Yes, Empyre is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid production cycles, low prices, and frequent new collections that replicate current streetwear and youth-oriented trends. The brand's reliance on high-volume, low-cost manufacturing prioritizes trend turnover over longevity and durability.
Empyre demonstrates a significant lack of transparency regarding its ethical labor practices and has no publicly available sustainability initiatives or goals. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its practices.
Empyre’s operations align perfectly with the fast fashion model, emphasizing speed-to-market and affordability to encourage frequent purchasing.
Empyre’s ethical practices are concerning due to an extreme lack of transparency across its supply chain and a business model that deprioritizes worker welfare.
Empyre provides no public information about its factories, blocking any independent verification of worker conditions. Manufacturing primarily occurs in countries where wages are notoriously low, workers in Bangladesh and Pakistan often earn $80-$150 per month, which is significantly below the recognized living wage of $200-$300 needed to cover basic necessities. The brand shows no evidence of ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, or reasonable hours for garment workers.
The brand does not publish a supplier list, factory audit results, or any third-party certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000. This complete opacity makes it impossible for consumers or watchdog groups to assess its labor practices, creating a high risk of poor conditions and worker exploitation within its supply chain.
Empyre primarily uses conventional fabrics like cotton and polyester and does not appear to use animal-derived materials like leather, fur, or wool. While this makes its products cruelty-free by default, the brand does not hold any formal PETA-Approved or other vegan certifications to formalize this commitment.
Empyre shows virtually no commitment to environmental sustainability and its practices are characteristic of an environmentally damaging fast fashion model.
The brand overwhelmingly uses conventional and synthetic fabrics such as virgin polyester, which is derived from fossil fuels and contributes to microplastic pollution. There is no evidence of Empyre using more sustainable alternatives like organic cotton, recycled polyester, or Tencel. The brand holds no environmental certifications for its materials, such as GOTS or the Global Recycled Standard.
Empyre has not published any data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. The production of its clothing likely involves high water consumption and chemical dyes common in its manufacturing regions, which often have lax environmental regulations. The company has no stated climate goals, emissions reduction targets, or carbon neutrality plans.
The brand's business model encourages a linear "take-make-waste" cycle of consumption. Empyre has no publicly listed take-back programs, repair services, or recycling initiatives for its garments. Its rapid production of trendy items contributes directly to the growing problem of textile waste in landfills.
Empyre has published no sustainability report, set no environmental goals, and shown no progress toward reducing its environmental impact. Its complete inaction in this area stands in contrast to many other brands that have at least begun to acknowledge and address their environmental footprint.
Empyre's business model is a textbook example of fast fashion, built on rapid production and low prices with little to no regard for its social or environmental impact.
Empyre receives a D+ due to its profound lack of transparency. The complete absence of a supplier list, third-party audits, or any proof of living wages makes it impossible to verify its treatment of garment workers. While the lack of animal-derived materials is a minor positive, the overwhelming opacity and high risk of exploitation in its supply chain are serious ethical failures.
With no observable effort toward sustainability, Empyre earns a D. The brand relies on environmentally harmful virgin synthetics, has no stated climate goals, uses no certified sustainable materials, and fails to address its contribution to textile waste. This lack of action places it among the least sustainable brands in the industry.
If Empyre’s lack of ethical and environmental commitment is a concern, here are some better alternatives offering similar styles with transparent and responsible practices.
Pact offers comfortable, stylish basics made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. With prices often comparable to Empyre for basics ($20-$40 for tees), it's a great option for affordable clothes made with integrity.
Shop now at wearpact.com
Tentree is a certified B Corp offering casual and activewear using sustainable materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL. For every item purchased, the brand plants ten trees, tying its commercial success directly to environmental regeneration.
Shop now at tentree.com
Known for its commitment to "radical transparency," Everlane shares details about its factories and production costs. The brand focuses on timeless staples made with more sustainable materials like recycled fabrics, offering higher quality built to last longer than typical fast fashion.
Shop now at everlane.com
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade certified and uses sustainable materials like organic cotton and Tencel. While pricier, their commitment to artisan communities and environmental stewardship is among the best in the industry.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Patagonia leads the industry in environmental and social responsibility as a certified B Corp that uses over 87% recycled materials. Their gear is built for durability, supported by a legendary repair program, and a powerful activist mission.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Yes, Empyre is an in-house or private-label brand owned and sold exclusively by the retailer Zumiez. This means Zumiez directly controls its design, production, and pricing, and is responsible for its ethical and environmental practices.
Empyre’s low prices are a direct result of its fast fashion business model. Costs are kept down by mass-producing garments using cheap, synthetic materials and leveraging manufacturing in countries where labor costs and wages are extremely low.
Based on publicly available information, there is no evidence that Empyre has made any meaningful improvements to its labor practices or environmental strategies. The brand remains completely opaque, with no published goals, reports, or initiatives in these areas.
