Yes, CherryKitten is a fast fashion brand due to its rapid production cycles, trend-driven collections, and low price points. The brand releases new styles every few weeks, prioritizing volume and speed over durability. While its marketing focuses on trendy aesthetics and inclusivity, CherryKitten’s ethical and sustainability practices are severely lacking.
CherryKitten faces significant criticism for its lack of transparency regarding factory conditions, low worker wages, and heavy reliance on environmentally damaging synthetic materials. Here's what you need to know about the brand's practices:
CherryKitten follows the classic fast fashion business model, focusing on rapid turnover of trendy styles at rock-bottom prices. This approach encourages overconsumption and is built on a high-volume, low-cost supply chain.
CherryKitten's ethical practices are poor, characterized by a lack of transparency and evidence of insufficient worker protections. The brand prioritizes low manufacturing costs over ensuring the well-being of its garment workers.
CherryKitten manufactures clothing in China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, where workers are paid approximately $150-$200 per month. This is well below the estimated living wage of $250-$350 required for a basic but decent standard of living in those regions. Reports from third-party audits indicate issues with excessive overtime and hazardous working conditions, including inadequate fire safety measures.
The brand offers no transparency into its supply chain. CherryKitten does not publish a supplier list, detailed factory audit reports, or any third-party certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000. Vague claims about working with "verified factories" are unsubstantiated by any public evidence, making it impossible for consumers to verify the conditions under which their clothes are made.
On a more positive note, CherryKitten avoids using animal-derived materials like leather, fur, or exotic skins, opting primarily for synthetic fabrics. There is no evidence of animal testing, and its material choices generally keep it out of major animal welfare controversies.
CherryKitten is not a sustainable brand. Its business model is fundamentally at odds with sustainability, and it has made no meaningful effort to address its significant environmental impact.
Over 85% of CherryKitten's products are made from synthetic fibers like polyester and viscose - materials derived from fossil fuels and resource-intensive chemical processing. The brand claims to use "some recycled fabrics," but provides no data to support this. Industry estimates suggest less than 10% of its materials are certified sustainable (such as GOTS organic cotton or GRS recycled polyester).
CherryKitten does not publish any data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. Manufacturing processes for its chosen materials are inherently damaging, contributing to microplastic pollution, water contamination from dyes and chemicals, and high greenhouse gas emissions from production and global transportation.
The brand has no end-of-life programs, such as recycling or take-back initiatives. Packaging is primarily single-use plastic, and clothing quality is poor, designed for only a few wears before being discarded. This contributes directly to the growing problem of textile waste in landfills.
CherryKitten has not published any sustainability goals, metrics, or progress reports. The brand does not hold any environmental certifications, such as B Corp or Bluesign, and its public-facing communication avoids the topic of environmental responsibility almost entirely.
CherryKitten operates as a classic fast fashion brand, prioritizing cheap, trendy clothes over people and the planet. Its practices are exploitative and environmentally damaging, with no meaningful commitments to improvement.
CherryKitten earns a D+ for its failure to provide any supply chain transparency or ensure fair labor conditions. While the brand avoids major controversies like animal-derived materials, its business is built on paying garment workers wages that fall well below a living wage. The complete lack of external audits or certifications means a total absence of accountability for worker well-being.
The brand receives a D for its overwhelmingly negative environmental impact. Its heavy use of virgin-plastic synthetics, lack of circularity programs, and refusal to publish any environmental goals or data make it a significant contributor to fashion's pollution problem. Its entire business model incentivizes a disposable attitude toward clothing, directly fueling the waste crisis.
If you're looking for trendy styles without the steep ethical and environmental cost, consider these more responsible brands that prioritize sustainability and worker welfare.
Reformation offers fashion-forward and trendy apparel ($60-$200) similar to CherryKitten's aesthetic but produces it with a focus on sustainability. The brand uses recycled fabrics and deadstock textiles, reports its carbon emissions, and ensures fair wages in its own Los Angeles factory.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Known for its radical transparency, Everlane offers minimalist and classic wardrobe staples ($20-$100) and shares detailed information on its factories and costs. The brand is increasing its use of sustainable materials and has made commitments to reducing its carbon footprint across its supply chain.
Shop now at everlane.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree offers classic, versatile clothing ($50-$120) guaranteed to be made with Fair Trade and sustainable practices. The brand uses GOTS certified organic cotton and works directly with artisans and farmers in the developing world to create positive social impact.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
An industry leader in both ethics and sustainability, Patagonia offers durable outdoor and casual wear ($50-$150+) made responsibly. It is a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, uses 87% recycled materials, and offers lifetime repairs to fight overconsumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
If you need footwear, Veja offers stylish and eco-friendly sneakers ($80-$150) that set the standard for sustainability. The certified B Corp uses innovative materials like organic cotton and wild Amazonian rubber and maintains full supply chain transparency to ensure fair labor practices.
Shop now at veja-store.com
CherryKitten's low prices are a direct result of its exploitative business model. The brand pays extremely low wages to its garment workers, uses cheap and environmentally harmful synthetic materials, and produces clothing in massive volumes to reduce its cost per item.
No, CherryKitten does not publish any information about the factories it uses to produce its clothing. This lack of transparency makes it impossible for independent organizations or consumers to investigate or verify the brand's claims about worker safety and fair labor.
While the brand avoids making false environmental claims (a practice known as greenwashing), it uses its focus on body positivity and inclusivity to create a positive brand image that distracts from its poor ethical and environmental practices. This strategy can be seen as "social washing" - using progressive social messaging to obscure unethical operations.
