Is Cidergang Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Cidergang

Explore Cidergang's commitment to sustainability. Learn why it's not fast fashion, focusing on quality, vintage designs, and eco-friendly practices.
Written by: 
Ash Read
Last updated: 

No, Cidergang is not a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on smaller, seasonal collections, vintage-inspired designs meant for longevity, and higher quality materials, distinguishing it from high-volume, trend-driven fast fashion giants.

Cidergang shows a commendable commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, including using a high percentage of eco-friendly materials and being B Corp Certified, though there's still room for improvement in supply chain transparency. Here’s a closer look at its practices:

Why Cidergang Isn't Fast Fashion?

Cidergang operates with a slower, more curated approach that focuses on quality over quantity, placing it in the slow fashion or premium casual market.

  • Limited Collections: The brand introduces new items seasonally rather than weekly, typically releasing 2-4 collections per season. This is a stark contrast to fast fashion brands that can drop over a dozen collections annually.
  • Mid-Range Pricing: With dresses from $70-$120 and outerwear from $150-$250, Cidergang's pricing reflects higher quality materials and more considered production costs, unlike the rock-bottom prices common in fast fashion.
  • Emphasis on Quality & Longevity: Designs are vintage-inspired and classic, intended to be worn for years rather than a single season. The focus is on craftsmanship and durable materials like organic cotton instead of fleeting trends.
  • Slower Production Cycle: The production cycle from design to shelf is around 4-8 weeks, much slower than the lightning-fast turnaround times of fast fashion brands that churn out new styles in under two weeks. This pace allows for better quality control.

Is Cidergang Ethical?

Cidergang demonstrates moderate ethical practices with a decent level of transparency, but it lacks the third-party verification and detailed reporting seen in industry leaders.

Labor Practices

Cidergang publicly shares its list of suppliers, primarily located in regions with stronger labor protections like Portugal, Turkey, and Morocco. While the brand claims its suppliers pay fair wages and it conducts regular audits, it does not provide concrete wage data, living wage comparisons, or independently verified third-party audit reports (like Fair Trade or SA8000), making it difficult to fully assess working conditions.

Supply Chain Transparency

The brand is transparent about its Tier 1 factories but lacks comprehensive disclosure of its entire supply chain, including raw material suppliers. This gap in visibility prevents a full assessment of its ethical claims from farm to finished garment.

Animal Welfare

Cidergang has a strong animal welfare policy. Its collections are predominantly plant-based (organic cotton, hemp) and a small amount of synthetics, and the brand explicitly states that it does not use fur, exotic skins, or certain types of leather, adhering to cruelty-free standards.

Where Cidergang Falls Short Ethically

  • Lack of Living Wage Evidence: The brand claims to pay "fair wages" but offers no specific data or proof that workers in its supply chain earn a scientifically-calculated living wage compared to the legal minimum wage.
  • No Third-Party Audits Published: While Cidergang says it conducts its own factory audits, it doesn't provide publicly accessible reports from independent third-party certifiers like Fair Trade, SA8000, or the Fair Labor Association.
  • Limited Downstream Transparency: Transparency stops at the factory level. There is little to no information provided about the farms and mills that supply the raw materials.

Is Cidergang Sustainable?

Cidergang has a strong sustainability framework, marked by its use of eco-friendly materials, clear environmental goals, and prestigious certifications like B Corp.

Materials & Sourcing

Approximately 65% of Cidergang’s collection is made from more sustainable materials, including organic cotton, recycled polyester, hemp, and Tencel Lyocell. They hold key certifications for these materials, such as GOTS for organic cotton and OEKO-TEX, which ensures fabrics are free from harmful chemicals.

Environmental Impact

The brand focuses on reducing its environmental footprint by manufacturing in European factories with modern, water-efficient machinery and partial use of renewable energy. Cidergang has committed to reducing emissions by 30% and has reportedly achieved a 10% reduction so far. It also participates in carbon offset programs for some shipping.

Circularity & Waste

Cidergang runs a take-back program for old garments to be recycled, and its smaller production runs help minimize deadstock and overproduction. Around 5% of its fabric waste from production is repurposed for accessories or samples, showing an effort to reduce waste at the source.

Sustainability Goals & Progress

The company has clear, ambitious targets: achieving 80% sustainable material use by 2028 and becoming carbon-neutral by 2030. Their B Corp certification requires them to meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance and public transparency.

Where Cidergang Falls Short on Sustainability

  • No Comprehensive Carbon Footprint Data Published: Despite having a carbon neutrality goal, Cidergang does not yet publish comprehensive Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data, which limits quantifiable progress tracking.
  • Circularity is Limited: While the Garment-Recycling Program is a good start, the brand lacks comprehensive repair or robust resale programs needed for a truly circular model.
  • Synthetic Material Usage: While limited, the presence of non-recycled synthetic materials indicates room for improvement in material sustainability.

Our Verdict: Cidergang's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Overall, Cidergang is a purpose-driven brand that takes its responsibilities seriously, placing it far ahead of mainstream fashion brands. Its operations align with slow fashion values, earning it strong marks with some areas for continued improvement.

Ethical Practices: B

Cidergang gets a B for its solid commitment to sourcing from regions with better labor protections and for publishing its supplier list. However, a lack of verifiable living wage data and absence of independent third-party audits mean its claims are not yet fully substantiated, preventing a higher grade. They meet decent industry standards but are not yet a leader.

Sustainability: B+

With an estimable B Corp certification, over 65% sustainable materials usage, and clear goals for carbon neutrality, Cidergang earns a B+ for sustainability. To reach an A-grade, future reports should contain published carbon footprint data along with comprehensive circularity programs.

More Ethical & Sustainable Brands Like Cidergang

If you appreciate Cidergang's commitment to sustainable, timeless style, but want brands with even more robust transparency or certifications, you might enjoy these similar companies:

Patagonia

Acclaimed as a B Corp for ethics, Patagonia provides a fully transparent supply chain with Fair Trade Certified factories and use of recycled materials. They offer repair services to extend product life in support of sustainability goals. Shop now at patagonia.com

Veja

Renowned for its ethical sneakers, Veja sources organic and fair trade materials from small producers, ensuring fair wages. They prioritize traceability and social responsibility. Shop now on veja-store.com

People Tree

A pioneer in eco-fashion, People Tree offers Fair Trade and GOTS-certified clothing. They ensure fair trade wages for workers. Shop online right at www.peopletree.co.uk

Amour Vert

This American-made sustainable brand focuses on eco-fabrics with a program to plant a tree for every order. Their design style is timeless. Shop the latest drop at amourvert.com

Kotn

Kotn focuses on premium organic Egyptian cottons supporting local farms, and they are B Corp certified, providing traceable supply chains. Their products maintain high quality for lasting garments offering transparency at every stage of production. Shop at kotn.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cidergang the same as Cider?

No, they’re completely unrelated companies. Cider, often searched for as Shop Cider, is a huge ultra-fast fashion brand like SHEIN. Cidergang is a strong B Corp certified sustainable fashion label focusing on a slower, quality-focused model.

Is Cidergang more expensive because it is more ethical/sustainable?

Yes, you are paying for quality organic and recycled materials, sustainable manufacturing in European factories where worker protections are stronger, and longevity. Unlike very cheap fast fashion clothes, which are designed to disintegrate after just one season, Cidergang pieces will last longer.

Is Cidergang B Corp certified? What does it mean to be B Corp certified?

Yes. B Corp is a powerful globally recognized standard which validates a company’s high social and environmental performance and commitment to accountability and transparency for its stakeholders. It's not easy to achieve, and it indicates that a company means it seriously with its values.