No, Banned Alternative is not a fast fashion brand. Due to its deliberate 'slow fashion' approach, it focuses on smaller, seasonal collections, timeless designs, and higher quality materials rather than rapidly producing trend-driven clothing at high volumes.
The brand demonstrates a strong ethical commitment through transparent supply chains and certified labor practices. While it makes significant strides in sustainability by using eco-friendly materials, it still has room to improve in achieving universal living wages and full emissions transparency.
Banned Alternative's business model is fundamentally different from fast fashion. It prioritizes durability, original design, and quality over the speed and volume that characterize brands like Zara or Shein.
Banned Alternative demonstrates a solid and transparent commitment to ethical practices, setting a strong example in the fashion industry.
The brand's sourcing is concentrated in Europe, North America, Turkey, and India, with factories regularly audited by third parties like the Fair Wear Foundation and SA8000. Workers generally maintain 40-48 hour work weeks in safe conditions. For instance, workers in its Turkish factories earn $350-$400 per month, which is above the current minimum wage but still short of the estimated living wage of $500-$600 for the region.
Banned Alternative excels in transparency by publishing detailed lists of its suppliers along with audit reports on its website. This allows customers to verify its claims and understand where their clothing is made. The brand is also a signatory of the Ethical Trading Initiative, further cementing its commitment to fair labor practices.
Following cruelty-free principles, Banned Alternative does not use real fur, exotic skins, or untested animal-derived materials. Its primary materials include vegan options and materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, which ensures fair treatment of both people and the environment.
Banned Alternative has built its brand on strong environmental principles, but there is still work to be done to become a true industry leader.
Roughly 70-80% of its materials are sustainably sourced, including GOTS-certified organic cotton from India and Turkey, FSC-certified Tencel Lyocell, and recycled polyester from post-consumer waste. For example, GOTS organic cotton farming drastically reduces pesticide use, and the closed-loop production for Tencel recycles nearly 100% of the water and solvents used.
The company reports a carbon footprint approximately 35% lower than comparable fast fashion brands and a 45% reduction in water use due to its fabric choices. Most of its manufacturing partners use non-toxic dyes and have implemented modern wastewater treatment systems to minimize chemical pollution.
Banned Alternative actively combats waste with a take-back program for recycling old garments and a "Recycle & Reuse" initiative. It also makes use of a portion of deadstock fabric to create new, limited edition products. Packaging is primarily made from recycled materials, with a focus on minimizing plastics.
The brand has a clear roadmap with ambitious goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and becoming a certified B Corp. It is also engaging with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure its emissions targets are aligned with the latest climate science.
Banned Alternative stands out as a genuinely conscious mid-range option, especially within the alternative fashion scene. Its model is thoughtfully constructed to avoid the pitfalls of fast fashion, successfully balancing unique style with credible ethical and environmental considerations.
A B+ is well-deserved due to the company's strong transparency, Fair Wear Foundation membership, audited factories, and proactive stance on animal welfare. They provide clear, verified information about their supply chain. The grade is held back from an A due to the slow implementation of a universal living wage and lingering compliance issues in a few of its partner facilities.
The brand earns a solid B for its high percentage of sustainable materials, clear carbon reduction goals, and waste-reduction programs. Its use of innovative fabrics like Tencel Lyocell and its climate-neutral targets demonstrate genuine commitment. To get a higher score, it would need to increase its use of organic materials, reduce its reliance on recycled synthetics, and achieve full transparency across its entire supply chain's carbon footprint.
If you appreciate Banned Alternative’s commitment to thoughtful design and ethical production, here are some other brands with similar values worth exploring:
Known for colorful and comfortable dungarees and unique prints, Lucy & Yak is a B Corp that prioritizes Fair Trade principles and organic materials. With price points between $50-$120, the brand shows a strong commitment to paying living wages to its makers in India and uses GOTS-certified organic fabrics.
Shop now at lucyandyak.com
A marketplace and in-house brand with a strong focus on minimalist essentials, KnowTheOrigin is dedicated to 100% supply chain transparency. A certified B Corp, they use materials like Fairtrade and GOTS certified organic cotton and ensure all factory workers receive fair, living wages.
Shop now at shop.knowtheorigin.com
Thought offers contemporary clothing made from natural and sustainable materials like organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp. They commit to slow, considered collections and adhere to a strict ethical code for all their suppliers, building long-term relationships to ensure consistency and fairness.
Shop now at wearethought.com
This German brand creates modern, timeless fashion essentials and is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation and GOTS certified. Focusing on sustainable materials like organic cotton, organic linen, and recycled polyester, Armedangels is strongly committed to fair working conditions and detoxification of the textile industry.
Shop now at armedangels.com
Operating a transparent farm-to-hanger model in Egypt, KOTN produces high-quality wardrobe essentials from authentic Egyptian cotton. As a certified B-Corp, the brand empowers its farming communities by funding schools and ensuring fair prices, traceability, and ethical production at every step.
Shop now at kotn.com
While sharing a similar alternative aesthetic, Banned Alternative's business model is fundamentally different. It operates on a 'slow fashion' schedule with a focus on ethical production and sustainability, whereas brands like Killstar and Dolls Kill more closely align with the fast fashion model of rapid, trend-driven production with less supply chain transparency.
Banned Alternative's key ethical certifications include affiliation with the UK's Ethical Trading Initiative and audits from independent bodies like the Fair Wear Foundation and SA8000. It uses organic cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Tencel Lyocell certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Generally, yes. The mid-range pricing reflects the cost of higher-quality, sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing with fair wages, and original designs built to last. For consumers looking to invest in better quality pieces that align with their ethical values, the price is a fair reflection of the product's true cost.
Yes, Banned Alternative actively follows 'slow fashion' principles. Its commitment to two to four collections per year demonstrates a focus on quality over quantity and encourages consumers to build a lasting wardrobe rather than chasing fleeting trends.
