Yes, Hyperbees is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid production cycles, low prices, and the quick replication of social media and runway trends. While the brand has taken minimal steps like publishing a basic supplier list, it largely fails on ethical and sustainability fronts due to a profound lack of transparency and a demonstrable reliance on low-cost, resource-intensive manufacturing practices.
Hyperbees' ethical practices are concerning due to low wages and a lack of transparency, and its sustainability efforts are minimal, relying heavily on environmentally damaging materials without clear goals for improvement. Here's what you need to know about the brand's practices:
Hyperbees fully embodies the fast fashion model, prioritizing speed, volume, and low costs over durability and ethical production. Its operations are characterized by several key factors:
Hyperbees' ethical practices are significantly lacking, with major concerns in labor rights, transparency, and wages that fall well below industry best practices.
Hyperbees manufactures in countries known for labor rights challenges. Reports indicate workers in some supplier factories work 60-70 hour weeks and earn wages of around $180-$220 per month. This is substantially below the estimated living wage of $350-$400 per month needed to cover basic living expenses in those regions.
While Hyperbees publishes a supplier list, it is not detailed and omits specific factory information and the results of audits. The brand claims to use third-party auditors but provides no proof of the findings or any corrective actions taken. It also holds no credible certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 to verify its social responsibility claims.
Hyperbees uses animal-derived materials like leather and wool without providing any certifications, such as the Responsible Wool Standard, to ensure the humane treatment of animals. While they don't use fur or engage in animal testing, their sourcing of other animal materials is unverified and raises ethical flags.
Hyperbees’ sustainability efforts are minimal and its business model is fundamentally unsustainable, relying on high consumption, fossil fuel-based materials, and a lack of environmental accountability.
The vast majority of Hyperbees' products - around 65-70% - are made from conventional synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon, which are derived from fossil fuels. Only a tiny fraction of its collection (~5-10%) uses more sustainable materials, and even these claims are not backed by certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or GRS (Global Recycled Standard).
The brand's manufacturing processes involve chemical-intensive dyeing and high water consumption in regions that often lack adequate wastewater treatment facilities. Hyperbees has not published any data on its carbon emissions, water usage, or chemical management policies, indicating a lack of commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.
Hyperbees has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. Unsold inventory is likely sent to landfills or incinerators, contributing to the fashion industry's massive waste problem. Furthermore, its packaging is predominantly made from single-use plastics.
Hyperbees' rapid, trend-driven model places profit margins far above any meaningful commitment to people or the planet. While it avoids major public scandals, its core business practices are fundamentally exploitative and unsustainable.
Hyperbees gets a D+ for meeting the absolute minimum standards, like having a supplier list, but failing on all the issues that truly matter. The lack of living wages, poor transparency regarding factory conditions, and absence of credible social certifications reveal a deep disregard for the workers making its clothes.
The brand earns a D for its almost complete lack of environmental stewardship. Its heavy reliance on virgin fossil fuel-based synthetics, absence of any waste reduction programs, and failure to set or report on any environmental goals make it a significant contributor to the fashion industry's environmental crisis.
If you're concerned about Hyperbees' poor ethical and sustainability record, here are several brands that offer a far more responsible way to shop for fashion.
A B Corp and leader in activism, Patagonia uses 87% recycled materials, guarantees Fair Trade Certified sewing for much of its line, and built its brand on product longevity and repair.
Shop now at patagonia.com
As a pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade certified and primarily uses GOTS-certified organic cotton, ensuring both fair wages and environmentally friendly practices from farm to finished garment.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
This B Corp footwear brand is known for its radical transparency, using sustainable materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and wild rubber from the Amazon sourced directly from producers with fair wages.
Shop now at veja-store.com
Everlane focuses on modern essentials with radical transparency into its costs and factories. The brand is increasingly using more sustainable materials and has published details about its factory partners and worker conditions.
Shop now at everlane.com
Reformation offers trendy, feminine styles with a strong focus on sustainable materials like TENCEL™ and recycled fabrics. It is Climate Neutral Certified and provides a "RefScale" score for each item to show its environmental footprint.
Shop now at thereformation.com
A certified B Corp that specializes in underwear, activewear, and everyday essentials, Organic Basics uses materials like GOTS organic cotton and recycled nylon and works only with certified, transparent factories.
Shop now at organicbasics.com
Hyperbees achieves its low prices by using inexpensive, low-quality synthetic materials, producing in massive volumes to reduce per-item cost, and paying workers wages that are far below a living wage. Its business model prioritizes affordability over quality, durability, and ethical labor practices.
Yes, Hyperbees' limited claims about using recycled materials without providing any specific percentages, data, or certifications are a form of greenwashing. This tactic aims to make the brand appear more sustainable than it is without making any fundamental changes to its harmful fast fashion business model.
The brand has made minimal public efforts. Publishing a non-detailed supplier list is a step, but falls short of true transparency. There is no evidence of meaningful improvements like committing to a living wage program, publishing factory audit results, or increasing transparency about its supply chain practices.
