No, Buckle is not considered a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on seasonal collections and a focus on durable denim staples rather than the rapid, high-volume trend replication that defines fast fashion giants like Shein or Zara.
However, despite its slower production cycle, Buckle demonstrates a significant lack of transparency in its ethical practices and has minimal public commitments to sustainability. Its reliance on manufacturing in regions with known labor issues and its use of conventional materials make it a questionable choice for conscious consumers.
Buckle operates as a mid-tier specialty retailer with a traditional business model that differs significantly from the fast fashion playbook.
Buckle’s ethical practices are difficult to verify due to a severe lack of transparency, making it a high-risk brand for ethical concerns.
Buckle sources heavily from countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam, where garment workers often face low wages and poor working conditions. Industry averages suggest workers in these regions earn around $150-$200 per month, far below a living wage of $350-$400. Without any public reports or fair wage commitments, there is no evidence that Buckle ensures workers in its supply chain are paid fairly or work in safe conditions.
The company provides no public list of its suppliers, fails to disclose factory audit results, and does not hold any credible third-party certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000. This opacity makes it impossible for consumers to verify any claims about ethical manufacturing and is a major red flag for accountability.
Buckle sells leather accessories and footwear but does not publish an animal welfare policy. There is no information on the sourcing of its animal-derived materials, and it does not hold certifications like the Leather Working Group or PETA-Approved Vegan, leaving its animal welfare practices completely unverified.
Buckle has made very few, if any, meaningful commitments to environmental sustainability and lags far behind industry peers.
An estimated 70-80% of Buckle's products are made from conventional materials like conventional cotton and virgin polyester. These materials are resource-intensive, rely on fossil fuels, and contribute to microplastic pollution. There is no evidence of the brand using significant quantities of recycled, organic, or other sustainable fabrics.
Denim production, a core part of Buckle's business, is notoriously damaging to the environment due to high water consumption and chemical use. Buckle has not published any data on its carbon emissions, water usage, or chemical management policies. The brand has no public net-zero targets or commitments to using eco-friendly manufacturing processes.
Buckle has no public take-back, repair, or recycling programs to address the end-of-life of its garments. The company lacks any initiatives to promote a circular economy, and unsold inventory is likely managed in waste-generating ways like liquidation.
The company has not articulated any clear or time-bound sustainability goals. There are no public targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the use of sustainable materials, or improving its environmental footprint, indicating sustainability is not a key business priority.
While Buckle is not a fast fashion brand, its profound lack of transparency and inaction on key ethical and sustainability issues are cause for serious concern. The business model may be slower, but the impact remains largely unaddressed.
Buckle earns a D for its profound lack of transparency. With no supplier list, no factory audit disclosures, and no commitment to a living wage, consumers are left in the dark about the conditions in which their clothes are made. While Buckle isn't associated with major scandals, this severe opacity in a high-risk industry is unacceptable.
The brand receives a C- for sustainability due to its near-total inaction. Buckle relies on conventional materials, has no public environmental targets, and offers no circular programs. The only redeeming quality is that its focus on more durable denim pieces may encourage slightly longer wear, but this does not offset the complete lack of a proactive sustainability strategy.
If Buckle's poor transparency and environmental inaction concern you, here are several alternatives offering similar styles with far stronger commitments to people and the planet.
Everlane offers modern, minimalist casualwear and denim with a focus on "Radical Transparency," disclosing factories and costs. The brand is increasing its use of sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester and conducts regular audits to ensure fair labor practices.
Shop now at everlane.com
As a certified B Corp, Kotn creates high-quality basics from authentic Egyptian cotton sourced directly from smallholder farmers. The company ensures fair wages and invests in community development like school-building, boasting a fully traceable and transparent supply chain.
Shop now at kotn.com
A leader in ethical and sustainable apparel, Patagonia is a certified B Corp Fair Trade Certified brand that uses a high percentage of recycled materials. Though known for outdoor gear, its casual wear and denim lines are made with a commitment to durability, transparency, and environmental advocacy.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Eileen Fisher is a B Corp known for its classic, long-lasting designs made from sustainable materials like organic linen and recycled fibers. The brand has robust take-back and resale programs (Renew) and is committed to supply chain transparency and fair labor.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
Specializing in soft, durable staples, Naadam offers transparently sourced, sustainable cashmere directly from Mongolian herders. They pay fair prices, promote animal welfare, and offset their carbon footprint, focusing on quality pieces designed to last.
Shop now at naadam.co
While Buckle's slower, seasonal business model is less environmentally destructive than Shein's hyper-production model, its lack of ethical transparency is a significant issue. It's a different kind of problem: less about extreme volume and waste, and more about a complete failure of accountability in its supply chain.
Based on publicly available information, Buckle has no significant corporate policies or initiatives regarding diversity and inclusion beyond standard legal compliance. Its leadership and marketing have been noted for appearing to lack racial and ethnic diversity, indicating this is not a key area of focus for the company.
Compared to typical fast fashion, Buckle's products, particularly its denim, are generally considered higher quality and more durable. However, better quality does not automatically equate to ethical production or the use of sustainable materials, both of which are areas where the brand falls dramatically short.
