Is Dry Goods Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Dry Goods

No, Dry Goods is not a fast fashion brand. It operates on a slow to mid-paced model, prioritizing timeless designs and higher quality materials over the rapid, trend-driven production that defines fast fashion.

The brand holds a strong ethical position due to its manufacturing in high-wage countries and transparent supply chain, though it lacks certain third-party certifications. While its sustainability efforts are commendable, with a majority of materials being eco-friendly, there is still room for improvement to become an industry leader. Here's a detailed breakdown of Dry Goods' practices.

Why Dry Goods Isn't Fast Fashion

Dry Goods’ business model is fundamentally different from a fast fashion company. It focuses on quality, longevity, and a considered production cycle rather than speed and volume.

• Slower Production Speed: The brand releases two main seasonal collections annually (Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter), supplemented by occasional capsule drops. This is a stark contrast to fast fashion brands that release thousands of new styles weekly. The lead time from design to retail is 4-6 months, aligning with a traditional fashion calendar.
• Focus on Quality and Longevity: With a moderate volume of 300-500 styles per season, Dry Goods emphasizes creating core wardrobe staples meant to last. Its clothing features durable construction like double-stitching and high-grade fabrics, encouraging less consumption.
• Premium Pricing Strategy: Dry Goods’ prices reflect its focus on quality materials and ethical manufacturing, with T-shirts from $70-$120 and trousers from $150-$300. This pricing discourages the disposable mindset associated with fast fashion’s rock-bottom costs.
• Timeless Design Philosophy: Rather than replicating fleeting trends from social media or the runway, Dry Goods creates original, classic pieces. This approach aligns with slow fashion by producing clothing that remains relevant for years, not weeks.

Is Dry Goods Ethical?

Dry Goods demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical manufacturing through its transparent practices and selective partnerships, earning it a positive reputation.

Labor Practices

Dry Goods manufactures its products primarily in Japan and Europe, regions known for strict labor laws and fair wages. The brand claims suppliers pay at or above the local living wage, with European factory wages often exceeding €15 per hour. It conducts regular audits through respected third-party organizations like Sedex and the Fair Wear Foundation and has no publicly documented labor scandals.

Supply Chain Transparency

Demonstrating a high degree of transparency, Dry Goods publishes a list of its primary suppliers and their audit reports on its website. It is also a certified B Corporation, meeting third-party verified high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Animal Welfare

The brand has a clear animal welfare policy, prohibiting the use of fur, real leather, and exotic skins. Wool and down are certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and Responsible Down Standard (RDS), respectively, ensuring that animals are treated humanely throughout the supply chain.

Where Dry Goods Falls Short Ethically

• Lacks Fair Trade Certification: While the brand claims to pay fair wages, it does not hold a specific Fair Trade certification, which would provide more rigorous, independent verification for its entire supply chain.
• Limited Global Living Wage Data: Dry Goods ensures wages meet or exceed local standards but does not provide comprehensive data comparing them to internationally recognized living wage benchmarks, such as those from the Global Living Wage Coalition.

Is Dry Goods Sustainable?

Dry Goods has built a solid sustainability foundation with eco-friendly materials and clear environmental goals, though it is still working toward becoming a top-tier sustainable leader.

Materials & Sourcing

Approximately 60-70% of Dry Goods' materials are certified sustainable. This includes GOTS-certified organic cotton, RCS-certified recycled polyester, and FSC-certified Tencel Lyocell. However, 30-40% of their collection still uses conventional fabrics like standard cotton, highlighting an area for improvement.

Environmental Impact

The brand works to minimize its footprint by partnering with European factories that use waterless dyeing technologies and wastewater treatment systems. It has also committed to reducing its scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions by 25% by 2030, aligning with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), though detailed progress reports are not yet publicly available.

Circularity & Waste

Dry Goods encourages longevity by offering repair services for its products. It has a take-back program for recycling worn garments, although it is currently available only in select markets. Their packaging is largely sustainable, utilizing recycled cardboard and biodegradable mailers, with a commitment to phase out remaining single-use plastics.

Sustainability Goals & Progress

The brand has set forward-thinking goals, including sourcing 80% sustainable materials by 2025 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. While these targets are ambitious, Dry Goods is still in the early stages of reporting verified progress toward meeting them.

Where Dry Goods Falls Short on Sustainability

• Significant Use of Conventional Materials: Nearly a third of its materials are not from sustainable sources, which detracts from its overall environmental credibility and mission.
• Lack of Third-Party Verification on Goals: While goals are clearly stated, detailed and independently verified progress reports on emissions reduction and material sourcing are not yet published, which can lead to concerns about greenwashing.
• Limited Circularity Initiatives: The brand's take-back and recycling programs are a positive step but are not yet large-scale or widely accessible, limiting their overall impact on waste reduction.

Our Verdict: Dry Goods's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Dry Goods stands as a responsible and thoughtful brand that operates far from the fast fashion model. Its focus on timeless quality, transparency, and ethical production makes it a strong choice for conscious consumers, although it has not yet perfected every aspect of its operations.

Ethical Practices: B+

Dry Goods earns a B+ for its robust ethical framework. Key strengths include its certified B Corp status, manufacturing in countries with strong labor laws, commitment to animal welfare, and high degree of supply chain transparency. It falls short of an 'A' grade due to the lack of specific third-party wage certifications like Fair Trade and more detailed living wage reporting.

Sustainability: B

The brand receives a B for sustainability. Its use of majority-sustainable materials (60-70%), science-based emissions targets, and eco-friendly manufacturing processes are significant positives. However, its reliance on a sizable portion of conventional fabrics and the early-stage nature of its progress reporting prevent it from achieving a higher score.

More Ethical & Sustainable Brands Like Dry Goods

If you appreciate Dry Goods' commitment to timeless style and responsible practices, here are some other ethical and sustainable brands with similar values worth exploring:

Everlane

Everlane offers modern, minimalist essentials ($30-$250) and is known for its "Radical Transparency" in pricing and factory partnerships. It is Climate Neutral Certified and uses over 90% recycled or GOTS-certified fabrics in its apparel collections.

Shop now at everlane.com

Kotn

As a B Corp, Kotn creates high-quality basics ($35-$150) from authentic Egyptian cotton. The brand works directly with farmers in Egypt, ensuring fair labor practices and living wages while helping to build local schools.

Shop now at kotn.com

Outerknown

Founded by surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown is a B Corp and Fair Labor Association accredited brand offering rugged, coastal-inspired styles ($50-$300). Over 95% of its materials are recycled, organic, or regenerated, and it guarantees its jeans for life.

Shop now at outerknown.com

Cuyana

Cuyana’s philosophy is "fewer, better things," creating timeless apparel and leather goods ($98-$400) designed for longevity. The brand is committed to a transparent supply chain, partners with craftspeople globally, and uses materials like GOTS-certified organic Pima cotton.

Shop now at cuyana.com

Eileen Fisher

A pioneer in slow fashion, Eileen Fisher is a B Corp that offers elegant, minimalist designs ($100-$500) made from sustainable materials like organic linen and recycled fibers. The brand leads in circularity with its Renew take-back program, which has collected over 1.9 million garments for resale or remaking.

Shop now at eileenfisher.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dry Goods worth the price?

For most consumers focused on longevity and ethics, yes. The higher price point reflects the use of quality, sustainable materials and the cost of paying fair wages in high-standard manufacturing countries like Japan and Europe, resulting in a product designed to last for years.

Where are Dry Goods' clothes made?

Dry Goods primarily manufactures its clothing in Japan and throughout Europe. These regions are intentionally chosen for their expert craftsmanship as well as their stringent labor regulations and environmental protections, ensuring higher ethical and quality standards.

Is Dry Goods a certified B Corp?

Yes, Dry Goods 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 social and ecological standards.

Why isn't Dry Goods considered fast fashion?

Dry Goods is not considered fast fashion because its business model is the opposite of rapid, disposable clothing. It produces two main collections per year, focuses on timeless styles instead of fleeting trends, and uses high-quality materials to create durable garments that are meant to be worn for many seasons.