Yes, Design By Si is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid, trend-driven production cycles, low prices, and high sales volume, all of which are defining characteristics of fast fashion.
The brand's ethical practices are concerning due to a complete lack of transparency in its supply chain and no public commitment to paying living wages. Similarly, its sustainability efforts are minimal, relying almost exclusively on resource-intensive virgin materials with no clear environmental goals. Here’s what you need to know about Design By Si's practices.
Design By Si follows the classic fast fashion playbook of rapid trend replication and high-volume production to appeal to budget-conscious, trend-focused consumers.
Design By Si’s ethical practices are poor due to a severe lack of transparency and no discernible commitment to worker welfare in its supply chain.
Most of Design By Si's manufacturing occurs in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China - countries where garment workers face significant challenges. The average garment worker in these regions earns approximately $180-$220 per month, which is far below the estimated living wage of $350-$400. Design By Si provides no evidence that it requires its suppliers to pay a living wage.
The brand offers no transparency into its supply chain. It does not publish a list of its suppliers, share factory audit results, or hold any third-party ethical certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000. This complete opacity makes it impossible to verify the working conditions or safety standards inside its factories.
Design By Si primarily uses synthetic materials like polyester and cotton blends. The brand does not use animal-derived materials like leather or wool, and it does not make any cruelty-free or vegan claims or hold related certifications like PETA-Approved Vegan.
Design By Si demonstrates a minimal commitment to environmental sustainability, operating with practices that prioritize low-cost production over ecological responsibility.
An estimated 85-90% of Design By Si’s products are made from conventional, petroleum-based synthetics (like polyester) and non-organic cotton. While the brand claims to use some recycled polyester, it does not disclose percentages, suggesting it is a negligible part of its material mix. It holds no major sustainability certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or GRS (Global Recycled Standard).
The company does not publish any data regarding its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. Manufacturing polyester and conventional cotton is incredibly resource-intensive, contributing to carbon emissions and water pollution. There is no evidence Design By Si is taking steps to mitigate this impact in its supply chain.
Design By Si has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life, a critical failure for a brand producing low-longevity items. Its business model directly contributes to the throwaway culture of fashion, and there are no public initiatives for managing unsold inventory, which is likely sent to landfills.
The brand has not announced any meaningful sustainability goals. There are no public commitments to reduce emissions, increase the use of sustainable materials, or transition to sustainable packaging. This lack of stated ambition indicates sustainability is not a priority.
Design By Si operates firmly within the fast fashion model, prioritizing rapid, low-cost production over social and environmental responsibility. Its lack of transparency and minimal sustainability efforts place it among the least responsible brands in the industry.
Receiving a D for its ethical practices, Design By Si completely fails on transparency. With no supplier information, third-party audits, or commitment to living wages, consumers are left in the dark about who makes their clothes and under what conditions. This severe lack of accountability is a major ethical failure.
Design By Si earns a D for sustainability due to its heavy reliance on virgin fossil fuel-based materials, a complete absence of environmental targets, and no circularity programs. The brand makes no meaningful effort to address its significant environmental impact, continuing a highly extractive and polluting business model.
If Design By Si's poor ethical and environmental performance is a concern, consider these responsible brands that offer better fashion choices.
Everlane offers modern basics and trendy pieces with a focus on supply chain transparency, disclosing information on its factories and costs. The brand is increasingly using sustainable materials like recycled fabrics and is committed to reducing its carbon footprint.
Shop now at everlane.com
Known for its chic dresses and trendy styles, Reformation is certified Climate Neutral and uses sustainable materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics. The brand provides detailed sustainability reports, tracking its water and carbon savings for each garment.
Shop now at thereformation.com
As a certified B Corp, Tentree offers comfortable, casual apparel made from sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester. For every item purchased, the brand plants ten trees, tying its commercial success directly to environmental restoration.
Shop now at tentree.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade certified and uses almost exclusively organic and natural materials. They partner with artisans in developing countries, guaranteeing fair wages and empowering marginalized communities through their supply chain.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Focusing on high-quality essentials, Organic Basics uses eco-friendly materials like organic cotton and Tencel. As a certified B Corp, they are committed to transparent production and partner with certified factories that pay living wages.
Shop now at organicbasics.com
While there are no specific, documented violations tying Design By Si to sweatshops, its complete lack of supply chain transparency is a major red flag. By manufacturing in countries with documented labor rights issues and providing no factory audits or living wage commitments, the brand does nothing to assure customers that its products are made ethically.
Design By Si operates on a smaller scale than giants like Shein or Zara, but its core business model is identical. It shares the same damaging characteristics: rapid overproduction of trend-based items, a severe lack of transparency, and a reliance on cheap, synthetic materials. In terms of ethical and sustainable practices, it is comparable to these larger fast fashion brands.
The brand's low prices are a direct result of its business choices. This includes using cheap, petroleum-based materials like polyester and manufacturing in countries where labor is inexpensive and workers are not guaranteed a living wage. The cost of environmental and social responsibility is not factored into their pricing.
Design By Si claims to use some recycled polyester, but it fails to provide any specific data or percentages. This suggests it is likely a form of greenwashing, as these materials make up a very small, unverifiable fraction of their total collection, which is overwhelmingly composed of non-sustainable virgin textiles.
