No, Anthropologie is not considered a fast fashion brand. Its business model avoids the rapid production, rock-bottom prices, and aggressive trend replication that define companies like Zara and Shein. Instead, Anthropologie focuses on a curated, bohemian aesthetic, higher price points, and a slower, more deliberate fashion calendar.
While the brand makes efforts towards ethical sourcing and uses some sustainable materials, it faces significant shortcomings in supply chain transparency and lacks robust environmental commitments. This leaves many of its ethical and sustainability claims difficult to verify. Here’s what you need to know about Anthropologie's practices:
Anthropologie’s business model is fundamentally different from fast fashion. It prioritizes creating a specific lifestyle aesthetic over chasing micro-trends at high speeds.
Anthropologie meets some basic ethical standards, but its lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess the full scope of its labor practices. It fails to provide the third-party verification needed to be considered a leader in ethical fashion.
Anthropologie sources from factories in countries including India, China, Vietnam, and Turkey. The company states it upholds a Supplier Code of Conduct and conducts audits for social compliance. However, it does not publish a supplier list or detailed third-party audit reports, creating opacity around working conditions and making its claims hard to verify independently.
While Anthropologie claims it pays fair wages, there is no evidence this translates to a living wage for all workers in its supply chain. For example, investigative reports have found that garment workers in Vietnam may earn around $180-$220 per month, which falls significantly short of the estimated living wage of approximately $350 per month for the region.
Anthropologie uses animal-derived materials like wool, silk, leather, and feathers but lacks a formal animal welfare policy. The company does not hold certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or Responsible Down Standard (RDS), meaning the treatment of animals in its supply chain is not guaranteed.
Anthropologie has taken some positive but limited steps toward sustainability, primarily in its choice of materials. However, its overall environmental strategy lacks clear targets, data transparency, and circularity initiatives, with potential for greenwashing.
The brand states that 20-30% of its textiles include sustainable materials like certified organic cotton (GOTS) and Tencel™ Lyocell. It also uses some recycled polyester with Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification. However, conventional synthetics like polyester and nylon still make up a significant portion - estimated at 50-60% - of its product offerings.
Anthropologie lacks transparency on its environmental footprint. The company does not publish data regarding its greenhouse gas emissions (scope 1, 2, or 3), water consumption, or chemical usage in manufacturing. While it has set a goal to source 100% sustainable cotton by 2025, progress reports are not publicly detailed.
Circular fashion practices are largely absent. Anthropologie does not have any established repair, resale, or take-back programs to manage clothing at the end of its life. Its waste-reduction efforts are primarily focused on using recycled fibers in some products and some paper-based packaging, but it falls short of addressing post-consumer waste.
Despite not being a fast fashion brand, Anthropologie's practices leave significant room for improvement across both ethical and environmental categories. Its efforts feel more like introductory steps rather than a deep, transparent commitment to building a truly responsible business.
Anthropologie earns a C+ for having basic social compliance standards but suffering from a major lack of transparency. The failure to publish factory lists or sufficient audit details, combined with evidence that worker wages may fall below living wage standards, overshadows its public-facing commitments. It meets minimum expectations but is far from an industry leader.
The brand receives a C for its sustainability efforts. While the use of some certified materials like organic cotton and GRS recycled polyester is a positive step, this is offset by its heavy continued use of virgin synthetics. The absence of clear environmental targets, transparent data, and any circular programs keeps its grade in average territory.
If Anthropologie's ethical and environmental shortcomings concern you, here are better alternatives that offer similar styles with stronger commitments to workers and the planet:
Offering trendy, feminine styles similar to Anthropologie's aesthetic, Reformation is Climate Neutral Certified and uses a high percentage (45-60%) of low-impact materials like TENCEL™ Modal and recycled fabrics. It publishes quarterly sustainability reports and ensures fair wages are paid in its Los Angeles factory.
Shop now at thereformation.com
For timeless, minimalist pieces, B Corp certified Eileen Fisher is an industry leader. It focuses on fair labor, uses 50-70% sustainable materials like organic linen and recycled cashmere, and runs a robust circularity program called Renew, where it takes back and resells old garments.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is a guaranteed Fair Trade brand that offers unique, artisanal styles and basics. It exclusively uses sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton and practices small-scale production that empowers artisans in developing countries with living wages.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Known for modern basics and "radical transparency" on factory partners and production costs, Everlane uses a high percentage of preferred materials like recycled fabrics and organic cotton. It is Climate Neutral Certified and has set clear goals for reducing its carbon and water footprints throughout its supply chain.
Shop now at everlane.com
Though an outdoor brand, Patagonia offers many casual pieces and is a gold standard for a brand's responsibility. As a certified B-Corp and 1% for the Planet Member, it uses 70%+ recycled or organic materials, supports Fair Trade Certified factories, and offers lifetime repairs to combat overconsumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Yes, Anthropologie is owned by URBN Inc., a publicly traded company that also owns Urban Outfitters and Free People. The ethical and environmental policies of its sister brands have also faced criticism, indicating that conscious practices are not yet a core focus for the parent company.
Not necessarily. While Anthropologie has a supplier code of conduct, its lack of transparency means there is no guarantee that all items are made in factories with fair labor standards and safe working conditions. Without third-party audits and certifications being publicly shared, consumers cannot confirm its ethical claims.
Yes, many of Anthropologie's non-leather goods made from cotton, linen, and synthetic materials are technically vegan. However, the brand does not hold any official vegan certifications, and due to a lack of shared production details, the potential for cross-contamination with animal products in factories can't be ruled out.
