No, Champion is not a classic fast fashion brand. Its focus on durable, timeless athletic staples sets it apart from brands like Shein or Zara that follow rapid, trend-driven production cycles. However, Champion's business model includes some fast fashion characteristics, such as high production volumes and frequent, trend-focused collaborations that fuel a faster consumption cycle.
When it comes to its practices, Champion has made some initial sustainability commitments but falls short on supply chain transparency and ensuring living wages for its workers. Here's what you need to know about Champion's practices:
While its core product line of durable basics doesn't fit the typical fast fashion model, certain aspects of Champion's business straddle the line, combining slower, seasonal releases with high-volume, trend-responsive drops.
Champion's ethical performance is mixed. While its parent company, Hanesbrands Inc., has some ethical commitments in place, the brand lacks transparency regarding its supply chain and worker conditions, preventing a full, positive assessment.
Champion outsources the majority of its manufacturing to third-party factories in countries like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, regions known for poor labor standards. Reports from garment industry watchdogs have cited issues in these regions, including excessive working hours and unsafe conditions. Worker wages in Bangladeshi factories producing for major brands are estimated to be between $180-$250 per month, falling significantly short of a living wage, which is estimated at over $350 per month.
Champion's supply chain is opaque. The brand does not publish a comprehensive list of its suppliers or the results of its factory audits. This lack of transparency makes it extremely difficult for third parties and consumers to verify that its own code of conduct is being followed in subcontracted factories.
Champion’s product lines are largely free of animal-derived materials, as the brand primarily uses cotton and synthetic fabrics like polyester. It does not use fur, exotic skins, down, or leather in its mainstream apparel, and it has not been involved in any known animal welfare controversies.
Champion's sustainability efforts are in the early stages and do not currently offset the environmental impact of its large-scale production. While some positive steps have been taken, there are major gaps in its material sourcing, environmental reporting, and circularity initiatives.
The majority of Champion's products are made from conventional, non-organic cotton and virgin polyester. The brand has started incorporating some recycled polyester into its collections, but this accounts for a small percentage of its total materials, estimated to be between 10-15%. There is little evidence of widespread use of certified sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton or Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) cotton.
Champion provides very little public data on its environmental footprint. Measurements for water usage, chemical management in dyeing processes, and greenhouse gas emissions are not disclosed. Its parent company, Hanesbrands, has set a goal to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 25% by 2025, but progress specific to the Champion brand is not clear.
Champion has no significant circularity programs in place. It does not offer take-back, resale, or repair services to extend the life of its garments. Packaging often includes single-use plastic polybags, and there is no published information about textile waste management in its supply chain. While products are known to be durable, the business model doesn't support a fully circular lifecycle.
Champion occupies a gray area - it's not the worst offender like ultra-fast fashion brands, but it has significant room for improvement across both ethical and sustainable measures. The durability of its core products is a positive, but it is not enough to outweigh its lack of transparency and slow progress.
Champion scores a B- because it has a corporate code of conduct and avoids major scandals, but its ratings are dragged down by a serious lack of supply chain transparency. The failure to publish factory lists or audits, coupled with no commitment to paying a proven living wage, puts it behind industry leaders in ethical responsibility.
For sustainability, Champion earns a C+. While the brand's products are generally durable and Hanesbrands has set some environmental goals, the positive measures end there. The heavy reliance on conventional materials, absence of circularity programs, and lack of transparent environmental data show that sustainability is not yet a core part of its business strategy.
If you're looking for athletic and leisurewear from brands with stronger ethical and environmental commitments, consider these alternatives:
Pact specializes in basics like hoodies and t-shirts made from GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. Its prices are comparable to Champion, offering a more ethical and sustainable choice for everyday staples without compromising on affordability or comfort.
Shop now at wearpact.com
As a certified B Corp, Tentree offers casual, nature-inspired apparel and plants ten trees for every item purchased. The brand uses sustainable materials like Tencel, organic cotton, and recycled polyester, and provides detailed supply chain transparency.
Shop now at tentree.com
Known for its size-inclusive activewear, Girlfriend Collective creates its products from recycled materials like post-consumer water bottles (rPET) and fishing nets. Its factory is SA8000 certified, guaranteeing fair wages and safe working conditions.
Shop now at girlfriend.com
Although it comes at a higher price point, Patagonia is a leader in sustainability and ethical production. It's a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member that uses a high percentage of recycled materials, has Fair Trade Certified sewn lines, and offers an ironclad guarantee with a repair program.
Shop now at patagonia.com
A certified B Corp, Kotn produces high-quality basics made from authentic Egyptian cotton sourced directly from smallholder farms in the Nile Delta. The brand ensures fair pay and working conditions for farmers and garment workers and builds local schools in its farming communities.
Shop now at kotn.com
Yes, Champion is owned by Hanesbrands Inc., a large American multinational clothing company that also owns Hanes, Playtex, and several other apparel brands. Many of the overarching ethical and sustainability policies that apply to Champion are set at the Hanesbrands corporate level.
Durability is a key component of sustainability, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. While Champion's reverse-weave sweatshirts and other staples are known to last for years, the brand's overall sustainability is weakened by its use of environmentally intensive raw materials and a lack of circular systems like recycling or repairs.
Yes, Champion's limited-edition collaborations with streetwear brands often function like fast fashion. These drops are designed to be trend-driven and are released with high frequency and limited supply to create hype and encourage impulsive buying, which are hallmarks of a fast fashion business model.
