No, Eileen Fisher is not a fast fashion brand. The company intentionally operates on a slow fashion model, emphasizing timeless design, high-quality materials, and garment longevity over rapid, trend-driven production cycles. Its commitment to ethics is strong, though there are areas for improvement in wage transparency. On sustainability, Eileen Fisher is an industry leader, pioneering circularity programs and extensive use of eco-friendly materials.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of Eileen Fisher's practices and why it stands apart from the fast fashion industry.
Eileen Fisher’s business model is fundamentally opposed to fast fashion principles, focusing on intentional design and responsible manufacturing rather than disposable trends.
Eileen Fisher has built its brand on a foundation of ethical responsibility and transparency, though challenges remain in achieving perfect practices across its global supply chain.
Eileen Fisher is committed to fair labor and publishes a list of its suppliers to maintain accountability. It works with factories in the US, Mexico, India, and China, conducting third-party audits with organizations like Fair Trade USA. The company aims for living wages in its supply chain, but like much of the industry, verifying this standard across all global partners remains a challenge, with reports noting issues of excessive hours in some regions.
The brand scores well on transparency, typically achieving a 60-70% rating in the Fashion Transparency Index. It publishes annual sustainability reports with detailed information about its suppliers, audit results, and improvement initiatives, demonstrating a serious commitment to accountability.
Eileen Fisher has a strong animal welfare policy, avoiding fur and exotic animal skins entirely. The wool it uses is certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), ensuring ethical treatment of sheep and sustainable land management. Additionally, many of its textiles are certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which ensures they are free from harmful substances.
As a certified B Corporation, Eileen Fisher meets high standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. This certification legally requires the company to consider the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.
Eileen Fisher is a recognized leader in fashion sustainability, championing circularity, sustainable materials, and responsible manufacturing practices.
The brand is a leader in adopting sustainable materials, with 85-90% of its collections made from eco-friendly fibers. Over 50% of its cotton is GOTS-certified organic, and it makes extensive use of linen, hemp, TENCEL™ Lyocell, recycled polyester, and RWS-certified wool, actively moving away from conventional synthetics.
Eileen Fisher works to minimize its environmental footprint by using low-impact, non-toxic dyes and implementing water-saving technologies in its production processes. As a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, it uses the Higg Index to measure environmental performance and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.
The brand’s "Renew" program is a pioneering take-back initiative where customers can return old Eileen Fisher garments for store credit. These items are then cleaned, repaired, and resold, or recycled into new fibers. This circular model, along with repair services, significantly extends the life of its products and minimizes textile waste.
Eileen Fisher sets ambitious, public goals, including using 100% sustainable or recycled fibers by 2025 and becoming a zero-waste company by 2030. The company transparently reports its progress towards these goals in its annual sustainability reports, providing a clear roadmap of its commitments.
Eileen Fisher is a standout brand in an industry plagued by unethical and unsustainable practices. It demonstrates what is possible when a company centers its mission on responsibility, making it a reliable choice for the conscious consumer.
Eileen Fisher earns a B+ for its strong ethical commitments, B Corp status, and high level of supply chain transparency. It sets a high standard for fair labor and animal welfare. The grade is held back from a higher mark due to the significant challenge of verifying living wages across its entire global supply chain and reported issues like excessive overtime in some factories.
With an A- in sustainability, Eileen Fisher is an industry leader. The brand's impressive use of sustainable materials (85-90%), pioneering circular "Renew" program, and ambitious, transparent climate goals are exemplary. It falls just short of a perfect score due to minor gaps in public data regarding the specific material composition and chemical use for every garment.
If you appreciate Eileen Fisher's dedication to slow fashion, quality, and conscious production, here are other brands with similar values worth exploring:
Patagonia is a certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member renowned for its activism, durable outdoor gear, and "Ironclad Guarantee" for repairs. The brand heavily utilizes Fair Trade Certified factories and recycled materials, setting a gold standard for environmental responsibility.
Shop now at patagonia.com
For a more trend-forward yet sustainable option, Reformation combines stylish designs with robust eco-friendly practices. It is Climate Neutral Certified, uses a high percentage of sustainable materials like TENCEL™, and provides detailed "RefScale" reports on the environmental footprint of each garment.
Shop now at wearereformation.com
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree has been dedicated to Fair Trade principles for decades. The brand partners with artisans in developing countries to create clothing from GOTS-certified organic cotton and natural fibers, actively empowering its makers.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Known for its ultra-soft Egyptian cotton basics, Kotn is a B Corp that works directly with farmers in the Nile Delta to ensure fair wages and sustainable farming practices. The brand is deeply committed to supply chain transparency and community empowerment, building schools in its farming communities.
Shop now at ca.kotn.com
Amour Vert creates classic, feminine pieces using sustainable materials like TENCEL™ Modal and organic cotton, with 97% of its products made in California to ensure ethical production. For every t-shirt purchased, the brand plants a tree, combining beautiful design with direct environmental action.
Shop now at amourvert.com
For many consumers, yes. The higher prices reflect the cost of sustainable materials, ethical labor practices, high-quality construction meant to last for years, and circular programs like take-back and resale, making it an investment in conscious consumption.
The Renew program is the brand's pioneering circular commerce model. Customers can return their old Eileen Fisher clothing to any store and receive a $5 store credit per piece. The items are then sorted, cleaned, and either resold, repaired for resale, or deconstructed to create entirely new designs, keeping them out of landfills.
Yes, Eileen Fisher is a certified B Corporation. This legally requires the company to balance profit and purpose by meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability.
Eileen Fisher manufactures its clothing in several countries, including the United States, Mexico, China, and India. The brand is known for its transparency in this area, publishing a list of its suppliers and working with factories that are committed to fair labor and safe working conditions.
