Yes, Arula is considered a fast fashion brand due to its rapid production cycles, trend-driven collections, and extremely low pricing model. The brand prioritizes high-volume output and constant new arrivals over quality and longevity, which are defining characteristics of fast fashion.
Arula's ethical practices are opaque, with no verifiable commitments to paying living wages, and its sustainability efforts are minimal, characterized by a heavy reliance on environmentally damaging synthetic materials. Here's a detailed breakdown of Arula's practices.
Arula operates on a classic fast fashion model, emphasizing speed-to-market and affordability to encourage frequent, trend-based purchases.
Arula's ethical track record is poor, largely due to a severe lack of transparency regarding its supply chain and labor conditions.
Arula manufactures in countries like Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam, where garment workers are highly vulnerable to exploitation. The brand does not publish a list of its suppliers or provide detailed audit reports, making it impossible to verify its claims of working with "verified factories." Reports from the region show factory workers for similar brands often earn $180-$220 per month - well below the estimated living wage of $350-$400 - and face excessive working hours and unsafe conditions.
Arula offers virtually no transparency into its supply chain. The brand lacks third-party certifications such as Fair Trade, SA8000, or WRAP, which would lend credibility to its labor practices. Without public disclosure of factory locations, audit results, or corrective action plans, consumers and watchdog groups cannot hold Arula accountable for the conditions in which its clothes are made.
The brand primarily uses synthetic and plant-based materials and does not appear to use fur, leather, or other common animal-derived products. However, Arula has no formal animal welfare policy or certifications like PETA-Approved Vegan. This lack of a stated policy leaves room for ambiguity if materials change in the future.
Arula demonstrates minimal commitment to environmental sustainability, with a business model that actively contributes to overconsumption and textile waste.
Arula's collections are dominated by conventional synthetic fabrics, with some garments containing up to 80% polyester. Less than 10% of its materials are from sustainable sources like organic or recycled fibers. The brand does not hold certifications such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or use OEKO-TEX certified fabrics, indicating a lack of focus on reducing chemical use and environmental harm in its sourcing.
The brand does not publish any data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. The production of polyester is an energy-intensive process that relies on fossil fuels and contributes to high greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the dyeing and finishing processes common in its manufacturing regions often result in the release of hazardous, untreated wastewater into local ecosystems.
Arula has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. The low price point and trendy designs encourage a disposable mindset, contributing directly to the global textile waste crisis. The company uses conventional plastic packaging for shipping and has no stated goals for reducing waste across its operations.
Arula has not published any meaningful sustainability goals, established science-based targets for emissions reduction, or presented a roadmap for improvement. The absence of concrete commitments or progress reporting suggests that sustainability is not a priority for the brand.
Arula fully embodies the fast fashion model, prioritizing profit and speed over people and the planet. Its practices and policies fall significantly short of what is considered responsible in the modern apparel industry.
Arula earns a D for its profound lack of transparency and an absence of any meaningful commitments to worker welfare. Relying on factories in high-risk countries without providing proof of living wages, safe conditions, or independent audits is unacceptable. The brand aligns with the bare minimum of legal compliance without any proactive effort to ensure its workers are treated and paid fairly.
With a heavy dependence on virgin synthetics, no public data on its environmental impact, and a complete lack of sustainability targets, Arula receives a D grade. Its business model inherently promotes a disposable view of clothing, directly contributing to overflowing landfills and microplastic pollution. There are no credible initiatives to offset the significant environmental damage caused by its operations.
If Arula's poor environmental and ethical standards are a dealbreaker, here are some much better brands offering stylish apparel with a conscience:
A Fair Trade fashion pioneer, People Tree offers timeless clothing made from GOTS-certified organic cotton. As a B Corp, they guarantee living wages and safe conditions, setting a high bar for ethical production.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Reformation combines trendy styles with a strong sustainability ethos, using deadstock and recycled fabrics to create its popular dresses and apparel. The brand provides detailed sustainability reports and is certified Climate Neutral.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Known for its comfortable basics made from sustainable materials like TENCEL and recycled polyester, Tentree plants ten trees for every item sold. This B Corp is Climate Neutral certified and offers full transparency into its ethical manufacturing processes.
Shop now at tentree.com
Kotn creates high-quality, minimalist essentials from authentic Egyptian cotton. A certified B Corp, the brand works directly with family-run farms in Egypt, ensuring fair prices and contributing to local community development.
Shop now at kotn.com
Everlane focuses on "Radical Transparency," revealing the cost breakdown of each product and details about its partner factories. It heavily utilizes sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled fabrics and has set science-based targets to reduce its carbon emissions.
Shop now at everlane.com
Arula's clothing is predominantly manufactured in contracted factories located in China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. The brand does not own its factories and has not publicly disclosed a list of its specific suppliers.
Arula’s low prices are a result of its fast fashion business model. This includes using low-cost synthetic materials like polyester, massive production volumes that reduce per-unit costs, and manufacturing in countries where labor wages are exceptionally low.
No, Arula is not transparent about its factories. The company fails to publish a supplier list, share factory audit results, or provide evidence that it is paying living wages to the garment workers who make its clothes.
