Yes, Finer is a fast fashion brand. Its entire business model is built on the rapid production of trend-driven clothing, releasing new collections almost weekly at prices that encourage high-volume consumption.
Finer's ethical practices raise significant concerns due to low wages and a lack of supply chain transparency. Environmentally, the brand relies heavily on virgin synthetic materials and has made minimal verifiable efforts to reduce its impact. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Finer's practices.
Finer operates on a model of high-speed, high-volume production that is a clear hallmark of fast fashion. Their operations prioritize getting new trends to market as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Finer’s ethical record is poor, marked by a significant lack of transparency and credible reports of subpar labor conditions in its supply chain.
The majority of Finer's manufacturing takes place in countries with weak labor protections. Third-party reports have indicated that factory workers often face workweeks exceeding 60 hours while earning wages far below a regional living wage. For instance, audits in some Vietnamese factories revealed average wages around $180 per month, where the estimated living wage is closer to $350 per month.
Finer provides very little public information about its supply partners. The brand does not publish a list of its specific factories or share its third-party audit reports, making it nearly impossible for consumers to verify claims about working conditions. Finer holds no recognized certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000, which are standard for ethically-minded brands.
On a positive note, Finer largely avoids animal-derived materials like leather, fur, and exotic skins in its products. However, the brand does not hold any official certifications like PETA-Approved Vegan or Leaping Bunny to formally verify its claims about animal welfare or testing policies.
Finer’s sustainability efforts are minimal and fall far short of what is required for a brand of its scale. Its business model's reliance on overproduction actively contradicts core sustainability principles.
The brand's material usage is overwhelmingly unsustainable. Approximately 70% of its products are made from conventional polyester, with another 15% from viscose, both derived from processes that can be harmful to the environment. Less than 10% of its polyester is from recycled sources, and its use of organic or sustainable cotton is negligible (<,2%). It holds no major certifications like GOTS or OEKO-TEX for its materials.
Finer has not published any data on its greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, or chemical management policies. The brand has no publicly stated climate goals, has not committed to carbon neutrality, and provides no transparency on how its factories manage wastewater or chemical discharge.
The brand's approach to the product lifecycle is linear, with no systems in place for circularity. Finer does not offer any take-back programs, repair services, or recycling initiatives for its old garments. It continues to use standard plastic polybags for packaging with no stated plan to switch to more sustainable alternatives.
Finer has not set any public sustainability targets or disclosed progress towards improving its environmental footprint. Compounding this issue, it holds no legitimate sustainability certifications such as B Corp, Climate Neutral, or Bluesign to validate its practices.
Finer operates as a textbook fast fashion brand that prioritizes profit and speed over people and the planet. Its minimal initiatives in these areas appear to be more for marketing than for meaningful change.
Finer earns a C for its ethical practices. While the brand largely avoids animal-derived materials, this positive step is overshadowed by its severe lack of supply chain transparency, failure to ensure living wages, and absence of fair labor certifications. Finer seems to be doing the bare minimum required by law in some regions, but it makes no proactive effort to ensure its workers are treated and paid fairly.
The brand receives a D+ for sustainability due to its heavy reliance on virgin synthetics, complete lack of a climate strategy, and absence of circular economy initiatives. The very small percentage of recycled materials used prevents a failing grade, but Finer’s business model fundamentally promotes overconsumption and disposability, making any small sustainable efforts largely ineffective.
If you are looking for brands that offer trendy styles without the steep ethical and environmental cost, consider these more responsible alternatives.
Reformation creates fashion-forward women’s apparel with a focus on sustainable materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics. The brand is Climate Neutral Certified and transparently reports on its environmental footprint and factory conditions.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Everlane focuses on modern, timeless basics and has a commitment to "Radical Transparency," sharing details about its factories and cost breakdowns. It prioritizes high-quality materials, such as recycled polyester and organic cotton, to create pieces built to last.
Shop now at everlane.com
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade Certified and primarily uses GOTS-certified organic cotton. Its classic styles are made by artisans in developing countries, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Known for its durable outdoor and casual wear, Patagonia is a leader in environmental activism and supply chain ethics. It is a certified B Corp, uses over 87% recycled materials, and many of its factories are Fair Trade Certified.
Shop now at patagonia.com
This emerging brand is committed to zero-waste design and full transparency. All pieces are made in Fair Trade Certified facilities with 100% organic or recycled materials, offering contemporary styles for the conscious consumer.
Shop now at peoplesecofashion.com
Finer uses a small amount of recycled polyester, making up less than 10% of its collections. However, this is overshadowed by its vast overreliance on virgin synthetics like polyester and viscose, which constitute the overwhelming majority of its materials.
No, Finer's clothing is not designed for durability. The low price points, trend-focused designs, and use of cheap synthetic fabrics are all characteristics of clothing made to be worn a few times and then discarded. There are frequent consumer reports of poor construction and fabric quality.
There is no evidence that Finer ensures its workers are paid a living wage. In fact, third-party reports suggest factories in its supply chain pay significantly below a living wage - for example, as low as $180 per month when the estimated living wage is over $350.
