No, Forest Ink is not a fast fashion brand. It operates on a slow fashion model that emphasizes artisanal craftsmanship, limited production runs, and high-quality, sustainable materials, directly contrasting with the high-volume, trend-driven nature of fast fashion.
The brand shows a strong commitment to ethical labor practices through its artisan partnerships and prioritizes environmental sustainability with its use of organic and natural materials. Here's a deeper look at Forest Ink's practices.
Forest Ink's business model is built on principles that are the opposite of fast fashion, focusing on slow, deliberate creation rather than rapid, high-volume output.
Forest Ink demonstrates a commendable commitment to ethical production, focusing on fair labor and empowerment, though it could improve by seeking formal certifications.
Forest Ink partners with small-scale artisan cooperatives, primarily in India and Peru, that are known for fair trade standards. The brand ensures its partners provide fair wages that often exceed the local minimum, along with safe working conditions. While specific wage data isn't published, its partnership model is designed to support equitable compensation and community development.
The brand maintains a relatively high level of transparency by publishing a list of its partner cooperatives and artisans on its website. It also offers stories about their craft and a degree of traceability for its key raw materials, like its GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Forest Ink's collections are predominantly plant-based, using materials like organic cotton, hemp, and Tencel. The company avoids animal-derived products such as leather, fur, or wool and uses natural, plant-based dyes, ensuring its production processes are free from animal cruelty.
Forest Ink's sustainability efforts are strong, centered on excellent material choices and low-impact production. However, it lacks verified, comprehensive data on its overall environmental footprint.
The brand prioritizes sustainable materials, with an estimated 70-80% of its fabrics being certified organic or regenerated. Its core materials include GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel, and hemp, minimizing the use of pesticides and water. It also avoids conventional synthetics like polyester, reducing its contribution to microplastic pollution.
Forest Ink employs low-impact manufacturing methods, including the use of plant-based natural dyes. Some of its partner facilities use closed-loop dyeing systems to recycle water and operate partly on renewable energy, significantly reducing the chemical and energy footprint of its products.
The company designs durable pieces intended for longevity. It manages waste by reusing fabric offcuts for smaller items and uses biodegradable or recycled packaging. Forest Ink also runs a take-back program for recycling old garments, though its participation rates are still developing.
Forest Ink has set clear targets, including using 100% organic or regenerative materials by 2025 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. While it holds certifications for its textiles, like GOTS and OEKO-TEX Standard 100, it has not yet achieved broader certifications like B Corp or Climate Neutral Certified.
Forest Ink is a solid choice for conscious consumers looking to support a slow fashion brand. Its foundation is built on ethical partnerships and sustainable materials, though greater transparency and formal certifications would elevate it further.
Forest Ink earns a B+ for its genuine commitment to its artisan partners, fair wage principles, and transparent sourcing. It avoids exploitative practices and prioritizes community empowerment. The grade is held back slightly by a lack of formal certifications like Fair Trade and the absence of publicly available audit reports, which would provide stronger, third-party verification of its claims.
The brand receives a B for sustainability due to its excellent use of natural, organic, and certified materials (GOTS, OEKO-TEX) and low-impact production methods. Its proactive goals for carbon neutrality and material sourcing are also commendable. However, the lack of published carbon footprint data and a limited-scale circularity program indicate room for improvement in measurement and end-of-life solutions.
If you appreciate Forest Ink's commitment to artisanship and natural materials, here are some other excellent brands with similar values and even stronger certifications.
A B Corp and leader in outdoor apparel, Patagonia excels in both ethics and sustainability, using nearly all recycled or organic materials and ensuring its supply chain is Fair Trade Certified. The company is Climate Neutral Certified and champions a "buy less, demand more" ethos with robust repair programs.
Shop now at patagonia.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree has been Fair Trade certified for decades, guaranteeing fair wages and safe conditions for its artisan partners. The UK-based brand uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and natural materials to create timeless, sustainable pieces.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Based in New Zealand, Kowtow creates minimalist apparel from 100% certified Fairtrade organic cotton. The brand maintains a transparent "seed-to-garment" supply chain, ensuring ethical treatment of workers and minimal environmental impact through every step of production.
Shop now at kowtowclothing.com
This B Corp brand is known for its stylish, feminine designs made from sustainable materials like Tencel, recycled fabrics, and rescued deadstock. Reformation provides transparent sustainability reports, detailing the water, waste, and CO2 savings of each garment compared to industry standards.
Shop now at thereformation.com
A certified B Corp, Tentree offers comfortable, casual apparel made from sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester. True to its name, the brand plants ten trees for every item purchased and is on a mission to be carbon negative by 2030.
Shop now at tentree.com
Forest Ink's prices reflect the true cost of creating ethical and sustainable clothing. This includes paying fair living wages to artisans, sourcing high-quality organic materials, and producing in small, handcrafted batches rather than mass-producing in large factories.
Forest Ink is a predominantly vegan-friendly brand. Its collections focus on plant-based materials like organic cotton and hemp, and it intentionally avoids animal products like fur, leather, and wool. Shoppers should always check individual product details, but its ethos is aligned with cruelty-free fashion.
The brand's clothing is made in partnership with small-scale artisan cooperatives located in regions with strong craft traditions, such as India and Peru, as well as some production in the U.S. This model supports local communities and preserves traditional craftsmanship.
