No, Fenty is not a fast fashion brand. It is positioned as a high-end, inclusive brand owned by luxury conglomerate LVMH, operating on a slower, more curated release cycle with a focus on quality and originality. Ethically, while Fenty Beauty is PETA certified cruelty-free, the brand as a whole lacks transparency in its supply chain and has no public commitment to paying a living wage. We found that the brand's sustainability efforts are underdeveloped and rely heavily on broad commitments from its parent company rather than specific, measurable actions for its own operations.
While Fenty avoids the high-volume, disposable model of fast fashion, it still has significant room for improvement to be considered a truly ethical and sustainable brand.
Unlike traditional fast fashion giants, Fenty’s business model aligns more with contemporary luxury brands that emphasize quality and a strong brand vision over rapid trend turnover.
Fenty takes progressive stances on inclusivity and animal welfare, but its scores are pulled down by a significant lack of transparency around its labor practices and supply chain.
As a subsidiary of LVMH, Fenty is subject to a corporate code of conduct based on ILO standards. However, no specific details about Fenty's factory conditions or worker wages are published. While luxury brands claim higher standards, many still manufacture in countries where wages as low as $150-$250 per month are common, which is often far below a local living wage.
Fenty provides almost no public information about its supply chain. The brand does not publish a list of its supplier factories, nor does it release the results of third-party audits. This opacity makes it impossible for consumers to independently verify the brand's claims about worker treatment and safety.
This is one of Fenty's strongest areas. Fenty Beauty is officially certified as cruelty-free by PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program, confirming neither its final products nor its ingredients are tested on animals. While Fenty's apparel line (now discontinued) used materials like leather, the brand does not use fur or exotic animal skins.
Fenty's sustainability efforts are moderate at best. The brand benefits from its anti-fast fashion model of producing less, but it lacks specific targets, robust circularity programs, and widespread use of eco-friendly materials.
Specific data on Fenty's material composition is limited. In its apparel collections, sustainable materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester made up a small fraction - estimated at less than 30% of its overall material use. Its cosmetic packaging uses some recyclable plastics, but details on the percentage of recycled content are unavailable.
Fenty does not publish specific data on its carbon emissions, water consumption, or chemical usage. The brand operates under LVMH's overarching "LIFE 360" program, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. However, there are no published targets specific to Fenty's own operations.
There is no evidence that Fenty operates any take-back, repair, or recycling programs for its clothing or cosmetic packaging. While product longevity is better than fast fashion, the brand hasn't embraced circularity in a meaningful way by designing for disassembly or reusing materials at the end of their life.
Fenty occupies a space between exploitative fast fashion and truly responsible brands. While its cruelty-free commitment and slower production model are positives, a lack of transparency and underdeveloped sustainability initiatives hold it back.
Fenty earns a B for its strong, certified cruelty-free stance and its industry-leading approach to inclusivity. However, its grade is capped here due to a serious lack of transparency regarding its supply chain. Without disclosing factory locations or committing to a living wage, it's impossible to verify that the people making its products are treated and paid fairly.
For sustainability, Fenty gets a C+. Producing fewer, higher-quality items is inherently more sustainable than the fast fashion model. However, the brand fails to build on this advantage with concrete actions like using a high percentage of recycled materials, publishing emissions data, or implementing circular programs.
If you love Fenty's modern aesthetic but want a brand with stronger commitments to people and the planet, check out these alternatives:
Offering trendy and timeless styles from dresses to denim ($50-$250), Reformation is a Climate Neutral Certified and B Corp brand. It provides detailed sustainability reports, uses eco-friendly materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics, and maps its supply chain to ensure fair wages.
Shop now at thereformation.com
For high-quality denim with a vintage feel ($100-$180), Boyish is a top choice. The brand uses organic and recycled cotton, operates with a C-Neutral certified process, and works with factories that provide fair wages and safe working conditions.
Shop now at boyish.com
Amour Vert creates classic wardrobe staples ($50-$200) primarily in the USA using sustainable materials like Tencel Modal and organic cotton. It is a B Corp that plants a tree for every tee sold and focuses on tracing its entire supply chain down to the fiber level.
Shop now at amourvert.com
This brand offers modern basics and casual wear ($50-$200) made almost exclusively from GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled materials. Certified as carbon neutral and a B Corp, they prioritize supply chain transparency and fair labor practices.
Shop now at knowledgecottonapparel.com
Everlane is built on "Radical Transparency," revealing the costs and factories behind each product ($20-$150). The brand focuses on timeless basics and uses an increasing percentage of sustainable materials, including recycled cashmere, organic cotton, and certified renewable fibers.
Shop now at everlane.com
As a pioneer of Fair Trade fashion, People Tree offers ethical clothing made from eco-friendly materials like organic cotton. They provide full transparency into their supply chain, guarantee living wages through Fair Trade certification, and champion traditional artisan skills.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
The luxury Fenty fashion house, a joint venture with LVMH, officially ceased operations in early 2021. The decision was made to focus on the more successful Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, and Savage X Fenty ventures.
Yes, Fenty Beauty is certified by PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies program, meaning it doesn't test products or ingredients on animals, nor does it ask suppliers to do so. The brand also avoids selling its products in countries where animal testing is required by law, thus maintaining its cruelty-free status globally.
Savage X Fenty is a separate company from Fenty Beauty and operates as a joint venture with TechStyle Fashion Group. While it is known for its size inclusivity, it has faced criticism for a "Flexible VIP Membership" model that some customers found deceptive and difficult to cancel. Its supply chain transparency and labor practices are also not disclosed in detail.
