Yes, Cape Clique is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on the rapid production of trend-driven apparel, high-volume releases, and ultra-low pricing, all of which are defining characteristics of fast fashion.
The brand's ethical and environmental accountability is low, marked by a severe lack of transparency in its supply chain, no publicly available data on its environmental impact, and an absence of certifications for fair labor or sustainable materials. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Cape Clique's practices.
Cape Clique exhibits all the classic traits of a fast fashion brand through its production speed, scale, and focus on fleeting trends.
Cape Clique’s ethical practices are highly questionable due to a complete lack of transparency, making it impossible to verify any claims about worker treatment or fair wages.
The brand does not publish a list of its suppliers, which is a major red flag for ethical sourcing. Manufacturing in countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam raises immediate concerns, as workers in the garment industry there often face wages far below a living wage. Reports show workers in these regions typically earn $180-$250 per month, while a living wage is estimated to be $350-$400.
There is zero supply chain transparency. Cape Clique provides no public information on its factory locations, audit results, or corrective action plans for labor violations. This lack of disclosure prevents independent organizations and consumers from assessing the actual conditions of its workers.
While most of its products are made from synthetic materials, Cape Clique does use some leather and wool without providing any certifications, such as the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). This means there is no guarantee that animals are treated humanely within its supply chain.
Cape Clique’s sustainability efforts are minimal and unsupported by evidence, placing it firmly in the unsustainable category and raising concerns about greenwashing.
The brand heavily relies on virgin synthetics like polyester and nylon, which are fossil-fuel-based and non-biodegradable. While it promotes an "Eco Collection" with up to 30% recycled polyester, this represents a tiny fraction of its total production and fails to address the impact of its main product lines. There is no evidence of the brand using certified organic cotton (GOTS) or other sustainable natural fibers.
Cape Clique has not published any data on its carbon emissions, water usage, or chemical management. Manufacturing synthetic textiles is a carbon-intensive process, and the dyeing and finishing of garments often release toxic chemicals into waterways. The brand’s reliance on rapid air freight further contributes to a massive carbon footprint.
The brand's business model encourages a disposable culture. It has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. The low quality of the clothes means they are not designed to last, contributing directly to the textile waste crisis.
Cape Clique has not set any public, science-based targets for reducing its environmental impact. Vague marketing phrases like "eco-conscious choices" are used without any supporting data, deadlines, or third-party certifications like B Corp or Climate Neutral.
Cape Clique is a clear example of a fast fashion brand that prioritizes profit and rapid growth over people and the planet. Its operations are marked by a profound lack of transparency and minimal effort toward meaningful change.
Cape Clique receives a D due to its completely opaque supply chain. Without any disclosure of its factories or evidence of fair wage policies, consumers must assume the brand is not addressing the systemic labor issues common in its manufacturing regions. The absence of any ethical certifications deepens these concerns.
The brand earns a D for sustainability. Its business model is inherently wasteful, and gestures like a small "Eco Collection" do not compensate for the heavy use of virgin synthetics, lack of environmental targets, and contribution to overconsumption. Its vague sustainability claims without proof are textbook greenwashing.
If you're looking for trendy styles without the massive ethical and environmental footprint, consider these brands that prioritize transparency and sustainability.
Reformation offers on-trend dresses, tops, and jeans made from sustainable materials like TENCEL and recycled fabrics. This B Corp is Climate Neutral certified, provides factory transparency, and details the environmental footprint of each garment.
Shop now at www.thereformation.com
Known for its modern basics and "Radical Transparency," Everlane discloses information about its factories and production costs. The brand is increasingly using sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester and conducts third-party audits to ensure fair labor practices.
Shop now at www.everlane.com
As a pioneer of ethical fashion, People Tree is World Fair Trade Organization guaranteed. It uses sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton and works with artisan groups to provide fair wages and safe working conditions.
Shop now at www.peopletree.co.uk
This German brand creates contemporary fashion using GOTS-certified organic cotton and other eco-friendly materials. As a B Corp, Armedangels is committed to fair working conditions, pays living wages, and is PETA-approved vegan.
Shop now at www.armedangels.com
For comfortable, casual styles, Tentree is an excellent choice. This certified B Corp plants ten trees for every item sold and uses sustainable materials like Tencel, recycled polyester, and organic cotton while ensuring ethical manufacturing.
Shop now at www.tentree.com
While known for outdoor gear, Patagonia's everyday apparel is built to last and backed by an ironclad commitment to ethics and sustainability. As a B Corp, it uses a high percentage of recycled materials, guarantees Fair Trade Certified sewing, and funds environmental activism.
Shop now at www.patagonia.com
Cape Clique's low prices are achieved by combining several factors common in fast fashion: manufacturing in countries with extremely low labor costs, using cheap synthetic materials, producing in massive volumes to lower per-unit cost, and maintaining low-quality standards.
There is no direct evidence confirming Cape Clique uses child labor. However, the brand's total lack of transparency about its factories, combined with manufacturing in regions where child labor is a known risk, means it is impossible to be certain that its supply chain is free from it.
Not really. While using some recycled materials is a small step, the "Eco Collection" is a classic example of greenwashing. It represents a tiny portion of the brand's overall output and fails to address the core problem - a business model based on overproduction, disposability, and fossil-fuel-derived synthetics.
