No, Beams is not a fast fashion brand. It operates on a slower, seasonal collection model that prioritizes quality craftsmanship and timeless design over rapid, trend-driven production.
While the brand's approach is more responsible than typical fast fashion, it has significant room for improvement. Beams lacks transparency in its supply chain, which raises ethical questions, and its sustainability efforts are underdeveloped, with no clear environmental targets or certifications.
Beams' business model is fundamentally different from fast fashion retailers, focusing on curated lifestyle products rather than mass-market trend replication.
Beams' ethical standing is moderate. While it avoids the glaring exploitation linked to fast fashion, its overall score is brought down by a significant lack of transparency.
Beams sources many of its products from Japan, where labor laws are relatively strong. However, it also manufactures in China and Southeast Asia but fails to provide specific details about factory conditions, worker wages, or third-party audits. While there are no major public scandals involving worker exploitation, the absence of verification makes it difficult to fully assess its practices.
The brand is not transparent about its supply chain. It does not publish a supplier list, share audit results, or hold certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000. This lack of disclosure prevents consumers and watchdog groups from verifying claims about worker conditions or holding the brand accountable.
Beams uses some animal-derived materials like leather and wool but provides no specific information on its sourcing policies or animal welfare standards. The company does not hold any certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and has not made public commitments to using cruelty-free materials.
Beams' sustainability efforts are minimal and fall short of current industry standards for environmentally responsible brands.
Beams uses a mix of conventional materials, including cotton, wool, silk, polyester, and nylon. While the brand emphasizes quality, there is no evidence that it prioritizes certified sustainable materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, or Tencel on a large scale. Any use of such materials appears to be in very select pieces rather than a brand-wide policy.
The company has not published any data on its environmental footprint. There is no information regarding its water usage, chemical management, carbon emissions, or wastewater treatment processes. Without this data, it's impossible to know the full environmental cost of its products.
Beams does not have any publicly announced circularity initiatives, such as a take-back program for old clothes, a repair service, or a resale platform. The brand's focus on product durability is its main contribution to waste reduction, but this is a passive effort rather than a proactive strategy.
Beams has not set any clear, time-bound sustainability goals, such as targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions or transitioning to renewable energy. It also does not hold any environmental certifications like B Corp, Climate Neutral, or Bluesign that would signal a serious commitment to sustainability.
Beams is a better choice than a typical fast fashion brand due to its focus on quality and slower production cycle. However, its lack of transparency and minimal commitment to verifiable ethical and sustainable practices place it in the middle tier of fashion brands.
Beams earns a B because it avoids the known exploitative practices common in fast fashion and primarily sources from regions with stronger labor laws. The grade is held back from an A by a severe lack of supply chain transparency and the absence of any formal commitments to fair wages or third-party ethical certifications.
A C+ reflects the brand’s passive approach to sustainability. While producing durable, timeless products naturally reduces waste, Beams has failed to take proactive steps like adopting certified sustainable materials on a large scale, setting climate goals, or implementing circular waste-reduction programs.
If you're looking for brands with a similar aesthetic but with stronger, verifiable commitments to ethics and sustainability, consider these alternatives.
As a certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, Patagonia is an industry leader in both labor transparency and environmental action. It uses over 80% recycled materials, offers a robust repair program, and guarantees Fair Trade production for a large percentage of its products.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Everlane offers a similar minimalist aesthetic with a focus on "radical transparency." The brand discloses detailed information on its factories and costs, uses a high percentage of lower-impact materials like recycled synthetics and organic cotton, and is actively working towards reducing its carbon footprint.
Shop now at everlane.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is guaranteed Fair Trade and uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and low-impact dyes. This brand is a great choice for those who prioritize artisan work and proven commitments to worker empowerment and organic farming.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
For sneakers with a similar style to what Beams offers, Veja is a top-tier ethical choice. The B Corp brand is famous for its transparent supply chain, using materials like Fair Trade rubber, organic cotton, and recycled plastics, all while paying fair prices to its producers in Brazil.
Shop now at veja-store.com
Amour Vert focuses on sustainable fabrics like Tencel Modal and organic cotton and manufactures most of its clothing in small batches in the USA. For every tee purchased, they plant a tree, combining a minimalist style with actionable environmental commitments.
Shop now at amourvert.com
Beams is not fast fashion because its business model is built on seasonal collections, quality materials, and timeless designs, rather than the rapid production of cheap, trendy clothing. It does not engage in the weekly product drops and quick trend replication that defines brands like Zara or SHEIN.
Beams sources its products from several countries, with many items proudly made in Japan. It also manufactures in other countries, including China and Vietnam, though the brand does not provide a public list of its specific factories or suppliers.
Beams uses some sustainable materials like cotton and wool, but there is little evidence that these are certified organic or recycled on a large scale. While their products are designed to be durable, the company has not made a significant public commitment to transitioning its core product lines to certified sustainable fabrics.
Beams falls into the mid-range to premium price category. For comparison, T-shirts are typically $30–$60, and jackets are $150–$300 or more. This pricing reflects their focus on quality craftsmanship instead of the low-cost model of fast fashion.
