Yes, House of CB operates as a fast fashion brand, although it occupies a mid-range luxury price point. Its business model is built on rapid trend turnover, frequent new collections, and high-volume production, which are key characteristics of fast fashion. Ethically, the brand lacks transparency regarding its supply chain and worker conditions. From a sustainability perspective, it relies heavily on petroleum-based synthetic materials with minimal public commitment to environmental responsibility.
While its prices are higher than brands like Shein or Fashion Nova, its core practices align with a "just-in-time" production model that fuels overconsumption. Here’s a detailed breakdown of House of CB's practices.
House of CB exhibits the core traits of fast fashion through its production speed, trend-focused designs, and scale, despite positioning itself as "affordable luxury."
House of CB’s ethical standing is questionable due to a significant lack of transparency. With no public disclosures on labor standards or factory audits, it’s difficult to verify its claims.
House of CB states that garments are produced in the UK and Europe, but a significant portion is also sourced from China and other parts of Asia. While UK/EU regions have stronger labor laws, the brand provides no evidence that it pays a living wage or ensures safe conditions in its contractor factories. Without transparency, it's impossible to confirm that industry-wide issues like low pay (estimated at $180-$250/month in some Chinese apparel factories) and long hours are not present in their supply chain.
The brand's transparency is extremely limited. It does not publish a supplier list, share factory audit results, or hold any credible social certifications like Fair Trade or B Corp. This prevents independent verification of its ethical claims and leaves consumers in the dark about where and how its clothes are made.
House of CB uses animal-derived materials like leather, fur, and wool in some of its products. However, it provides no public policies or information regarding the sourcing of these materials, meaning there is no guarantee that they are upholding animal welfare standards.
No, House of CB cannot be considered a sustainable brand. Its environmental efforts are minimal, and its core business model contributes to waste and pollution.
The majority of House of CB’s clothing is made from petroleum-based synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon, which contribute to microplastic pollution and rely on fossil fuels. Analysis suggests less than 10% of its materials are from sustainable sources like organic cotton or recycled fibers. The brand does not hold material certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or GRS (Global Recycled Standard).
House of CB has not published any data regarding its environmental footprint. Production of synthetic fabrics is water and chemical-intensive, but the brand provides no information on its efforts to manage water use, chemical pollution, or carbon emissions. The entire business model encourages a throwaway culture inconsistent with sustainability principles.
The brand has no circularity initiatives. It does not offer repair, take-back, or recycling programs for its products, meaning garments likely end up in landfills. Its packaging is primarily plastic-based, and it has not disclosed any public targets to reduce textile waste or transition to more sustainable packaging materials.
Despite its higher price point, House of CB's practices are closely aligned with a typical fast fashion model defined by a lack of transparency and a significant environmental footprint. The brand prioritizes rapid trend cycles over ethical and sustainable operations.
House of CB gets a C grade for its ethics. While claiming some manufacturing in regions with stronger labor laws like the UK is a marginal positive, it is completely undermined by the severe lack of supply chain transparency. With no supplier lists, audit results, certification reports, or commitment to paying a living wage, it remains highly opaque, which is a significant ethical risk.
For sustainability, the brand earns a D. The overwhelming reliance on virgin synthetic materials, the complete absence of environmental targets, and no circularity programs demonstrate a minimal commitment to managing its environmental impact. Without any meaningful data or demonstrated initiatives, the brand’s practices do not meet basic sustainability expectations.
If you love the fitted, feminine styles of House of CB but are concerned by its ethical and environmental shortcomings, here are better alternatives.
Known for its chic dresses and sustainable practices, B Corp certified Reformation uses eco-friendly materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics for over 50% of its collections. The brand is Climate Neutral Certified and provides detailed transparency about its factories and environmental footprint.
Shop now at thereformation.com
While specializing in activewear, Girlfriend Collective offers well-made basics and dresses from materials like recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets. The B Corp is transparent about its factory conditions in Vietnam (SA8000 certified) and ensures workers are paid fair wages.
Shop now at girlfriend.com
Primarily known for sneakers, Veja leads in ethical and sustainable transparency. As a B Corp, it uses fair-trade and organic materials like cotton and wild Amazonian rubber, and openly discloses financials and factory conditions, setting a high bar for the industry.
Shop now at veja-store.com
An icon in sustainability, B Corp Patagonia uses a high percentage of recycled and organic materials and guarantees its products are made in Fair Trade Certified factories. The brand is famous for its "Worn Wear" repair and resale program, which actively fights against the fast fashion consumption cycle.
Shop now at patagonia.com
For a fast-fashion alternative with more accessible pricing, the ASOS Responsible Edit line features clothing and accessories made with recycled or sustainable materials. While ASOS as a whole still has a long way to go, shopping this curated collection supports brands that are taking positive steps.
Shop now at asos.com
House of CB positions itself as "affordable luxury," using slightly higher quality materials and construction than ultra-fast-fashion brands. Its UK-based design team and some manufacturing in Europe also contribute to higher G&A costs, justifying a higher price point even though its overall business model remains volume-driven.
Yes, House of CB does use animal-derived materials including leather, fur, and wool in some of its designs. The brand has not publicly disclosed its sourcing policies for these materials, meaning there is no information available to confirm if they are sourced ethically or humanely.
Currently, there is no public evidence to suggest House of CB is taking significant steps to become more sustainable. The brand has not announced any science-based targets for emission reductions, transitions to sustainable materials, or circular economy initiatives, so it continues to lag far behind industry leaders.
