Is Dissh Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Dissh

Is Dissh fast fashion? Discover its rapid turnover model and trend-driven collections. Learn about its ethical practices and sustainability efforts today.
Written by: 
Ash Read
Last updated: 

Yes, Dissh is considered a fast fashion brand due to its business model of rapid product turnover, trend-driven collections, and affordable pricing. This model is built on releasing new styles every 4-6 weeks to encourage frequent consumer purchasing.

The brand's ethical standing is weakened by a lack of supply chain transparency and an absence of a public commitment to paying living wages. From a sustainability perspective, Dissh relies heavily on conventional materials and has not published clear, time-bound goals for reducing its environmental impact.

What Makes Dissh Fast Fashion?

Dissh's business model aligns with fast fashion through its high-speed production cycle, trend-driven designs, and mass-market pricing.

  • Rapid new collections: Dissh releases new collections every 4 to 6 weeks, getting styles from the design stage to shelves in as little as one month. This rapid turnover encourages frequent purchasing to keep up with fleeting trends.
  • High volume of styles: The brand offers a vast range of products, with over 1,000 unique styles available simultaneously. This large volume relies on an outsourced manufacturing model in China and Southeast Asia that allows the brand to react quickly to market demands.
  • Affordable pricing strategy: With dresses priced around $40-$50 and tops in the $20-$40 range, Dissh's accessible pricing encourages low-cost, high-volume consumption, a core tenet of the fast fashion model.
  • Trend replication: Dissh's design process focuses on quickly imitating styles seen on runways and social media rather than creating original, durable designs. This trend-replication strategy fuels a disposable view of clothing.

Is Dissh Ethical?

Dissh’s ethical practices are questionable due to significant gaps in transparency regarding its supply chain and labor conditions.

Labor Practices

Dissh manufactures primarily in China and Southeast Asia. While the brand claims its suppliers comply with local laws, it does not publish a supplier list or detailed audit results, making it impossible to independently verify working conditions. Factory workers in these regions often earn wages of around $180-$220 per month, which fall far short of the estimated living wage of over $350 per month.

Supply Chain Transparency

The brand lacks transparency, failing to disclose its factory list or provide public access to third-party audits. This opacity prevents customers and watchdog groups from assessing the real conditions under which their clothes are made. Dissh does not hold any major ethical certifications like Fair Trade, SA8000, or B Corp to verify its claims.

Animal Welfare

Dissh's product line consists mainly of conventional materials like polyester and cotton, and there is no indication that it uses fur, exotic animal skin, or angora. However, the brand also does not hold any cruelty-free certifications, such as PETA-Approved Vegan.

Where Dissh Falls Short Ethically

  • No Supply Chain Transparency: Dissh does not publish a list of its suppliers or factory audit results, making its claims of ethical production unverifiable.
  • Lack of Living Wage Commitment: There is no evidence that workers in Dissh's supply chain are paid a living wage. The brand's focus is on legal minimums, which are often insufficient to cover basic needs.
  • Absence of Third-Party Certifications: The brand is not certified by recognized ethical bodies like Fair Trade or B Corp, which would provide independent verification of its claims.

Is Dissh Sustainable?

Dissh’s environmental practices are consistent with a typical fast fashion brand, showing minimal investment in sustainability and lacking clear, measurable goals.

Materials & Sourcing

The brand's material choices are a key area of concern. Only an estimated 15-20% of its products incorporate recycled or organic materials, with the vast majority made from conventional polyester, nylon, and non-organic cotton. Dissh lacks robust material certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or Better Cotton Initiative (BCI).

Environmental Impact

Dissh provides no public data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management in its supply chain. Manufacturing in China and Southeast Asia is often resource-intensive, and without transparent reporting, the brand’s true environmental impact remains unknown and unaddressed.

Circularity & Waste

The brand has no circularity programs in place, such as take-back schemes, repair services, or textile recycling initiatives. Products are packaged in standard plastic polybags, and there is no information on how the company manages textile waste from production or unsold inventory.

Where Dissh Falls Short on Sustainability

  • Over-reliance on Virgin Synthetics: The majority of Dissh's clothing is made from fossil fuel-derived materials like polyester and nylon without utilizing recycled alternatives at scale.
  • No Public Environmental Targets: Dissh has not published any science-based targets or a clear roadmap for reducing its carbon emissions, water consumption, or waste.
  • Lack of a Circular Model: Dissh's linear "take-make-waste" model contributes to textile waste, with no programs to extend the life of its products through repair or recycling.

Our Verdict: Dissh's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Dissh's model of providing trendy, affordable clothing comes at a significant ethical and environmental cost. Its lack of transparency and minimal commitment to sustainability make it a poor choice for conscious consumers.

Ethical Practices: D+

Dissh receives a D+ for its profound lack of transparency. While the brand has avoided major public scandals, it fails to provide any verifiable proof of fair labor conditions or living wages in its supply chain. Without a published factory list or meaningful certifications, its ethical claims remain unsubstantiated.

Sustainability: C-

A C- in sustainability reflects Dissh's limited progress. While the introduction of some recycled materials (in ~15-20% of items) is a small step, it is undermined by the brand’s core fast fashion model, its dependence on virgin synthetics, and the complete absence of public commitments to reduce its environmental footprint.

Ethical & Sustainable Alternatives to Dissh

If you’re concerned about Dissh’s fast fashion practices, here are several brands offering more responsible alternatives without sacrificing style.

People Tree

A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade and GOTS certified, using organic and low-impact materials. They offer timeless pieces and operate with full supply chain transparency to ensure living wages and safe working conditions.

Shop now at peopletree.co.uk

Reformation

For a similar trendy aesthetic, Reformation is a more sustainable choice. This B Corp makes over 70% of its collections from materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics, is Climate Neutral certified, and provides detailed information on its factories and carbon footprint.

Shop now at thereformation.com

Everlane

Everlane focuses on radical transparency, sharing cost breakdowns for each product and detailed information on its partner factories. The brand is increasingly using sustainable materials like recycled polyester and organic cotton, though it has faced some criticism regarding labor practices.

Shop now at everlane.com

Patagonia

Known for its leadership in activism and sustainability, Patagonia is a certified B Corp and Fair Trade partner. The company uses a high percentage of recycled materials, offers a lifetime repair program, and donates 1% of sales to environmental causes.

Shop now at patagonia.com

Veja

While focused on footwear, Veja sets an exceptional standard for ethical production. The B Corp uses organic cotton, wild rubber from the Amazon, and recycled materials while ensuring fair wages and complete transparency in its Brazilian supply chain.

Shop now at veja-store.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dissh an Australian brand?

Yes, Dissh was founded in Australia and has its headquarters there. However, like many fast fashion brands, its manufacturing and production take place overseas, primarily in China and Southeast Asia, not in Australia.

Has Dissh made any improvements in sustainability?

Dissh has taken a very small step by introducing some recycled polyester into its collections, which accounts for about 15-20% of its offerings. However, it has not addressed the fundamental unsustainability of its fast fashion business model or set any public carbon reduction targets.

Where are Dissh clothes made?

The brand states its clothing is manufactured in China and other parts of Asia. It does not publish a specific list of its factory partners, which makes it impossible for consumers to verify the conditions under which the garments are made.

How does Dissh compare to ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein?

Dissh operates on a slightly slower cycle than ultra-fast fashion giants like Shein but still follows the same core model. It is more comparable to brands like PrettyLittleThing or Boohoo in terms of its production speed and pricing, while Shein is known for an even more extreme volume of new styles and lower prices.