No, Gorman is not a fast fashion brand. The Australian label is known for its artistic prints and operates on a more traditional, seasonal fashion calendar, prioritizing original design and quality over rapid, high-volume trend replication.
However, the brand’s ethical and sustainability practices are a mixed bag. While it opts for a slower production model and some natural materials, it falls short on transparency, offering little verifiable information about its supply chain, labor conditions, or environmental targets.
Gorman's business model is fundamentally different from fast fashion giants like Zara or Shein. It focuses on creating unique, collectible pieces rather than disposable, trend-driven clothing.
Gorman's commitment to ethical practices is difficult to verify due to a significant lack of transparency. While the brand claims to work with select factories, it provides little evidence to back up its ethical standards.
Gorman manufactures its products in Australia, China, and India but does not publish a list of its specific suppliers. Without detailed third-party audits or reports, it's impossible to confirm working conditions or wages. Factory workers in common manufacturing hubs like China and India often earn well below a living wage (around $180–$250/month compared to a living wage of $350–$500/month in those regions), and without wage transparency from Gorman, there is no proof its workers are paid fairly.
The brand's biggest weakness is a lack of transparency. Gorman does not disclose its factory list, provide audit results, or hold certifications like Fair Trade or B Corp that would independently verify its labor practices and social accountability. This makes it challenging for consumers to trust its claims of ethical manufacturing.
Gorman primarily uses plant-based fibers like cotton and linen. It incorporates some wool and silk but offers no public information on the sourcing of these materials or certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). The brand does not use fur or exotic animal skins.
Gorman incorporates some positive environmental practices, but its efforts lack the specific goals, measurable data, and transparency needed to be considered a truly sustainable brand.
Gorman’s collections feature natural fibers like organic cotton and linen, which are more sustainable alternatives to synthetics. The brand also states that it uses eco-friendly dyes in some prints. However, it does not disclose what percentage of its total materials are sustainable and lacks key certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or OEKO-TEX to verify its claims.
The brand has not published any data on its water usage, chemical management, carbon emissions, or energy consumption. While its slower production model is inherently less wasteful than fast fashion, there are no concrete, science-based targets for reducing its environmental impact.
Gorman has no formal take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. There is also no public information on how the company manages textile waste or unsold inventory. While its clothing is designed to be more durable than fast fashion, the brand is missing key circular economy initiatives.
Gorman has not set any public, time-bound sustainability targets, such as goals for carbon neutrality, emissions reduction, or increasing its use of sustainable materials. Without these commitments, its sustainability efforts seem more like marketing points than a core business strategy.
Gorman occupies a gray area. It is a clear step up from fast fashion in terms of its design ethos and slower production pace, but its lack of transparency prevents it from being ranked among truly ethical and sustainable brands.
Because it isn't built on a model of exploitation and overproduction, Gorman starts on better footing than fast fashion brands. However, its grade is limited by a severe lack of transparency across its supply chain. Without public factory lists, third-party audits, or a verifiable commitment to paying living wages, its ethical claims remain unsubstantiated.
Gorman earns a C for using some sustainable materials like organic cotton and linen and avoiding a hyper-disposable business model. The absence of concrete data, measurable climate targets, circular initiatives, and C-level environmental certifications reveals a surface-level approach to sustainability. It doesn't back up its claims on sustainability enough to earn a better grade, but it does take positive steps towards sustainability regardless.
If you love Gorman's vibrant, artistic aesthetic but want to support brands with stronger, verified commitments to people and the planet, consider these alternatives:
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade Certified and known for its artisan-made clothing with unique prints and patterns. Every purchase directly supports workers with fair wages and safe conditions, offering a similar artistic vibe with guaranteed ethical standards.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Reformation offers trendy, feminine styles with a deep commitment to sustainability. The brand is Climate Neutral Certified, uses a high percentage of sustainable materials, and provides detailed "RefScale" impact reports for every garment.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Amour Vert creates timeless pieces using innovative sustainable fabrics like Tencel Modal from a transparent US-based supply chain. For every tee purchased, Amour Vert also plants a tree, combining beautiful design with a clear commitment to environmental restoration.
Shop now at amourvert.com
While known for outdoor gear, Patagonia offers a range of durable, casual clothing with a similar focus on bold colors and prints. As a certified B-Corp and Fair Trade partner, it's an industry leader in both environmental and social responsibility.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Kotn is a certified B Corp known for its high-quality basics made from Egyptian cotton sourced directly from smallholder farms. The brand ensures fair labor practices through its transparent supply chain and invests in community development by building schools in its farming communities.
Shop now at kotn.com
Gorman has some ethical intentions by avoiding a fast fashion model, but it is not considered a top-tier ethical brand due to its lack of supply chain transparency. Without disclosing its factories or providing proof of paying living wages, its ethical claims are difficult to verify.
Yes, Gorman uses some more sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and linen in its collections. However, the brand does not provide data on what percentage of its materials are sustainable, nor does it carry robust certifications like GOTS to back up its raw material sourcing claims.
Gorman's prices reflect its commitment to original, artistic design, higher-quality materials, and a slower, more considered production process compared to fast fashion. While it doesn't qualify as a luxury brand, the cost covers bespoke textile development and small-batch production that fast fashion brands avoid.
