No, Faherty is not a fast fashion brand. It built its business model on slow fashion principles, focusing on high-quality materials, timeless design, and durability, which stand in direct opposition to the rapid, trend-driven production of fast fashion giants.
Faherty demonstrates a genuine commitment to ethical sourcing and uses a significant amount of sustainable materials. However, a lack of comprehensive supply chain transparency, third-party certifications, and measurable environmental targets means it has significant room for improvement. Here’s a closer look at what you need to know about Faherty's practices:
Faherty’s business model is centered on quality and longevity instead of the high-volume, low-cost approach of fast fashion. Its practices differ fundamentally from brands like Zara or SHEIN.
Faherty has a solid ethical foundation but falls short on the third-party verification and transparency needed to be considered a top-tier ethical brand.
Faherty sources from factories in the United States, Peru, India, and China, stating it only works with partners who adhere to fair labor standards and conducts regular audits. While this commitment is positive, the brand does not provide public results from these audits or name its factory partners, making independent verification difficult.
The brand's transparency is moderate. It speaks to its commitment to ethical manufacturing but does not publish a full supplier list or provide specific data on worker wages. While it holds certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) for some of its cotton, it lacks broader factory-level certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 that would provide stronger assurance of fair labor practices.
Faherty primarily uses plant-based materials and does not use fur or exotic animal skins. While it uses some wool, its policies align with general animal welfare considerations, focusing on natural and responsibly sourced fibers. However, it does not consistently promote certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).
Faherty has made sustainability a core part of its brand identity, excelling in material choices but lagging in data transparency and circularity initiatives.
This is Faherty's strongest area. The brand reports that approximately 60% of its fabrics are sustainably sourced, including organic cotton, linen, hemp, and recycled polyester. Key materials are often certified by GOTS or OEKO-TEX Standard 100, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals. However, this means a significant 40% of its materials are still conventional.
Faherty claims its partners use eco-friendly dyeing techniques to reduce water and chemical usage. Despite these efforts, the company has not published comprehensive data on its carbon emissions, water footprint, or energy consumption. It has not set science-based targets for reducing its environmental impact, a critical step for accountability.
Currently, Faherty has no formal take-back, repair, or recycling programs. Its primary contribution to reducing waste is producing durable, long-lasting clothing to discourage disposability. While commendable, this does not address the end-of-life stage of its garments, which is a key component of a circular fashion system.
Faherty is a "good, not great" brand that has successfully departed from the fast fashion model. It's a solid choice for consumers moving towards more conscious consumption, but it's not yet a leader in the ethical or sustainability space.
Faherty earns a B- for its genuine commitment to fair labor standards and its use of manufacturing partners in countries with stronger labor laws. However, a significant lack of transparency around its factory list, audit results, and worker wages prevents a higher grade. The brand's intentions are clear, but third-party verification is needed to build full consumer trust.
The brand receives a C+ for sustainability. Its excellent use of sustainable and certified materials like organic cotton and recycled fibers is a huge plus. This grade is held back by a lack of public environmental data, no science-based targets for emission reduction, and a complete absence of circularity programs like repair or recycling.
If you're looking for brands with a similar aesthetic to Faherty but with stronger, more transparent commitments, consider these alternatives:
Founded by surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown shares Faherty's coastal vibe but with deeper commitments, guaranteeing Fair Labor Association accreditation for 100% of its suppliers and using over 95% recycled or regenerative fibers. Many of their products are Fair Trade Certified.
Shop now at outerknown.com
A certified B Corp and industry leader, Patagonia offers durable outdoor and casual wear while using a high percentage of recycled materials and guaranteeing Fair Trade Certified sewing for the majority of its products. It also runs an extensive repair and resale program called Worn Wear.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Focusing on timeless menswear built to last, Taylor Stitch uses a majority of recycled and regenerative fibers and is transparent about its factory partners. The brand's "Workshop" model allows customers to pre-fund new products, which helps eliminate overproduction and waste.
Shop now at taylorstitch.com
Offering casual and travel-friendly apparel, Toad&Co is known for its commitment to sustainability, using a minimum of 80% sustainable fibers in every piece and making all of its packaging reusable or recyclable. They partner with factories that pay fair wages and maintain safe working conditions.
Shop now at toadandco.com
As a certified B Corp built for cold-water surfers, Finisterre offers durable, functional, and sustainable products with a similar coastal aesthetic. The brand uses natural fibers like organic cotton and Responsible Wool Standard wool, pioneers recycled insulation, and offers a lifetime repair service on its outerwear.
Shop now at finisterre.com
Faherty's higher price point reflects its slow fashion business model. Costs are higher due to the use of premium, sustainable materials like organic cotton (which is more expensive to grow), ethical manufacturing in facilities with higher labor standards, and a focus on constructing durable garments meant to last for many years.
It's unclear. While Faherty claims its suppliers pay "fair wages," the brand does not publicly disclose wage data or hold Fair Trade certification across its supply chain. Without this information, there is no way for consumers to independently verify that all workers are earning a true living wage.
From an ethical and sustainability perspective, Faherty is generally considered better than J.Crew. Faherty's entire brand is built on using quality, sustainable materials and timeless design, whereas J.Crew's sustainability initiatives are more recent additions to a traditional retail model. Faherty uses a higher percentage of sustainable materials and has a clearer focus on durability.
