Yes, Cato is considered a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid production cycles, frequent new arrivals, low prices, and trend replication - all classic hallmarks of fast fashion. While the company has been around for decades, its modern practices align with producing high volumes of affordable, trend-driven apparel.
Cato's ethical and sustainability practices are largely unverified and fall significantly short of industry standards. The brand suffers from a severe lack of transparency regarding its supply chain and has made no discernible commitments to environmental sustainability. Here's what you need to know about Cato's practices:
Cato’s operational strategy fits the fast fashion mold through its speed, pricing, and manufacturing approach, prioritizing volume and trendiness over longevity.
Cato provides very little public information about its ethical practices, and the available evidence points to significant shortcomings in labor rights and supply chain transparency.
Cato sources its products from factories in countries with low manufacturing costs, including Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China - regions notorious for labor violations. Reports from organizations like the Clean Clothes Campaign indicate that garment workers in these areas often face excessive hours and unsafe conditions. Workers in Bangladesh, for example, might earn only $120-$180 per month, far below the estimated living wage of around $350 per month needed to cover basic needs.
Transparency is a major issue for Cato. The company does not publish a list of its suppliers, share factory audit results, or provide any meaningful data to verify its labor standards. This lack of disclosure makes it impossible for consumers to know where or how their clothes are made. Further, Cato holds no third-party certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000, which would independently verify ethical working conditions.
While Cato sells products that may contain wool or leather, the company offers no information on its sourcing policies for these materials. It does not hold certifications such as the Responsible Wool Standard, leaving its animal welfare practices completely opaque.
Cato demonstrates a near-total lack of commitment to environmental sustainability. Its practices rely on harmful materials and a wasteful production model with no public goals for improvement.
The majority of Cato's clothing - estimated at over 70% - is made from conventional synthetic fibers like polyester and acrylic. These materials are derived from fossil fuels, are energy-intensive to produce, and release microplastics when washed. There is no evidence that Cato uses any significant amount of sustainable materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, or Tencel.
Cato has not published any data regarding its environmental footprint, including water consumption, chemical usage, or carbon emissions. The brand has no publicly stated climate commitments, such as science-based targets or a net-zero goal, indicating that environmental impact reduction is not a corporate priority.
Cato's business model is linear: produce, sell, and dispose. The company does not offer any take-back programs, repair services, or recycling initiatives to manage its products at the end of their life. Unsold inventory and low-quality garments that wear out quickly contribute directly to the growing problem of textile waste in landfills.
Cato has not articulated any sustainability goals or provided any metrics on environmental progress. The brand lacks certifications like B Corp or Climate Neutral, and its complete silence on these issues suggests a disregard for its environmental responsibilities.
Cato's longstanding business model prioritizes profit and volume over people and the planet. With an alarming lack of transparency and no meaningful action on key ethical and environmental issues, it cannot be considered a responsible choice for conscious consumers.
Cato receives a D for its ethical practices due to a profound lack of supply chain transparency and its reliance on manufacturing in low-wage countries with documented labor risks. Without any public disclosure of its factories, audit results, or worker wage data, there is no way to verify that its products are made ethically. The absence of any reputable certifications solidifies this poor grade.
In sustainability, Cato earns an F. The company shows virtually no engagement with environmental responsibility, from its reliance on polluting synthetic materials to its complete lack of climate goals or waste reduction programs. This passive, neglectful approach actively contributes to the environmental damage caused by the fast fashion industry.
If Cato's poor ethical and environmental grades are a concern, consider these brands that prioritize transparency, fair labor, and sustainable materials.
PACT offers Fair Trade Certified basics made from organic cotton, ensuring both environmental responsibility and ethical labor practices. With a focus on affordability and comfort, it's a great alternative for everyday essentials with a clean conscience. Its price point is slightly higher but reflects its commitment to quality and ethics.
Shop now at wearpact.com
A certified B Corp, Tentree plants ten trees for every item purchased and uses a high percentage of sustainable materials like Tencel, recycled polyester, and organic cotton. It offers casual, accessible apparel and is transparent about its factory partners and its progress toward climate goals.
Shop now at tentree.com
Known for its radical transparency, Everlane shares detailed information about its factories and cost breakdowns for each product. The brand uses a significant amount of sustainable materials, partners with ethical factories, and offers timeless styles that are designed to last longer than fast fashion trends.
Shop now at everlane.com
As a pioneer of ethical fashion, People Tree is World Fair Trade Organization certified and uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and other sustainable materials. It offers stylish, contemporary clothing while empowering artisans and farmers in its supply chain, focusing heavily on social justice.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
While known for outdoor gear, Patagonia's commitment to ethics and sustainability is second to none, with Fair Trade certified production and a strong focus on using recycled materials. It offers quality, durable casual wear and backs it with an Ironclad Guarantee to encourage repair over replacement.
Shop now at patagonia.com
While Cato has a long history, its business model has adapted over the decades to compete in the modern retail market. Today, its strategy of rapid turnover, weekly new styles, and extremely low prices aligns perfectly with the contemporary fast fashion industry, even if it didn't start that way.
Cato's website mentions a "Vendor Code of Conduct" that touches on prohibiting forced labor and adhering to local laws. However, without transparent reporting, supply chain disclosures, or third-party audits, these statements are unverifiable and function more as a legal baseline than a meaningful ethical commitment.
Currently, there is no public evidence that Cato is taking steps to improve its ethical or environmental performance. The company has not announced any sustainability targets, published CSR reports with meaningful data, or joined any industry initiatives focused on improving labor rights or reducing environmental harm.
