Yes, Factorie is a fast fashion brand. As part of the Cotton On Group, its business model relies on the rapid production of trend-driven clothing, frequent new arrivals, and low prices that encourage high-volume consumption.
Factorie's ethical practices are concerning due to a significant lack of transparency and no verified commitment to paying living wages. Environmentally, the brand relies heavily on conventional materials and lacks meaningful circularity programs, placing its sustainability efforts well below industry standards.
Factorie's operations align perfectly with the fast fashion model, prioritizing speed, volume, and trend replication over ethical production or environmental stewardship.
Factorie's ethical performance is poor, primarily due to a lack of supply chain transparency and no firm commitment to paying its workers a living wage.
Factorie's parent company, Cotton On Group, claims to conduct supplier audits, but the results are not made publicly available for independent verification. There is strong evidence that garment workers in its production regions, such as Bangladesh, are paid far below a living wage. For instance, the average monthly wage for a garment worker in Bangladesh is around $180-$200, while a recognized living wage is closer to $350 per month.
Transparency is a major weakness for Factorie. In the 2022 Fashion Revolution Transparency Index, its parent company Cotton On Group scored just 41 out of 100, indicating significant room for improvement. The company does not publish a specific list of its supplier factories, making it impossible to independently verify working conditions, safety standards, or wages.
Factorie does not prominently feature animal-derived materials in its collections, though some items may contain materials like leather or wool with limited disclosure on sourcing. The brand does not hold any major animal welfare certifications such as PETA-approved Vegan or Leaping Bunny.
Factorie's sustainability efforts are minimal and do not address the fundamental environmental damage caused by its fast fashion business model of overproduction.
The brand overwhelmingly uses cheap, conventional, and synthetic fabrics like virgin polyester and non-organic cotton. It's estimated that less than 10% of Factorie's total collection is made from more sustainable materials like organic cotton or recycled fibers. This reliance on resource-intensive fabrics has a significant negative impact on water systems and carbon emissions.
Cotton On Group has set a broad goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, but there is no specific, verifiable data on Factorie's progress. The manufacturing processes for their products are water and chemical-intensive, and there is little public information about waste management or water treatment practices within its supply chain.
Factorie has no significant circularity initiatives like take-back or widespread repair programs. The low quality and trend-focused nature of its products mean they are often worn a few times before being discarded, contributing directly to the growing problem of textile waste in landfills. Product longevity is not a key consideration in its design or manufacturing.
Factorie is a classic fast fashion brand whose attempts at responsible practices are superficial and fail to address the core ethical and environmental problems inherent in its business model. The lack of transparency makes it difficult to trust its claims.
Factorie receives a D for its failure to provide supply chain transparency and its lack of any commitment to a living wage for its workers. While the brand complies with local laws, it falls far short of ethical best practices. The absence of credible third-party certifications means its claims of ethical conduct remain unverified and unreliable.
A grade of D+ reflects Factorie's minimal use of sustainable materials (estimated under 10%), lack of circular systems, and an unsustainable business model built on overproduction. While its parent company has set some distant goals, there is currently little evidence of meaningful action or progress from the Factorie brand itself.
If Factorie's poor ethical and environmental records are a concern, consider these alternatives that offer trendy styles with a genuine commitment to people and the planet.
Reformation offers trendy, stylish clothing with a focus on sustainable materials like TENCEL™ and recycled fabrics. The brand is Climate Neutral Certified and provides detailed "RefScale" impact reports for each garment, appealing to a similar demographic as Factorie but with strong transparency.
Shop now at thereformation.com
A certified B Corp, Tentree sells comfortable casualwear and basics made from materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester, planting ten trees for every item sold. Its price point is accessible, and its commitment to radical transparency in its supply chain is a key differentiator.
Shop now at tentree.com
Focused on high-quality basics made from authentic Egyptian cotton, Kotn is a B Corp that ensures fair labor practices by working directly with farmers in Egypt. It offers timeless styles built to last, directly opposing the disposable nature of fast fashion.
Shop now at kotn.com
As a leader in activism and sustainable outdoor wear, Patagonia is a certified B Corp and Fair Trade Certified brand that uses a high percentage of recycled materials. It encourages customers to buy less and offers lifetime repairs, representing a fundamental alternative to the fast fashion mindset.
Shop now at patagonia.com
A true pioneer of ethical fashion, People Tree is guaranteed Fair Trade throughout its supply chain. The brand uses sustainable materials like organic cotton and GOTS certified dyes, creating stylish, timeless pieces that empower artisans and protect the environment.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Yes, Factorie is fully owned by the Australian retail company Cotton On Group, which also owns brands like Cotton On, Cotton On Body, Rubi, and Typo. The ethical and sustainability policies of the parent company directly apply to Factorie's operations.
Factorie's low prices are a result of its fast fashion business model. Costs are kept down by manufacturing in countries with low labor wages, using inexpensive synthetic and conventional materials, and producing clothing in massive volumes to achieve economies of scale.
Factorie's parent company, Cotton On Group, has set some broad, future-dated goals for emissions reduction and increasing sustainable material use. However, progress has been slow and poorly documented, with little visible change in Factorie's core business practices of rapid, high-volume production.
