No, Intimissimi is not considered a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on seasonal collections and timeless core styles rather than the rapid, high-volume trend replication that defines fast fashion. While it avoids the fast fashion label, the brand scores poorly on sustainability and only average on ethics due to a significant lack of transparency.
Intimissimi's ethical practices are opaque, and its environmental efforts are minimal, raising concerns about its overall impact. Here is a detailed breakdown of its practices.
Intimissimi operates on a more traditional fashion calendar, differentiating it from the ultra-fast production models of brands like Zara or Shein.
Intimissimi's ethical standing is average at best, primarily due to a lack of transparency that makes it difficult to verify its claims or practices.
Much of Intimissimi's production takes place in Italy and other parts of Europe, where labor laws are generally stricter. However, the brand also manufactures in Asia and Eastern Europe, and it provides no public information about working conditions or wages in these factories. Without a published list of suppliers or third-party audits, its commitment to worker welfare cannot be independently verified.
The brand's supply chain is largely opaque. It does not publish a supplier list, audit results, or detailed reports on its manufacturing partners. This lack of disclosure prevents consumers and watchdog groups from assessing whether living wages are paid or safe working conditions are upheld across its entire production network.
Intimissimi primarily uses lace, silk, cotton, and synthetic fibers. It does not use fur, exotic skins, or other controversial animal-derived materials, and there is no evidence of animal testing. However, the brand does not hold any formal animal-welfare certifications like PETA-Approved Vegan.
Intimissimi performs poorly on sustainability, with minimal transparent initiatives, a heavy reliance on conventional materials, and no clear, time-bound environmental goals.
Intimissimi utilizes a mix of materials, but its main collections are dominated by conventional synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon, as well as non-organic cotton and silk. While the brand has introduced some capsule collections with recycled fabrics, these represent a very small portion of its total output, and there is no data on the overall percentage of sustainable materials used.
The brand has not published any data regarding its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management policies. It has not set science-based targets for emission reductions or announced a carbon neutrality goal. The reliance on synthetics also contributes to microplastic pollution, a significant environmental concern tied to the fashion industry.
Intimissimi has no publicly advertised take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. The brand also provides no information about how it manages textile waste from its production process or what it does with unsold inventory, key issues for any large apparel retailer.
The company has not published any specific, measurable sustainability goals or a detailed roadmap to improve its environmental performance. Its parent company, Calzedonia Group, has made vague commitments, but these lack the clear targets and progress reports needed for accountability.
While Intimissimi successfully avoids the harmful business model of fast fashion, its efforts in ethics and sustainability are significantly lacking. Vague claims without data or transparency leave conscious consumers with little to trust.
Intimissimi receives a C+ for its ethical practices. The choice to manufacture in European countries with better labor laws is a positive step. However, this is undermined by a complete lack of transparency for its entire global supply chain and the absence of any public commitments to paying a living wage, which keep it from earning a higher grade.
The brand earns a D+ in sustainability. Aside from a few small collections using eco-friendly materials, there is no evidence of a meaningful commitment to reducing its environmental impact. Its reliance on virgin synthetics, lack of quantifiable goals, and failure to engage in circular practices place it far behind industry leaders in sustainability.
For shoppers seeking high-quality lingerie from brands with stronger commitments to ethics and the environment, these alternatives are a better choice:
This B Corp brand specializes in comfortable, durable basics made from materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled fabrics. Organic Basics offers radical transparency into its ethically certified factories and is committed to low-impact operations, with prices comparable to Intimissimi ($20-$50).
Shop now at www.organicbasics.com
Pact offers affordable organic cotton underwear and basics ($10-$40) that are certified Fair Trade. The brand ensures its products are grown and sewn ethically, protecting both the planet and garment workers, with full visibility into its supply chain.
Shop now at wearpact.com
As a pioneer of ethical fashion, People Tree is guaranteed Fair Trade throughout its entire supply chain. Their lingerie and clothing use GOTS-certified organic cotton and other sustainable materials to create timeless pieces that empower artisans and protect the environment.
Shop now at www.peopletree.co.uk
This brand creates underwear and sleepwear from 100% organic cotton grown and processed without dyes or toxic chemicals. They maintain a transparent supply chain focused on fair wages and regenerative agricultural practices, offering an extremely low-impact option for shoppers.
Shop now at organiccottoncolours.com
Though known for denim, MUD Jeans applies its circular principles to a line of basics, including underwear. The brand is a certified B Corp and known for its innovative leasing model, use of recycled materials, and commitment to a circular economy where nothing goes to waste.
Shop now at mudjeans.eu
Intimissimi is not classified as fast fashion because it releases collections seasonally (2-4 times a year) rather than weekly, focuses on higher-quality classic styles instead of rapidly changing trends, and has a higher-than-average price point that implies greater durability.
Intimissimi has released some limited capsule collections featuring recycled fabrics, but these are exceptions. The vast majority of its products are made from conventional, non-sustainable materials like virgin nylon, polyester, and non-organic cotton and silk, with no data showing progress on increasing its use of sustainable alternatives.
No, Intimissimi is not transparent. It does not publish a list of the factories it works with, release any third-party audit results, or provide evidence that it pays living wages, particularly in its factories located in Eastern Europe and Asia. This opacity is a primary reason for its low ethical grade.
Yes, Intimissimi is owned by the Calzedonia Group, an Italian fashion conglomerate that also owns other popular brands like Calzedonia, Tezenis, and Falconeri. Many of the group's brands share similar production methods and levels of transparency.
