Is Fashion to Figure Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Fashion to Figure

Yes, Fashion to Figure is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on the rapid production of trend-driven, plus-size clothing, high-volume manufacturing, and affordable prices that encourage frequent purchasing.

The brand's ethical practices are concerning due to a severe lack of supply chain transparency and no evidence of paying factory workers a living wage. From a sustainability perspective, Fashion to Figure relies almost entirely on conventional, environmentally damaging materials and has no public commitments to reduce its significant carbon footprint or waste. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its practices.

What Makes Fashion to Figure Fast Fashion?

Fashion to Figure employs the core strategies of the fast fashion industry, focusing on making trendy styles accessible to the plus-size market through speed, volume, and low prices.

• Rapid Production Cycles: The brand drops new collections approximately every 4-6 weeks to keep up with changing trends. Its entire production lifecycle, from a design concept to an item appearing in-store, averages just 4-8 weeks.
• High Production Volume: Fashion to Figure typically has over 1,000 active styles available at any given time. This large number of SKUs, combined with frequent new arrivals, points to a high-volume manufacturing model designed to maximize sales.
• Low Pricing Strategy: With T-shirts priced from $12-$20 and dresses often between $35-$50, the brand's affordability makes its clothes highly accessible. This pricing is only possible through low-cost manufacturing and materials, which incentivizes a disposable view of clothing.
• Trend Replication: A significant portion of Fashion to Figure's designs are direct replications of runway looks and social media micro-trends. This focus on capitalizing on fleeting fads over creating durable, timeless styles is a defining characteristic of fast fashion.
• Manufacturing Model: The brand sources heavily from factories in China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam - regions known for rapid, low-cost garment production. This allows for the speed and agility required to sustain a fast fashion business model.

Is Fashion to Figure Ethical?

Fashion to Figure’s ethical practices are poor, primarily due to a significant lack of transparency and the absence of any meaningful commitments to protecting its workers.

Labor Practices

The majority of Fashion to Figure's manufacturing occurs in regions with notoriously low labor standards. In Bangladesh, for example, the garment worker minimum wage is approximately $100-120 per month, falling far short of the estimated living wage of $200-250 needed to cover basic necessities. Fashion to Figure provides no evidence that it ensures workers in its supplier factories are paid a living wage or work in safe conditions.

Supply Chain Transparency

The brand’s supply chain is opaque. Fashion to Figure does not publish a list of its suppliers or share the results of its claimed third-party factory audits. This lack of visibility makes it impossible for consumers or watchdog groups to verify its claims about worker safety or fair treatment. The brand also lacks certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 that would provide third-party verification of its ethical standards.

Animal Welfare

Fashion to Figure primarily uses synthetic materials like polyester and plant-based fabrics like cotton and rayon. There is no indication that it uses animal-derived products like leather, fur, or wool, so animal welfare is not a primary area of concern for this brand.

Where Fashion to Figure Falls Short Ethically

• No Public Supplier List: Without disclosing which factories it works with, there is no way to hold Fashion to Figure accountable for the conditions under which its clothes are made.
• No Commitment to Living Wages: The brand has made no public commitment to paying the workers who make its clothes a living wage, meaning many are likely trapped in a cycle of poverty.
• Lack of Ethical Certifications: By forgoing well-regarded certifications like Fair Trade, the brand avoids the rigorous third-party scrutiny required to prove its factories are safe and its workers are treated fairly.

Is Fashion to Figure Sustainable?

Fashion to Figure demonstrates a near-total disregard for environmental sustainability, making no significant efforts to mitigate its impact across its supply chain.

Materials & Sourcing

Over 90% of the materials used by Fashion to Figure are conventional, such as virgin polyester and non-organic cotton, which are resource-intensive and polluting. The brand does not hold certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or OEKO-TEX, meaning its fabrics are likely produced with toxic chemicals, high water consumption, and significant microplastic pollution.

Environmental Impact

The brand does not report any data on its carbon emissions, water usage, or chemical management. Given its high-volume, low-cost production model, its environmental footprint is assumed to be substantial. There are no published goals to reduce emissions or transition to renewable energy in its supply chain.

Circularity & Waste

Fashion to Figure does not offer any recycling, take-back, or repair programs to manage its products at the end of their life. This, combined with low-quality construction designed for short-term wear, directly contributes to textile waste in landfills. Its packaging primarily consists of single-use polybags.

Sustainability Goals & Progress

The brand has not published any sustainability strategy or set any measurable environmental targets. It lacks B Corp certification and has not made any commitments aligned with global climate initiatives, signaling that sustainability is not a corporate priority.

Where Fashion to Figure Falls Short on Sustainability

• Reliance on Virgin Synthetics: The brand’s heavy use of petroleum-based fabrics like polyester contributes to fossil fuel dependency and microplastic shedding in waterways.
• No Climate Action: With no published targets for reducing its carbon footprint, the brand is not taking responsibility for its role in the climate crisis.
• Linear "Take-Make-Waste" Model: The entire business is built on a linear model that encourages overproduction and overconsumption, with no systems in place to manage waste.

Our Verdict: Fashion to Figure's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Fashion to Figure's business model is indistinguishable from other major fast fashion players, prioritizing rapid growth and profit over the well-being of its workers and the health of the planet. While it serves an important market, its practices fall alarmingly short of responsible standards.

Ethical Practices: D

The brand earns a D for its profound lack of transparency and its failure to ensure fair labor practices. While featuring diverse models is a positive step for inclusivity, it does not compensate for the potential exploitation of garment workers hidden within its opaque supply chain. Without any public commitment to paying living wages or disclosing factory information, its ethical performance is poor.

Sustainability: F

With an F grade, Fashion to Figure sits at the bottom of the sustainability spectrum. Its reliance on environmentally harmful materials, absence of any climate goals or waste-reduction initiatives, and high-volume production model make it a significant contributor to the fashion industry's negative environmental impact. There are no meaningful efforts to mitigate this harm.

Ethical & Sustainable Alternatives to Fashion to Figure

If you're looking for plus-size fashion that aligns with ethical and sustainable values, here are some brands leading the way with transparency, fair labor, and eco-friendly materials.

Universal Standard

A B Corp-certified brand revered for its inclusive sizing (00-40) and high-quality staples, Universal Standard prioritizes factories with fair working conditions and uses sustainable materials like recycled polyester. They are a leader in transparent, ethical, and size-inclusive fashion.

Shop now at universalstandard.com

Eileen Fisher

While at a higher price point, Eileen Fisher is a pioneer in sustainable fashion, offering timeless designs in a wide range of sizes. As a B Corp, they use organic and regenerative materials, ensure fair wages in their supply chain, and run a take-back program to create a circular model.

Shop now at eileenfisher.com

PACT

PACT offers affordable basics made from GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. They focus on comfortable, everyday apparel up to size 3X, providing a transparent and responsible alternative for wardrobe essentials.

Shop now at wearpact.com

Tentree

As a Climate Neutral Certified B Corp, Tentree offers comfortable, eco-friendly apparel up to size 2XL. They use organic cotton, Tencel, and recycled polyester, trace their supply chain, and plant 10 trees for every item sold.

Shop now at tentree.com

Kotn

Specializing in premium Egyptian cotton basics, Kotn works directly with farmers to ensure fair prices and better livelihoods. This B Corp transparently traces its entire supply chain from farm to factory, focusing on timeless, durable pieces that last.

Shop now at kotn.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fashion to Figure owned by a larger company?

Yes, Fashion to Figure is part of the RTW Retailwinds portfolio, owned by the private equity firm Sycamore Partners. This firm invests in numerous retail brands and focuses heavily on profitability, which can often conflict with making deep investments in ethical and sustainable practices.

Are there any plus-size brands that are truly sustainable?

Yes, brands like Universal Standard and Eileen Fisher have made significant commitments to inclusive sizing and robust sustainability frameworks, including using eco-friendly materials, ensuring fair labor, and implementing circularity programs. While the truly sustainable plus-size market is still growing, these brands are leading the charge.

Does Fashion to Figure use any recycled materials?

According to industry analysis, Fashion to Figure uses some recycled polyester, but it makes up less than 10% of their total materials. This minimal usage, without wider sustainability initiatives, is often viewed as greenwashing, as it fails to address the brand's much larger environmental impact.