Yes, Bebe is a fast fashion brand due to its business model of rapid trend replication, high-volume production, and frequent collection releases. The brand's ethical practices are concerning due to a lack of supply chain transparency and reports of poor labor conditions. Its sustainability efforts are minimal, heavily relying on conventional synthetic materials without measurable climate or waste reduction goals.
Many experts consider Bebe's ethical and environmental performance to be severely lacking. Here's what you need to know about Bebe's practices:
Bebe's operations fit the fast fashion model by prioritizing speed, volume, and trendy, low-cost designs over durability and ethical oversight.
Bebe’s ethical practices are poor, marked by a significant lack of transparency and a failure to ensure fair labor conditions in its supply chain.
The majority of Bebe’s production is outsourced to factories in countries with weak labor protections, where worker exploitation is common. Reports from organizations like the Clean Clothes Campaign have linked suppliers in Bangladesh to Bebe that pay workers as little as $90 per month - far below the estimated living wage of $150-$200 in the region. These reports also cite excessive hours (70+ hours per week) and unsafe working conditions.
Bebe operates with minimal transparency. The brand does not publicly disclose a list of its suppliers, factory locations, or the results of any third-party audits. This opacity makes it impossible for consumers or watchdog groups to verify any claims of ethical sourcing or fair labor standards.
The brand uses animal-derived materials like leather, fur, and wool, but provides no information about its sourcing policies or animal welfare standards. Bebe lacks any animal welfare certifications, such as those from PETA, leaving its practices and the treatment of animals in its supply chain entirely unknown.
By nearly every measure, Bebe is not a sustainable brand. Its environmental impact is significant, and the company has no meaningful public commitments or transparent initiatives to address it.
An estimated 70% or more of Bebe's apparel is made from environmentally harmful conventional fabrics like polyester, nylon, and non-organic cotton. Despite occasional marketing mentions of "eco-friendly fabrics," the brand provides no verifiable data, percentages, or certifications (like GRS, GOTS, or OEKO-TEX) to support these claims, suggesting they are a form of greenwashing.
Bebe has not published any data regarding its environmental footprint, including water consumption, chemical management, or greenhouse gas emissions. The brand has no stated goals for reducing its carbon footprint or achieving carbon neutrality. Its reliance on air freight to meet fast fashion timelines also contributes significantly to carbon emissions.
The brand has no known take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage post-consumer waste. Furthermore, Bebe's products are designed for trendiness, not durability, inevitably leading to a short lifespan and contributing to the millions of tons of textile waste that end up in landfills each year.
Bebe's business model prioritizes speed and profit above all else, resulting in significant failures in both ethical responsibility and environmental stewardship.
Bebe receives a D grade for its opaque supply chain, a lack of commitment to living wages, and documented labor issues in supplier factories. While the brand may have an internal code of conduct, its failure to publish audits or provide transparency makes it impossible to verify and suggests a lack of accountability for the well-being of its workers.
Earning an F for sustainability, Bebe shows virtually no meaningful effort to mitigate its massive environmental impact. The brand's reliance on harmful materials, absence of climate goals, lack of circularity programs, and zero transparency leave no room for a passing grade. Its occasional claims of using "eco-friendly materials" without evidence are classic greenwashing.
If you're looking for trendy styles without the steep ethical and environmental cost, consider these brands that prioritize people and the planet:
Known for its chic and on-trend designs, Reformation is a B Corp that is Climate Neutral Certified and uses eco-friendly materials like Tencel and deadstock fabrics. They offer a similar trendy aesthetic to Bebe but with full supply chain transparency and a slightly higher price point that reflects better quality.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Everlane champions "Radical Transparency," revealing the costs and factory locations for each product, many of which use sustainable materials like recycled polyester and organic cotton. It's a great choice for modern essentials with prices comparable to Bebe, and it has set clear targets to eliminate virgin plastics from its supply chain.
Shop now at everlane.com
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade Certified and primarily uses organic and natural materials to create stylish wardrobe staples. Their prices are comparable to Bebe's higher-end items, but they guarantee fair wages and safe working conditions for their makers.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Specializing in timeless basics made from genuine Egyptian cotton, Kotn works directly with cotton farmers in Egypt to ensure fair prices, safe conditions, and living wages. This B Corp maintains a transparent supply chain and invests in building schools in its farming communities.
Shop now at kotn.com
While some Bebe items may carry a higher price tag, the brand's business model is still defined by fast fashion characteristics: rapid trend turnover, short production cycles (4-6 weeks), and high volumes of new styles released frequently. Price alone doesn't define fast fashion, it's the speed and disposability of the clothing that are the key indicators.
As of late 2023, there is no public evidence to suggest that Bebe has made significant improvements. The brand continues to lack transparency regarding its supply chain, has not published any updated codes of conduct or audit results, and has not announced any commitments to paying a living wage.
After filing for bankruptcy, Bebe closed all its brick-and-mortar stores and currently operates as an e-commerce brand under Bluestar Alliance LLC, a brand management company. This change in ownership has not led to any notable improvements in its ethical or sustainability practices.
