No, Dark In Love is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid production cycles, trend replication, and low price points, all of which are defining characteristics of fast fashion. The brand’s ethical practices are concerning due to a profound lack of supply chain transparency and no evidence of paying living wages. From a sustainability perspective, its reliance on cheap, synthetic materials and absence of any meaningful environmental goals place it at the bottom tier of the industry.
Many experts would find its minimal efforts to be insufficient. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Dark In Love's practices.
Dark In Love follows the classic fast fashion playbook of high-volume, low-cost production designed for rapid trend turnover, prioritizing quantity over quality and longevity.
Dark In Love exhibits significant ethical shortcomings, primarily driven by a near-total lack of transparency regarding its supply chain and labor practices.
The brand sources from factories in Asia where conditions for garment workers are notoriously poor. While specific data on Dark In Love is scarce due to their opacity, industry estimates suggest workers in these factories typically earn $100-$150 per month, which falls significantly below the recognized living wage of $250-$350 for the region. There is no public evidence that the brand ensures safe working conditions, fair hours, or living wages for its supply chain workers.
Dark In Love fails profoundly on transparency. It does not publish a list of its suppliers, factory locations, or results from any third-party audits. Without this information, it is impossible to verify its claims of adhering to local laws or to independently assess the conditions under which its clothes are made. The brand holds no certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 to validate its labor practices.
While the brand does not appear to use real fur or exotic animal skins, it has no formal or public animal welfare policy. There are no certifications like PETA-Approved Vegan, leaving consumers in the dark about its sourcing in regards to animal-derived materials or byproducts.
Dark In Love demonstrates a near-complete disregard for environmental sustainability, making it an unsustainable choice for conscious consumers.
The brand's material usage is overwhelmingly unsustainable. It relies heavily on virgin, petroleum-based synthetics like polyester and nylon, and less than 10% of its materials are from sustainable sources. Dark In Love holds no relevant certifications for sustainable materials, such as the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).
Dark In Love does not publish any data related to its environmental footprint. There is no information on its carbon emissions, water usage, chemical management, or wastewater treatment practices. Given its manufacturing centers and material choices, its impact is presumed to be high, with no articulated goals for reduction.
There is no evidence of any circularity initiatives at Dark In Love. The company does not offer repair services, recycling, or take-back programs for its garments. The quality of its products is geared toward short-term use, contributing directly to textile waste and landfill problems.
The brand has not announced any sustainability targets, progress reports, or public commitments to reduce its environmental impact. This absence of goals is a major red flag and indicates that sustainability is not a priority for the business.
Dark In Love mirrors the deeply flawed practices of other ultra-fast fashion brands. Its business model prioritizes cheap, trendy products over the well-being of its workers and the health of the planet, with very few redeeming qualities.
Dark In Love receives a grade of 'D' for its severe lack of supply chain transparency. Without disclosing its factories or providing evidence of fair labor practices or living wages, its ethical claims cannot be verified. While the brand has avoided major public scandals, its opacity aligns with exploitative industry norms rather than responsible business practices.
Earning an 'F' in sustainability, Dark In Love shows no meaningful effort to mitigate its significant environmental impact. The brand's dependence on virgin synthetics, lack of published goals or data, and failure to implement any circularity programs demonstrate a complete disregard for environmental responsibility which makes it among the worst offenders in the industry.
If you love the alternative, gothic-inspired styles of Dark In Love but are concerned about its destructive practices, here are some alternatives that prioritize people and the planet:
A pioneer in ethical sourcing, People Tree offers timeless styles made with GOTS-certified organic cotton and Fair Trade principles. They provide full transparency into their supply chain, ensuring garment workers receive fair wages and work in safe conditions.
Shop now at people-tree.com
For more trendy and fashion-forward pieces, Reformation is a certified B Corp that uses sustainable materials like TENCEL™ Lyocell and recycled fabrics. They disclose the environmental footprint of each item and are committed to carbon neutrality in their operations.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Though an outdoor brand, Patagonia is a leader in activism and corporate responsibility. They use a high percentage of recycled materials, are Fair Trade Certified™, and offer an Ironclad Guarantee to repair items, extending their lifespan and keeping them out of landfills.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Eileen Fisher creates beautifully simple, high-quality clothing using organic and recycled fibers. The B Corp is a leader in circular design, with a robust 'Renew' take-back program that resells or remanufactures used garments.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
Focusing on high-quality essentials, this B Corp uses sustainable materials like GOTS organic cotton and recycled nylon. Organic Basics is transparent about their factory list and invests significantly in lowering their environmental impact per product.
Shop now at us.organicbasics.com
Dark In Love's low prices are a direct result of its fast fashion business model. Costs are kept low by manufacturing in countries with minimal labor protections, using inexpensive synthetic materials, and producing items in very high volumes to benefit from economies of scale.
While there are no public reports directly accusing Dark In Love of using child labor, its complete lack of supply chain transparency makes it impossible to guarantee otherwise. Brands that do not disclose their factory locations and are not independently audited cannot prove they have eradicated this risk from their supply chain.
Dark In Love features models with diverse body types and appearances in its marketing campaigns. However, this surface-level inclusivity is not supported by public evidence of systemic diversity and inclusion initiatives within their corporate structure or robust protections for their diverse garment workers worldwide.
