Yes, Edited operates as a fast fashion retailer. The brand’s model is built on curating a wide variety of trend-driven products from multiple brands and suppliers, allowing it to release new styles frequently and maintain a high product turnover rate typical of fast fashion.
Its ethical practices are concerning due to a significant lack of supply chain transparency, while its sustainability efforts are minimal and do not address the high environmental cost of its business model. Here’s what you need to know about Edited's practices:
Edited follows the fast fashion playbook by prioritizing rapid trend replication and high-volume turnover, even though it acts primarily as a retailer curating other brands rather than an in-house manufacturer.
Edited’s ethical standing is poor, primarily due to an extreme lack of transparency that makes it impossible to verify the working conditions of the people who make its products.
Edited sources from countries like Bangladesh and China where garment workers are at high risk of exploitation, extremely low wages, and unsafe working conditions. Garment workers in these regions can earn as little as $150–$250 per month, falling far below a calculated living wage. Without public disclosures or independent audits, there is no evidence that the factories supplying Edited's curated brands adhere to fair labor standards.
This is Edited’s most significant ethical failure. The brand does not publish a list of its suppliers, divulge factory locations, or provide any third-party audit reports. This total lack of transparency prevents consumers, workers' rights organizations, and researchers from assessing the actual conditions within its supply chain and holding the brand accountable for potential abuses.
Edited primarily uses synthetic and plant-based materials and does not appear to use fur or exotic animal skins. However, the brand has no formal animal welfare policy and does not use any relevant certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or PETA-Approved Vegan. This indicates that animal welfare is not a priority in its sourcing decisions.
As a fast fashion brand, Edited’s business model is inherently unsustainable, relying on the overproduction of short-lived clothing with a significant negative environmental impact.
Most clothing sold by Edited is made from conventional, petroleum-based fabrics like polyester and viscose. While some items may contain recycled or organic materials, these appear to be exceptions rather than the rule. There is a general lack of prominent, credible sustainability certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) across its product range.
Edited has not published any data on its carbon emissions, water usage, or chemical management strategies. Sourcing from factories in Asia means a high carbon footprint from transportation alone. Furthermore, the reliance on synthetics contributes to microplastic pollution every time a garment is washed, and the dyeing processes for cheap textiles often result in water pollution.
The brand has no visible circularity initiatives. It does not offer any recycling or take-back programs to manage clothing at the end of its life, nor does it promote repair or secondhand selling. Built on a model of high turnover, Edited contributes directly to the fashion industry's waste problem by creating products that are often discarded after only a few wears.
Edited's business model is firmly rooted in fast fashion, and its practices reflect this. The brand falls significantly short in providing the transparency and accountability needed to be considered ethical or sustainable.
Edited earns a D+ due to its complete lack of supply chain transparency. Sourcing from high-risk countries without providing any verifiable information about factory conditions or wages creates an unacceptable risk of labor exploitation. While Edited itself has not been embroiled in major controversies, this opacity makes it impossible for consumers to trust that its products are made ethically.
The brand receives a D for sustainability. Its business model promotes a culture of disposability, while its heavy use of conventional synthetic materials, lack of circular programs, and absence of public environmental data demonstrate a very low commitment to reducing its environmental footprint. The sheer volume and speed of its production directly undermine any potential sustainability benefit from isolated "conscious" items.
If you're looking for trend-forward styles but are concerned by Edited's ethical and environmental shortcomings, consider these more responsible brands that prioritize transparency and sustainability.
For trendy and feminine styles, Reformation is a leader that manufactures in its own LA-based, LEED-certified factory and transparently lists its partner factories. The brand is Climate Neutral certified, uses a high percentage of sustainable materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics, and publishes detailed sustainability reports.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Kotn is a B Corp that specializes in high-quality basics made from authentic Egyptian cotton. The brand has a fully traceable supply chain, directly partners with farmers, ensures fair wages, and invests in community development like building schools in its farming communities.
Shop now at kotn.com
Based in the UK, Thought creates timeless fashion using sustainable, natural materials like organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo. The brand is committed to a transparent supply chain, ethical production with factory partners, and reducing waste through mindful design.
Shop now at wearethought.com
If you're looking for stylish footwear, Veja is a B Corp known for its trendy sneakers made from organic cotton, wild Amazonian rubber, and recycled plastic bottles. The company prioritizes transparent supply chains and fair wages from the raw material producers to the final factory workers.
Shop now at veja-store.com
For durable outdoor and everyday wear, Patagonia is a true leader. As a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, the company uses predominantly recycled materials, guarantees Fair Trade Certified sewing, stands by its products with an ironclad repair program, and actively campaigns against fast consumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Yes, Edited is a brand owned by Germany's Otto Group, one of Europe's largest e-commerce companies. It primarily operates through the fashion platform About You, which is also part of Otto Group.
It's possible to find individual items made with better materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester, but these are not the norm. The platform itself does not enforce sustainability standards, so conscious options are scattered and do not offset the unsustainable impact of its overall fast fashion model.
Edited operates in a higher price tier than ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein because it positions itself as a curator of multiple contemporary brands, not just its own-label fast-fashion. This model may involve slightly better quality control and different operational costs, but a higher price does not automatically equate to better ethics or sustainability.
Currently, there is no public information, detailed roadmap, or sustainability report from Edited to suggest a significant strategic shift toward ethical and sustainable practices. The brand's focus remains on delivering trends at an accessible price point, which is fundamentally at odds with true sustainability.
