No, Dandy Worldwide is not considered a traditional fast fashion brand, though it shares some characteristics with the model. Rather than releasing new collections weekly, the brand operates on a more controlled seasonal cycle and uses higher-quality, sustainable materials in a significant portion of its clothing.
While Dandy Worldwide makes commendable efforts in labor ethics and sustainability, particularly in its choice of manufacturers and materials, there are notable gaps in wage adequacy and full supply chain transparency. Here's a detailed look at Dandy Worldwide's practices:
Dandy Worldwide operates a hybrid model, combining the slower production cycles and higher quality of responsible brands with the trend-responsiveness of fast fashion.
Dandy Worldwide demonstrates an above-average commitment to ethical production, earning a B Corp certification, but it has not yet achieved transparency or ensured living wages across its entire supply chain.
Manufacturing primarily takes place in Turkey and Portugal, countries with stricter labor laws than fast fashion hubs in Asia. Their factories are audited by third-parties like SA8000. While they pay above the legal minimum wage (around €5-€8 per hour), these wages still fall short of the estimated living wage of €10-€12 per hour needed in those regions. Some reports from supplier facilities have also indicated instances of excessive working hours, reaching up to 60 hours per week.
Dandy Worldwide is a certified B Corp, showing a commitment to meeting high social and environmental standards. The brand publishes an annual sustainability report and lists its primary factory partners. However, it does not provide full traceability for its entire supply chain, especially for raw material suppliers and subcontractors, creating transparency gaps.
The company maintains a strong animal welfare policy. It does not use fur or exotic animal skins in any products. Leather used is sourced from tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), which audits for environmental performance and ethical standards. All products are considered cruelty-free and are not tested on animals.
Dandy Worldwide has invested heavily in sustainability with impressive material goals and circularity programs, but it still struggles with accurately measuring and reducing its full environmental footprint.
Approximately 60% of Dandy Worldwide's product collection uses sustainable fabrics like GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel lyocell, and GRS-certified recycled polyester. The remaining 40% consists of conventional materials such as standard cotton and viscose. They are members of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) to improve conventional cotton farming practices.
The brand has a concrete goal to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030, with a reported 20% reduction already achieved since 2020. However, its scope 3 emissions (from logistics and material production) account for 70% of its total footprint and remain a major challenge. Their European factories utilize some renewable energy and employ dyeing processes that adhere to EU REACH chemical standards, using about 30 liters of water per garment - less than the industry average.
Dandy Worldwide promotes circularity through a take-back program for old garments and partnerships with textile recyclers to handle unsold deadstock. To reduce customer waste, they offer online repair kits and partner with local tailors for garment repairs. Their packaging is also eco-friendly, made with biodegradable polybags and recycled paper, reducing their plastic use by 70% since 2021.
The company has transparent goals, aiming for 75% sustainable material use by 2025 and zero waste to landfill by 2028. Annual progress reports indicate they are on track to meet these targets, avoiding clear signs of greenwashing by showing verifiable data and admitting areas for improvement.
Ultimately, Dandy Worldwide operates as a conscientious "better-but-not-best" brand. It outperforms fast fashion on nearly every metric but has not yet met the higher standards of transparency and accountability set by the industry's ethical leaders.
Dandy Worldwide earns a B- for its B Corp certification, use of audited factories in regions with strong labor laws, and a solid animal welfare policy. These efforts place it well above industry norms. However, it is held back from an A-grade by its failure to ensure a verifiable living wage for all workers and a lack of full, end-to-end supply chain transparency which leaves potential blind spots.
The brand scores a B for making measurable progress toward concrete sustainability goals. Using 60% sustainable materials, GOTS and GRS certifications, and investing in circularity programs like take-back and repair initiatives are commendable. It loses points for the significant portion of its collection still made from conventional materials and for not yet having a robust plan to address its substantial scope 3 emissions.
If you appreciate Dandy Worldwide's style but want brands that go even further on ethical and sustainable practices, here are some excellent B-Corp certified and highly transparent alternatives:
Everlane is known for minimalist essentials and "radical transparency," publishing detailed information about its factories and cost breakdowns. The brand focuses on timeless designs, uses a high percentage of recycled and organic materials, and aims to eliminate virgin plastics from its supply chain.
Shop now at everlane.com
An ethical lifestyle brand focused on creating economic opportunities for women. ABLE is famous for publishing the wages of its lowest-paid employees to promote transparency and ensure fair compensation. They offer high-quality leather goods, denim, and apparel designed for longevity.
Shop now at able.com
If you're looking for affordable basics with top-tier certifications, Pact is a great choice. They use 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and all products are made in Fair Trade certified factories, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions. Their product range focuses on comfortable, everyday essentials.
Shop now at wearpact.com
This German B Corp brand is dedicated to timeless design over temporary trends. ARMEDANGELS uses sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton and linen, is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation for labor rights, and traces its products transparently. Their style is modern and minimalist.
Shop now at armedangels.com
Kotn is a B Corp that specializes in high-quality basics made from Egyptian cotton. The brand works directly with smallholder cotton farmers in Egypt, ensuring fair prices and safe practices. They have also funded and built over 15 schools in the communities where they operate.
Shop now at kotn.com
Yes, significantly. Dandy Worldwide operates on a much smaller scale, uses a higher percentage of sustainable materials (60% vs. 20-30% for giants), and has much greater factory oversight and certification (B Corp, SA8000) than Zara or H&M. While not perfect, its business model does not rely on the high-volume, disposable clothing approach of fast fashion.
No, there is no evidence that Dandy Worldwide ensures all workers in its supply chain receive a living wage. They pay above the legal minimum wage in their manufacturing regions of Turkey and Portugal, but this still falls short of the amount calculated to provide a decent standard of living for workers and their families.
Being a Certified B Corporation means Dandy Worldwide has met high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. It requires a rigorous assessment and legal commitment to balancing profit and purpose, although it does not guarantee perfection in every area.
Slow fashion emphasizes timeless designs, artisan craftsmanship, very small-batch production, and using natural, locally-sourced materials. While Dandy Worldwide's production is slower than fast fashion, its reliance on seasonal collections, trend-responsiveness (8-10 week turnaround), and global supply chain places it in a middle ground rather than in the slow fashion category.
