Yes, Frankies Bikinis is considered a fast fashion brand. The company operates on a model of rapid production cycles and trend-driven collections, which are core characteristics of fast fashion, despite its higher price point compared to brands like SHEIN or Zara.
While the brand successfully cultivates a high-end, aspirational beach lifestyle image, its ethical and environmental practices fall short. Frankies Bikinis faces criticism for its lack of supply chain transparency and has made minimal progress on the sustainability front. Here is a detailed look at the brand's practices.
Frankies Bikinis aligns with the fast fashion model through its high product turnover and focus on fleeting trends. Its production and design strategies are built for speed and volume rather than longevity.
Frankies Bikinis provides very little information about its manufacturing processes, raising significant ethical concerns. The brand's lack of transparency makes it impossible to verify claims of ethical production or ensure worker well-being.
Frankies Bikinis primarily manufactures in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, countries with documented risks of labor rights violations. The company has not published a full list of its suppliers or provided evidence of third-party audits to ensure fair labor standards, such as living wages and safe working conditions. Despite claims that they "prioritize ethical manufacturing," there are no public policies or certifications (like Fair Trade or SA8000) to support this.
The brand's supply chain is opaque. There is no publicly available information detailing factory locations, audit results, or corrective action plans for suppliers who violate labor standards. This lack of transparency is a major red flag and makes it difficult for consumers to hold the brand accountable for its labor practices.
Frankies Bikinis' products are made almost exclusively from synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, and spandex. There is no indication that the brand uses animal-derived materials like leather, wool, or fur, so animal welfare is not a primary concern for its main product lines.
Frankies Bikinis's sustainability efforts are minimal, and its business model directly contributes to the environmental problems associated with fast fashion. There is little evidence of a serious commitment to reducing its environmental impact.
Over 90% of Frankies Bikinis' swimwear is made from virgin, fossil fuel-based synthetic materials like nylon and polyester. These fabrics are energy-intensive to produce and are a major source of microplastic pollution. The brand has not incorporated a significant amount of recycled or sustainable materials into its collections and holds no material certifications like the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) or OEKO-TEX.
The company does not publish any data regarding its environmental footprint, including water usage, carbon emissions, or chemical management. With manufacturing centered in regions with varying environmental regulations, the potential for pollution and resource depletion is high. There are no public goals for reducing its carbon or water footprint.
Frankies Bikinis has an overproduction problem common in fast fashion and lacks any circularity initiatives. The brand does not offer repair, take-back, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. Furthermore, there is no information about how the brand manages textile waste or unsold inventory, and it continues to use conventional plastic packaging for shipping.
Frankies Bikinis masters the art of aspirational marketing, but its operational practices are firmly rooted in the fast fashion model. The brand prioritizes rapid growth and trend cycles over meaningful ethical and environmental commitments, leaving significant room for improvement.
The brand receives a D for its severe lack of transparency. With no supplier information, third-party audits, or a commitment to living wages, it's impossible to know how the people making their clothes are treated. While the brand avoids animal products, its failure to provide any verifiable information about its labor practices makes it a poor ethical choice.
Frankies Bikinis earns a D for its environmental performance. The brand's heavy reliance on virgin synthetic fabrics, coupled with a complete lack of measurable sustainability goals, circular programs, or public reporting, demonstrates a disregard for its environmental impact. The brand's model profits from trend-driven overconsumption without addressing the resulting waste and pollution.
If Frankies Bikinis's ethical and environmental shortcomings concern you, here are better alternatives that offer trendy swimwear with a genuine commitment to people and the planet.
Vitamin A is an industry leader in sustainable swimwear, using its signature EcoLux™ fabric made from recycled nylon. The B Corp manufactures locally in California, ensures fair wages, and actively works to reduce water and energy use in its production process.
Shop now at vitaminaswim.com
Founded by surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown makes stylish swimwear from ECONYL®, a regenerated nylon made from reclaimed fishing nets and other plastic waste. The brand is Fair Labor Association accredited, guarantees a Fair Trade wage for its workers, and is highly transparent about its supply chain.
Shop now at outerknown.com
Renowned for its activist stance, Patagonia's swimwear collection is made from recycled materials in Fair Trade Certified™ factories. As a certified B-Corp and member of 1% for the Planet, the brand focuses on durability, care, and creating products that last a lifetime.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Amuse Society offers a West-Coast vibe with a growing ConsciouslyCreated collection featuring fabrics like Repreve recycled polyester. The brand is taking steps towards greater transparency by tracing parts of its supply chain, and it packages orders in recycled poly bags.
Shop now at amusesociety.com
Fast fashion isn't just about rock-bottom prices, it's about the speed of production and high volume of new styles. Frankies Bikinis invests heavily in marketing, branding, and influencer collaborations, which inflates its prices. However, the core business model of rapid trend replication and opaque manufacturing aligns with fast fashion practices.
Frankies Bikinis primarily manufactures its products in factories located in China, with some production also reportedly in Vietnam and Indonesia. The brand does not publicly disclose specific factory names or locations, which is a major transparency issue.
The vast majority of Frankies Bikinis products are made from virgin synthetics. While the brand may occasionally offer a small or limited style made with some recycled content, it is not a core part of their material strategy, and they are not transparent about percentages.
