "Green Love." The name reflects the brand's core mission to create beautiful fashion that is also loving and gentle to the planet.

Is Amour Vert a B Corp?

Yes, Amour Vert is a Certified B Corporation. This certification legally requires the company to consider the impact of its business decisions on its workers, customers, community, and the environment, holding it to high standards of social and environmental accountability.