Yes, Finesse is a fast fashion brand. Its business model relies on rapid production cycles, low prices, and trend-driven designs to keep consumers constantly buying new styles.
While the brand offers trendy clothing at an affordable price point, it lacks transparency in its supply chain and faces criticism for its environmental impact. Here’s a detailed look at Finesse's ethical and sustainable practices:
Finesse operates under the classic fast fashion model, prioritizing speed and volume over sustainability and worker welfare. Its characteristics align it with other major players like SHEIN and Zara.
Finesse displays significant ethical shortcomings, primarily related to its lack of supply chain transparency and concerns about labor practices in the countries where it manufactures.
The majority of Finesse's products are made in countries with poor labor rights records, including Bangladesh and Vietnam. Reports from NGOs indicate that garment workers in these regions often face excessive hours (over 60 per week) and are paid wages of around $180-$220 per month, which falls far short of the estimated $350-$400 needed for a living wage.
Finesse does not provide transparency into its manufacturing operations. It does not publish a list of its suppliers or share comprehensive audit results to verify working conditions. While the company claims to conduct third-party audits, there is no public information about when these occur or what standards are used. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to verify that workers receive fair treatment and safe conditions.
Most Finesse products are made from synthetic materials, but the brand does use small amounts of leather and wool without providing any information on their sourcing. Finesse holds no animal welfare certifications like PETA-Approved Vegan, and its policies on animal-derived materials are not clear.
Finesse follows a linear "take-make-waste" model and has made little to no public effort to mitigate its significant environmental impact. Its operations are fundamentally unsustainable.
Over 70% of Finesse's clothing is made from virgin, petroleum-based synthetic fabrics like polyester and acrylic. Only a tiny fraction (around 8-10%) is composed of more sustainable materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester, which indicates sustainability is not a core part of its design strategy.
Producing synthetic fibers is a highly water- and chemical-intensive process. Finesse provides no information on whether its factories use wastewater treatment or eco-friendly dyeing processes. It also has not published any data on its carbon footprint or set any targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its supply chain.
Finesse has no programs in place to address the end-of-life of its products. It has no take-back program, recycling initiative, or repair service. Unsold inventory is likely discarded or liquidated, contributing directly to the growing textile waste crisis. Its packaging is also primarily plastic-based with no apparent push for sustainable alternatives.
The brand has not publicly stated any meaningful sustainability goals or targets for improvement. Finesse does not hold any environmental certifications such as B Corp, Climate Neutral, or Bluesign, indicating a complete lack of commitment to environmental accountability.
Finesse embodies the core problems of the fast fashion industry: lack of transparency, questionable labor practices, and a business model that treats clothing as disposable. Any sustainability claims would amount to greenwashing given its current operations.
Finesse earns a D+ due to its profound lack of transparency and its reliance on manufacturing in countries where labor exploitation is common. The absence of a supplier list, third-party social certifications, and a commitment to paying living wages makes it impossible to verify otherwise. While Finesse has not been at the center of a major labor scandal, its opaque practices create a high risk of worker exploitation.
The brand receives a D for its almost complete disregard for environmental impact. Finesse's business is built on cheap, virgin synthetics, and it has no circularity programs, waste-reduction initiatives, or public environmental targets. This positions the company as a significant contributor to textile waste and pollution with no apparent interest in changing its practices.
If you're looking for trend-forward styles from brands that prioritize people and the planet, here are a few better alternatives:
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade and GOTS certified, offering stylish apparel made from organic cotton and natural fibers. They guarantee fair wages and safe conditions in a fully transparent supply chain.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Known for its "radical transparency," Everlane shares detailed information about its factories and production costs. The brand focuses on timeless staples and uses a high percentage of sustainable materials, including recycled fabrics and organic cotton.
Shop now at everlane.com
As a certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, Patagonia is an industry leader in both environmental and social responsibility. The company uses recycled materials, ensures fair labor practices, and even offers robust repair and take-back programs to fight overconsumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
This footwear and accessories brand is built on transparency, fair trade sourcing, and the use of eco-friendly materials like wild rubber and recycled plastic bottles. Veja is a B Corp and follows a transparent, socially just production model from start to finish.
Shop now at veja-store.com
Finesse achieves its low prices by manufacturing in countries with extremely low labor costs and using inexpensive, petroleum-based synthetic materials like polyester. These materials are cheap to produce in bulk but come at a high environmental and human cost that is not reflected in the price tag.
There is no evidence to suggest that Finesse ensures workers in its supply chain are paid a living wage. The brand produces in countries where legal minimum wages are well below the calculated living wage, and it lacks the transparency or certifications to prove otherwise.
Finesse's supply chain is almost completely opaque. The brand does not publicly disclose its factory list, audit reports, or raw material suppliers, making it impossible for third parties to verify company claims about working conditions or environmental practices.
The vast majority of Finesse's clothing (over 70%) is made from virgin synthetic materials, primarily polyester and acrylic. These fabrics are derived from fossil fuels, are non-biodegradable, and contribute to microplastic pollution when washed.
