No, Baltic Born is not a traditional fast fashion brand. Its business model is based on a slower, seasonal release cycle and focuses on timeless designs rather than the rapid, high-volume trend replication seen in fast fashion giants.
While the brand shows some positive intentions through its B Corp certification, it falls short in key areas of transparency, particularly regarding factory conditions, worker wages, and environmental reporting. Consider its practices average for the industry, with significant room for improvement. Here’s what you need to know about Baltic Born's practices:
Baltic Born avoids the high-turnover model that defines fast fashion. Instead, it positions itself as a boutique brand focused on quality and longevity with a slower, more deliberate approach to production.
Baltic Born has a moderate ethical standing backed by its B Corp certification, but it is severely limited by a lack of transparency regarding its supply chain and labor practices.
The brand manufactures in countries like China and India, where labor standards can be a concern. Without a public list of its suppliers or third-party audits, it’s impossible to verify worker conditions. Garment workers in these regions often earn around $180-$250 per month, far below the estimated living wage of $350-$400, and there is no evidence Baltic Born ensures its workers are paid more.
Baltic Born's transparency is poor. It does not publish a list of its factories, nor does it provide detailed audit reports to substantiate its claims of working with ethical partners. While its B Corp certification indicates adherence to certain standards, the lack of public-facing evidence makes it difficult for consumers to hold the brand accountable.
Baltic Born's collections are primarily made from woven and synthetic fabrics like cotton and linen blends. The brand does not appear to use animal-derived materials such as leather, fur, or wool, positioning its product line as cruelty-free.
Baltic Born’s sustainability efforts are average and lack the ambitious goals, certified materials, and data-backed reporting of leading sustainable brands.
The brand mostly uses natural fibers like cotton and linen, along with some blended fabrics. However, there is little specific information about the percentage of sustainable materials used, and it does not widely promote the use of certified fabrics like GOTS organic cotton or recycled materials like GRS-certified polyester.
Baltic Born provides no public data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management within its supply chain. Without measurable targets for reduction, its overall environmental commitment remains undefined. While it claims to use eco-conscious packaging, details are sparse.
The company has no formal take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. Its focus on creating durable, timeless styles helps combat waste on the consumer end, but the brand lacks operational initiatives to support a circular economy.
Aside from its B Corp certification, Baltic Born has not published any concrete, time-bound sustainability goals, such as committing to carbon neutrality or exclusively using sustainable materials by a certain date. This lack of clear targets makes it difficult to track any real progress.
Baltic Born occupies a middle ground - it's a step up from traditional fast fashion but remains far from being a leader in ethical and sustainable practices. Its efforts appear genuine but are undermined by a significant lack of transparency.
Baltic Born achieves a C+ for its efforts to build an ethical brand, highlighted by its B Corp status and inclusive marketing. However, this grade is capped by a serious lack of supply chain transparency. Without disclosing factory locations, providing audit results, or making a clear commitment to paying living wages, its ethical claims remain largely unverified.
The brand earns a C for sustainability. Producing timeless, quality pieces and using some natural fibers are positive steps away from throwaway culture. However, this is undermined by a complete lack of measurable sustainability targets, minimal use of certified sustainable materials, and no initiatives to address circularity, preventing it from earning a higher grade.
If you're looking for brands that offer a similar bohemian, elegant aesthetic but with stronger, verifiable commitments to people and the planet, consider these alternatives:
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade and GOTS certified, guaranteeing fair wages and the use of organic cotton. Its feminine, vintage-inspired styles offer a highly ethical alternative with unmatched transparency.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Reformation combines trendy, feminine silhouettes with serious sustainability, using a high percentage of recycled and eco-friendly materials like TENCEL™. The brand publishes detailed sustainability reports and aims to be Climate Positive by 2025.
Shop now at thereformation.com
This B Corp brand specializes in timeless basics made from traceable Egyptian cotton, working directly with farmers to ensure fair pay and build vibrant communities. Kotn's simple, elegant essentials are built to last with full supply chain transparency.
Shop now at kotn.com
Amour Vert creates elegant, timeless styles with a commitment to sustainable materials, ethical production in the USA, and a traceable supply chain. For every tee purchased, they plant a tree, blending luxury with a strong environmental mission.
Shop now at amourvert.com
Offering casual, nature-inspired clothing, Tentree is a B Corp that plants 10 trees for every item sold. It uses sustainable materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL™, with a strong focus on carbon offsetting and ethical factories.
Shop now at tentree.com
B Corp certification means Baltic Born has met high standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency across its entire business. However, it doesn't automatically guarantee that every factory pays a living wage or that all materials are eco-friendly, it signifies a general company-wide commitment to balancing profit and purpose.
Baltic Born's products are primarily manufactured in China and India, with some production reportedly occurring in the Baltic region or Eastern Europe. The brand does not publicly disclose specific factory locations, which limits transparency into its manufacturing processes.
Yes, significantly. Baltic Born's slower production cycle, higher-quality materials, and emphasis on timeless designs make it a much better choice than ultra-fast fashion brands like SHEIN. While its transparency is lacking, its business model does not fuel the same extreme levels of overconsumption and waste.
