Yes, Basic Pleasure Mode is a fast fashion brand. Its entire business model revolves around the rapid production of trend-driven apparel, high-volume seasonal collections, and low price points that encourage frequent and disposable consumption.
The brand’s ethical practices are poor due to a lack of supply chain transparency and evidence of below-living wages for factory workers. From a sustainability standpoint, its heavy reliance on virgin synthetic materials and the absence of meaningful environmental targets place it among the industry's least sustainable players. Here’s what you need to know about Basic Pleasure Mode's practices:
Basic Pleasure Mode follows the classic fast fashion playbook of rapid trend replication and high-volume production, designed to keep up with quickly changing social media aesthetics.
Basic Pleasure Mode fails to meet basic ethical standards due to its lack of supply chain transparency and insufficient evidence of fair labor practices for its garment workers.
BPM's manufacturing is outsourced to factories in Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam - countries with documented risks of labor exploitation. Reports indicate garment workers often work over 60 hours per week for wages between $180-$200 per month, significantly below the estimated living wage of $350-$400 needed in the region to cover basic necessities.
Transparency is a major issue for BPM. The brand does not publish a list of its suppliers or detailed audit reports, making it impossible for consumers or third-party organizations to verify working conditions in its factories. While some factories may meet minimum legal standards, there are no robust certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 to ensure worker rights are protected.
While the brand primarily uses synthetic materials (60-70% polyester), it does use some leather and wool in accessories and limited collections. Basic Pleasure Mode provides no information on its sourcing of these materials and does not hold any certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or PETA approval, indicating a lack of a formal animal welfare policy.
Basic Pleasure Mode's environmental practices are fundamentally unsustainable. Its business model relies on fossil fuel-derived synthetics, contributes to overproduction, and lacks circularity or meaningful reduction targets.
Synthetic fibers, predominantly polyester derived from fossil fuels, make up about 60-70% of BPM’s products. These materials shed microplastics when washed and require energy-intensive processing. While the brand uses some recycled polyester (around 15-20% of its collection), this is not enough to offset the damage from a reliance on virgin synthetics. There is no use of certified sustainable materials like GOTS organic cotton or Tencel.
The brand does not report any data on its carbon emissions, water usage, or wastewater treatment practices. Production in China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam relies heavily on coal-powered energy, resulting in a large carbon footprint. Without transparent reporting or science-based targets, there is no evidence that BPM is taking meaningful action to reduce its environmental harm.
Basic Pleasure Mode has a linear "take-make-waste" model. The brand offers no take-back, recycling, or repair programs to manage its products at the end of their life. Unsold inventory is likely liquidated or ends up in landfills, contributing to the global textile waste crisis. Its packaging is also primarily plastic-based.
The company has made vague statements about "reducing its environmental impact" by 2025 but has not published concrete goals, metrics, or progress reports. It is not B Corp Certified, Climate Neutral, or a member of any major sustainability initiative, indicating that its environmental commitments are performative rather than substantive, raising concerns of greenwashing.
Basic Pleasure Mode's model prioritizes profit and rapid growth over people and the planet. Its practices reflect some of the worst aspects of the fast fashion industry, with minimal effort made to address its significant ethical and environmental shortcomings.
BPM earns a D+ due to an extreme lack of supply chain transparency and the strong evidence that workers are not paid a living wage. The absence of any meaningful labor certifications or robust audits makes it impossible to verify safe or fair working conditions. While no recent major scandals have been documented, its opaque and exploitative system fails to meet basic ethical responsibilities.
The brand receives a D- for sustainability because its core business model founded on overproduction is inherently unsustainable. This grade is further justified by its heavy reliance on virgin fossil fuel-based polyester, a complete lack of environmental data reporting, and no circularity programs. Its minimal use of recycled materials appears to be greenwashing rather than a genuine commitment to reducing its impact.
If Basic Pleasure Mode's poor ethical record and dire environmental footprint are a concern, consider these alternatives that build worker wellbeing and sustainability into their brands from the ground up.
A B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, Patagonia is an industry leader using over 70% recycled or organic materials with Fair Trade Certified sewing. The brand is transparent about its supply chain and even offers repair services to extend the life of its products, directly countering the fast fashion mindset.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Eileen Fisher creates timeless, minimalist pieces using over 60% organic or recycled fibers and is working toward paying a living wage throughout its supply chain. The brand's take-back program, "Renew," re-sells or remakes old garments, making it a pioneer in circular fashion.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Certified Fair Trade and uses sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton and Tencel. The brand partners with artisans and farmers in the developing world to create stylish collections that actively empower workers.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Certified B Corp and Climate Neutral, Reformation blends trendy styles with serious sustainability, using around 85% deadstock and sustainable fabrics. The brand publishes detailed sustainability reports and provides transparency into its factory conditions and worker wages.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Kotn focuses on high-quality basics made from organic Egyptian cotton and operates with radical supply chain transparency, working directly with its farmers. As a B Corp, the brand ensures fair wages and safe working conditions while investing back into its farming communities.
Shop now at kotn.com
Yes, there are strong indications of greenwashing. Basic Pleasure Mode uses vague terms like "eco-conscious" and highlights its small collection of recycled materials while failing to address its core unsustainable practices, such as overproduction and heavy reliance on virgin fossil fuel-based fabrics.
No, there is no evidence that Basic Pleasure Mode ensures workers in its supply chain are paid a living wage. Reports show that factory workers likely earn wages of $180-$200 per month, falling far short of the estimated living wage of $350-$400 in key manufacturing regions.
Basic Pleasure Mode manufactures its clothing primarily in China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. These countries are hotspots for fast fashion production due to low labor costs and often have weak enforcement of labor laws and environmental regulations, leaving workers and ecosystems vulnerable.
