Yes, Goelia is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid production cycles, trend replication, and affordable pricing, all of which are defining characteristics of fast fashion. While Goelia might not operate at the global scale of SHEIN or Zara, its core practices prioritize speed and volume over longevity.
The brand faces significant ethical concerns due to a lack of supply chain transparency and likely low wages paid to factory workers. From a sustainability standpoint, Goelia relies heavily on fossil fuel-based synthetic materials and demonstrates a near-total absence of environmental commitments or initiatives. Here's a detailed breakdown of its practices.
Goelia's operational model aligns perfectly with the fast fashion playbook, focusing on quick turnover and trend responsiveness rather than creating durable, timeless apparel.
Goelia's ethical standing is poor, primarily due to an extreme lack of transparency regarding its manufacturing processes and labor conditions. Without any public disclosures or third-party audits, its claims cannot be verified.
Manufacturing for Goelia largely takes place in Turkey and Eastern Europe, where labor conditions can be challenging. Garment workers in Turkish factories supplying similar brands often face low wages and insufficient safety measures. Reports suggest workers earn an estimated €150-€200 per month, which is significantly below the region's estimated living wage of €350-€400 per month.
The brand offers almost no information about its supply chain. Goelia does not publish a list of its suppliers, share factory audit results, or hold any credible certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000. This complete opacity makes it impossible for consumers to know who makes their clothes or under what conditions.
Goelia primarily uses synthetic fabrics and conventional cotton, with little documented use of animal-derived materials like leather, wool, or fur. However, the brand does not have a formal animal welfare policy and is not certified by any animal rights organizations like PETA.
No, Goelia is not a sustainable brand. Its environmental efforts are practically non-existent, and its business model is fundamentally based on resource-intensive, wasteful practices common in fast fashion.
Goelia's collections are dominated by unsustainable, synthetic fibers. Approximately 60-70% of its clothing is made from polyester, with another 10-15% from viscose and 10-15% from conventional cotton. Less than 5% of its materials are from recycled or organic sources, and a majority of its raw materials carry no certifications like GOTS or OEKO-TEX.
The brand has published no data related to its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. Its heavy reliance on polyester, a plastic derived from fossil fuels, contributes directly to microplastic pollution and climate change. No public commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or improve wastewater treatment practices have been made.
Goelia has no circular initiatives in place. The brand does not offer any take-back programs, repair services, or recycling options for its products. Its packaging consists of standard single-use plastics, and unsold inventory likely contributes to the massive problem of textile waste in the fashion industry.
Goelia has not published any formal sustainability goals, targets, or timelines for improvement. The brand is not certified by any credible environmental organizations like B Lab (for B Corp status) or Climate Neutral, indicating a complete lack of commitment to environmental accountability.
Goelia represents a classic example of a fast fashion brand that prioritizes profit and speed above all else. Its profound lack of transparency and inaction on both human rights and environmental issues are deeply concerning.
Goelia earns a D for its severe lack of transparency. With no supplier details, wage information, or third-party audits available, assuming ethical practices would be baseless. While there are no direct public scandals, the complete opacity and reliance on low-wage manufacturing regions point to a high risk of poor labor conditions and worker exploitation in its supply chain.
The brand receives a D for sustainability due to its heavy use of virgin synthetics, absence of eco-friendly materials, and complete failure to establish any environmental targets. Goelia has made no discernible effort to mitigate its environmental footprint, address waste, or adopt circular practices, placing it among the industry's laggards.
If you're looking to move away from Goelia's unsustainable model, consider these brands that prioritize people and planet with verifiable claims and transparent practices.
This B Corp pioneer offers casual, eco-conscious styles made with GOTS-certified organic cotton and Fair Trade principles at its core. People Tree provides deep transparency into its supply chain, ensuring fair wages and supporting artisan communities.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Armedangels creates timeless, sustainable denim and basics primarily from GOTS-certified materials. As a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, it is committed to upholding fair labor standards and improving working conditions throughout its supply chain.
Shop now at armedangels.com
For trend-forward styles with a sustainable edge, Reformation is a great choice. As a certified B-Corp, it uses a high percentage of low-impact materials, reports on its climate goals, and maintains factory transparency for its LA-based and partner operations.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Known for timeless and durable apparel, Eileen Fisher is a B Corp deeply committed to circularity, fair trade, and using organic and recycled fibers. The brand invests in take-back programs and creates beautiful clothing designed to last a lifetime.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
A global leader in activism and ethical business, Patagonia offers high-performance outdoor and casual wear made to last. The brand uses extensive recycled materials, provides lifetime repairs, and publicly advocates for fair labor and environmental protection.
Shop now at patagonia.com
VEJA makes stylish sneakers with an ethical and sustainable focus. This B Corp brand is famous for its transparency, fair prices paid to organic cotton farmers, and use of innovative, eco-friendly materials like wild rubber from the Amazon rainforest.
Shop now at veja-store.com
Goelia's clothes are primarily manufactured in third-party factories located in Turkey and Eastern Europe. The raw materials, especially synthetic fabrics like polyester, are largely sourced from suppliers in China and Turkey.
Barely. According to independent analysis, sustainable materials like recycled or organic fibers make up less than 5% of Goelia's collections. The vast majority of its products are made from virgin polyester and conventional cotton, which have significant negative environmental impacts.
Goelia operates on a similar fast fashion model of rapid trend replication but on a much smaller, more regional scale. Unlike giants like Zara or H&M, who have introduced some (often criticized) sustainability initiatives and have higher levels of public scrutiny, Goelia has demonstrated virtually no commitment to improving its ethical or environmental practices.
