Is Elwood Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Elwood

No, Elwood is not considered a fast fashion brand. It operates on a slower, seasonal production cycle with a focus on durable, timeless basics rather than rapid, trend-driven collections.

While Elwood has taken positive steps in using sustainable materials, its ethical and environmental commitments are clouded by a significant lack of transparency. The brand does not publicly disclose details about its supply chain or provide verifiable data to back up its eco-friendly claims. Here’s a closer look at what you need to know about Elwood’s practices.

Why Elwood Isn't Considered Fast Fashion

Elwood’s business model is built around quality and longevity, putting it at odds with the core principles of fast fashion.

• Seasonal production cycle: Instead of weekly drops, Elwood releases two to four main collections per year. This slower pace encourages more thoughtful design and production, moving away from the high-turnover model of brands like Zara or SHEIN.
• Focus on durable staples: The brand's aesthetic is rooted in timeless surf and skate-inspired casualwear, emphasizing basics like hoodies, denim, and T-shirts that are designed to last for years, not just a single season.
• Moderate price point: With T-shirts around $40–$60 and hoodies priced at $70–$100, Elwood is positioned well above typical fast fashion prices. This pricing reflects the use of better-quality materials and a business model that doesn't rely on mass volume and disposable clothing.
• Original design philosophy: Elwood focuses on its own classic design ethos rather than rapidly replicating trending styles from social media or the runway. This approach values originality and consistency over chasing micro-trends.

Is Elwood Ethical?

Elwood’s ethical commitments are moderate but suffer from a major lack of transparency, making it difficult to verify its claims.

Labor Practices

Elwood states it works with suppliers committed to fair labor but provides no public list of its factories or detailed audit reports to confirm this. The majority of its production is in China and South Korea, where reports suggest workers often earn well below a living wage. In some regions, factory workers may earn $150–$200 per month, while a living wage is estimated to be closer to $300–$350 per month. Without verifiable data, there is no proof that Elwood's workers receive fair treatment or wages.

Supply Chain Transparency

The brand's transparency is its biggest ethical weakness. Elwood does not hold any major third-party certifications like Fair Trade, B Corp, or SA8000 that independently verify worker conditions and wages. It claims to conduct its own factory audits, but since these reports are not made public, consumers are left to take the company at its word.

Animal Welfare

Elwood's entire product line is predominantly vegan-friendly, as it does not use any leather, fur, or other animal-derived materials. While the brand is not officially certified by organizations like PETA, its material choices align well with a strong commitment to animal welfare.

Where Elwood Falls Short Ethically

• No supply chain transparency: The company does not publish a list of its suppliers or share third-party audit results, making it impossible to independently verify its ethical claims.
• No public commitment to a living wage: There is no evidence or stated commitment that workers in its supply chain are paid a living wage.
• Lack of third-party certifications: The absence of certifications like Fair Trade or B Corp means its labor standards have not been verified by a credible outside organization.

Is Elwood Sustainable?

Elwood has taken some tangible steps toward sustainability, particularly with its material choices, but falls short on comprehensive data and clear targets.

Materials & Sourcing

This is Elwood's strongest area. Approximately 60% of its T-shirts and hoodies are made from more sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and recycled polyester. While the brand mentions sourcing materials certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS), it does not provide detailed traceability or public data on the exact percentages across its entire collection.

Environmental Impact

Elwood has not published data on its carbon footprint, including its Scope 1, 2, or 3 emissions. It also has not set any science-based targets for reducing its environmental impact, which is a standard practice for brands serious about sustainability. While it claims its partner factories practice wastewater treatment and energy efficiency, there is no public data to support this.

Circularity & Waste

Elwood has made some progress in this area. It uses biodegradable mailers for shipping and runs a take-back program in Australia that allows customers to recycle old garments for store credit. However, it does not offer a repair program, nor does it publicly address how it handles textile waste or deadstock fabric from its own production process.

Sustainability Goals & Progress

The company has a goal to use 80% sustainable materials by 2025, which is a positive commitment. However, it does not publish progress reports, making it difficult to know if it is on track to meet this target. The lack of broader goals for carbon reduction or water usage limits its overall sustainability credentials.

Where Elwood Falls Short on Sustainability

• No transparent emissions data: The brand does not report its carbon footprint or its impact related to water use, chemicals, and energy.
• Lack of clear impact reduction targets: Beyond its materials goal, Elwood has not set measurable targets for reducing its overall environmental footprint.
• Potential for greenwashing: By heavily emphasizing sustainable materials without providing comprehensive data on its production impacts, Elwood's marketing may overstate its true sustainability performance.

Our Verdict: Elwood's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Elwood sits in a gray area, making it a better choice than conventional fast fashion but falling short of being a truly responsible brand due to its lack of transparency and verification.

Ethical Practices: C+

Elwood receives a C+ for ethics. It earns points for its vegan-friendly material policy. However, its grade is severely limited by a complete lack of transparency regarding factory conditions, worker wages, and third-party audits, making it impossible to confirm that its products are made ethically.

Sustainability: B-

For sustainability, Elwood earns a B-. The brand deserves credit for its significant use of organic and recycled materials, biodegradable packaging, and garment take-back program. The grade is held back by the absence of published data on its carbon footprint, water usage, and clear, science-based targets for reduction.

Ethical & Sustainable Alternatives to Elwood

If Elwood's transparency shortcomings are a dealbreaker for you, consider these alternatives that offer similar styles with stronger, verifiable commitments to a better planet and fair labor.

Patagonia

A certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, Patagonia is an industry leader in both ethics and sustainability. The brand uses 87% recycled materials, ensures Fair Trade Certified production for a significant portion of its line, and openly shares supply chain details while also offering lifetime repairs.

Shop now at patagonia.com

Outerknown

Created by professional surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown makes timeless apparel with a deep commitment to people and the planet. This B Corp is Fair Trade Certified, has a fully transparent supplier list, and is working toward a fully circular production model to eliminate waste.

Shop now at outerknown.com

Veja

Known for its transparently made sneakers, Veja uses innovative, sustainable materials like wild Amazonian rubber, organic cotton, and recycled plastic bottles. The brand is deeply committed to social responsibility and provides traceable information on wages and sourcing for its materials.

Shop now at veja-store.com

People Tree

As a pioneer of ethical fashion for over 30 years, People Tree is a guaranteed Fair Trade brand that creates high-quality staples from organic cotton and responsible materials. They work directly with artisans and farmers in developing countries to ensure living wages and safe working conditions.

Shop now at peopletree.co.uk

Kotn

Kotn produces high-quality wardrobe basics made from authentic Egyptian cotton with a fully traceable supply chain. As a certified B Corp, the brand works directly with over 2,000 smallholder farmers in Egypt, ensuring fair prices and better livelihoods while building local infrastructure.

Shop now at kotn.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't Elwood considered fast fashion?

Elwood avoids the fast fashion label because of its seasonal collection model, its focus on crafting durable, timeless clothing rather than chasing micro-trends, and a higher price point that reflects better quality materials and construction compared to traditional fast fashion brands.

Does Elwood pay its factory workers a living wage?

There is no public evidence that Elwood pays its factory workers a living wage. The brand does not publish its supplier list, share audit results, or hold certifications like Fair Trade that would verify its wage practices, creating a major gap in its ethical accountability.

Is Elwood greenwashing?

There are valid concerns about greenwashing. While Elwood's use of sustainable materials is a genuine positive, the brand markets itself as eco-conscious without providing transparent data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or waste management, which are crucial pieces of an authentic sustainability strategy.