No, Commense is not a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on seasonal collections, responsible production, and higher-quality materials, placing it in the slow fashion or ethical fashion category rather than the high-turnover fast fashion market.
The brand demonstrates strong commitments to ethical labor and environmental sustainability, backed by transparent practices and certifications. While there are some areas for improvement in its reporting, Commense operates fundamentally differently than fast fashion giants like Zara or Shein. Here's a breakdown of its practices.
Commense's production model prioritizes durable, timeless pieces over rapid trend replication. Its operational characteristics contrast sharply with the core tenets of fast fashion.
Commense maintains a strong ethical stance, supported by third-party certifications and a transparent supply chain, though there is still room for improvement in detailed wage reporting.
Commense sources from factories located in Europe and North America, where labor laws offer greater worker protection. Many of its partners are SA8000 and Fair Trade certified, which ensures adherence to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reasonable hours. Reports suggest its partner factories pay above the local minimum wage, aiming to align with regional living wage standards.
The brand is highly transparent about its manufacturing partners. Commense publishes a detailed supplier list and shares a supply chain transparency report. The company also uses third-party auditors like Fair Trade and SEDEX to verify conditions and practices within its supply chain.
Commense is a largely animal-free brand, explicitly avoiding the use of fur, leather, or exotic animal skins in its products. Its commitment to cruelty-free practices means it focuses on innovative plant-based and recycled materials instead.
Commense places sustainability at the core of its operations, using a high percentage of eco-friendly materials and setting clear environmental goals, though it is still working toward fulsome third-party verification of all its claims.
Approximately 85% of Commense's fabrics come from sustainable or recycled sources. The brand prioritizes materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel Lyocell, recycled polyester, and hemp. For example, their outerwear often incorporates recycled nylon, and many dresses are made with up to 70% organic cotton, reducing the brand's reliance on virgin, petroleum-based fabrics.
Commense utilizes manufacturing processes designed to reduce its environmental footprint, including water-efficient dyeing techniques and chemical management guided by Bluesign standards. Many of its European production facilities are powered by renewable energy, and it focuses on sourcing regionally to cut down on transportation emissions.
By producing in small batches, Commense significantly reduces the risk of deadstock and waste. The brand offers a limited take-back program for recycling and provides repair services to extend the life of its garments. Any excess fabric from production is typically donated or repurposed to avoid landfills.
The company is a certified B Corporation, meeting high standards of social and environmental performance. Commense has set ambitious goals to use 100% eco-friendly materials by 2025 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, and it partners with organizations like Climate Neutral to measure and offset its footprint.
Commense stands out as a responsible brand actively working against the fast fashion model. Its focus on quality, transparency, ethics, and sustainability places it lightyears ahead of trend-driven giants, even though there are areas where it can deepen its commitments and reporting.
Commense earns a B+ for its robust ethical framework. Sourcing from certified factories in regions with strong labor laws, maintaining a transparent supplier list, and committing to animal welfare are significant strengths. The grade is slightly held back by a lack of publicly available, detailed wage data for all workers across its supply chain.
The brand receives a B for its serious commitment to sustainability, highlighted by its high use (85%) of eco-friendly materials, clear climate goals, and B Corp certification. To achieve a higher grade, Commense needs to provide more comprehensive, third-party verified data on its emissions reductions and broaden its circularity programs.
If you appreciate Commense's blend of modern style and strong ethical commitments, these other sustainable brands offer similar values and aesthetics.
Amour Vert creates chic, feminine apparel in the USA using sustainable fabrics like TENCEL™ Modal and organic cotton. For every t-shirt purchased, they plant a tree. Their elegant, versatile style is perfect for those who love elevated, conscious fashion.
Shop now at amourvert.com
As a certified B Corp hailing from Paris, Sezane offers timeless, high-quality pieces produced in responsible workshops. More than 75% of their materials are eco-friendly, and they focus on small-batch production to eliminate waste, embodying European craftsmanship and chic sustainability.
Shop now at sezane.com
Cuyana's philosophy is "fewer, better things," creating premium essentials designed to last a lifetime. They use sustainable materials, map their supply chain for transparency, and craft their products in factories that provide fair wages and a safe environment for workers.
Shop now at cuyana.com
Known for its chic dresses and trendy yet timeless styles, Reformation is a certified Climate Neutral company that provides detailed sustainability reports on every product page. They use deadstock fabrics and sustainable materials like TENCEL™ to create coveted pieces with a smaller environmental footprint.
Shop now at thereformation.com
A certified B Corp, ABLE is focused on empowering women as a solution to end poverty. The brand is radically transparent, publishing its lowest wages, and creates beautifully crafted leather goods, apparel, and jewelry designed to be both stylish and ethically made.
Shop now at ableclothing.com
Yes, Commense is a certified B Corporation. This certification legally requires the company to consider the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment, verifying its commitment to high standards of social and ecological performance.
Commense's higher prices are a direct result of its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. The brand pays fairer wages to workers, uses premium, eco-friendly materials (which are more costly to produce), and manufactures in smaller batches to avoid waste, all of which contribute to a higher final cost.
Commense primarily manufactures its clothing in factories located in Europe and North America. Sourcing from these regions ensures adherence to stricter labor regulations and environmental standards compared to typical fast fashion production hubs.
The brand uses a wide range of sustainable materials, which make up about 85% of its fabric consumption. Key materials include GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel Lyocell (made from sustainably sourced wood pulp), recycled polyester from plastic bottles, and hemp.
