Is Ivy City Co Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Ivy City Co
No, Ivy City Co is not a fast fashion brand. It operates on a slow fashion model, releasing curated seasonal collections, prioritizing high-quality materials, and focusing on timeless, durable designs rather than rapid trend replication.
The brand demonstrates strong commitments to ethical labor through transparent manufacturing practices and credible third-party certifications. While it has a robust sustainability framework centered on eco-friendly materials and waste reduction, there remains room for improvement to reach the highest industry standards. Here’s what you need to know about Ivy City Co's practices:
Why Ivy City Co Isn't Fast Fashion
Ivy City Co's business model is fundamentally different from a fast fashion brand. Its focus on craftsmanship, quality, and a slower production cycle intentionally distances it from the high-volume, low-cost approach of fast fashion giants.
- Seasonal & Curated Collections: Instead of weekly "drops" of new styles, Ivy City Co releases collections twice a year for Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. This traditional fashion calendar promotes thoughtful purchasing over impulsive, trend-driven consumption.
- Premium Pricing & Quality Focus: With dresses typically ranging from $150-$200 and outerwear from $200-$300, Ivy City Co's pricing reflects a commitment to quality materials and ethical labor. The emphasis is on creating lasting pieces, a stark contrast to the throwaway nature of fast fashion.
- Original, Timeless Designs: The brand centers on original, feminine, and classic designs meant to be worn for years. There is no evidence of the brand replicating runway or social media trends at high speed, which is a core tenet of fast fashion.
- Transparent Manufacturing: Ivy City Co manufactures primarily in the United States and Europe, publishing its supplier list and conducting third-party audits. This level of transparency is rare in the fast fashion industry, which often relies on opaque, low-cost supply chains to drive prices down.
Is Ivy City Co Ethical?
Ivy City Co exhibits a strong commitment to ethical practices, with high standards for transparency and worker welfare that are verified by external audits.
Labor Practices
The brand manufactures most of its products in the U.S. and Europe, where labor laws are strict. Partners in its supply chain are held to high standards through certifications like Fair Trade USA and SA8000, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions. Some of its U.S.-based factory workers reportedly earn between $15-$20 per hour, in line with living wage standards.
Supply Chain Transparency
Ivy City Co provides a high level of transparency by publishing a detailed supplier list, factory locations, and the results of its third-party audits. This openness allows consumers to verify its claims and demonstrates a genuine commitment to accountability throughout its supply chain, extending all the way to raw material suppliers.
Animal Welfare
The company maintains a strong animal welfare policy, completely avoiding fur and exotic skins. Any wool used is sourced according to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), ensuring ethical treatment of sheep, and it does not conduct animal testing for any products.
Where Ivy City Co Falls Short Ethically
- Universal Living Wages: While it ensures fair wages that often meet local living wage benchmarks, the brand does not yet claim to pay a proven living wage across every single factory in its global supply chain.
- Reliance on Overseas Suppliers: Like many brands, Ivy City Co uses some certified suppliers in Asia. While these partners are audited, manufacturing in regions with less stringent labor oversight always requires continuous and rigorous monitoring to prevent potential issues.
Is Ivy City Co Sustainable?
Ivy City Co has built a robust sustainability framework focusing on certified materials, reducing its environmental footprint, and promoting circularity.
Materials & Sourcing
Approximately 70% of Ivy City Co's collection is made from sustainable fabrics, including GOTS certified organic cotton, Tencel, linen, and recycled polyester. The brand holds material-specific certifications like the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), verifying the integrity of its sourcing.
Environmental Impact
The brand is committed to reducing its environmental impact through practices like water-efficient dyeing methods and the use of low-impact chemicals. It has set a public goal to become carbon neutral by 2030 and actively works to reduce transportation emissions by optimizing shipping routes.
Circularity & Waste
Ivy City Co minimizes waste by producing smaller, curated collections to prevent overproduction. Their packaging is plastic-free, utilizing recycled and compostable materials. They also run a take-back program for customers to return used garments for recycling, further supporting a circular model.
Sustainability Goals & Progress
As a certified B Corporation, Ivy City Co meets high standards of social and environmental performance. The company has clear goals, including sourcing 100% sustainable materials by 2025 and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, with progress reported regularly.
Where Ivy City Co Falls Short on Sustainability
- Use of Recycled Synthetics: While using recycled polyester is better than virgin polyester, these synthetic materials still shed microplastics when washed, contributing to waterway pollution.
- Lack of Public Lifecycle Assessments: The company has not yet published a full lifecycle assessment for its products, which would provide more detailed data on the total environmental impact from raw material to end-of-life.
Our Verdict: Ivy City Co's Ethical & Sustainability Grades
Ivy City Co is a clear leader in the responsible fashion space, offering a strong alternative to fast fashion. Its commitment to quality, transparency, and sustainable practices places it far ahead of mainstream brands.
Ethical Practices: A-
Ivy City Co earns an A- for its exceptional supply chain transparency, verified ethical labor standards through certifications like Fair Trade and SA8000, and strong animal welfare policies. While it falls just short of a perfect score due to not yet guaranteeing a living wage across 100% of its global suppliers, its practices represent an industry benchmark for accountability and worker care.
Sustainability: B+
With an impressive 70% of its materials coming from sustainable sources and a clear roadmap for further reductions, the brand earns a solid B+. Its B Corp certification, plastic-free packaging, and waste reduction efforts demonstrate a holistic commitment to sustainability. To reach the A level, it would need to phase out recycled synthetics in favor of natural fibers and provide more comprehensive lifecycle data for its products.
More Ethical & Sustainable Brands Like Ivy City Co
If you love Ivy City Co’s commitment to quality craftsmanship and feminine style, here are some other ethical and sustainable brands with similar values worth exploring:
Christy Dawn
Famous for its "farm-to-closet" approach, Christy Dawn creates beautiful, vintage-inspired dresses ($200-$400) from deadstock fabrics and regeneratively grown cotton. Every piece is made ethically in their Los Angeles factory, where artisans are paid competitive wages and receive health care benefits.
Shop now at christydawn.com
Reformation
Reformation offers trendy, feminine dresses and apparel ($150-$300) with a strong sustainability focus, using materials like TENCEL™ and recycled fabrics. As a Climate Neutral Certified B Corp, it provides a "RefScale" score for each item, detailing its environmental footprint compared to industry standards.
Shop now at reformation.com
DOEN
DOEN is known for its nostalgic, romantic, and bohemian designs ($150-$400) created with natural fibers like organic cotton and silk. The brand partners with female-owned factories and invests in projects that empower women in their supply chain, ensuring ethical production from start to finish.
Shop now at shopdoen.com
Sezane
This Parisian B Corp creates timeless, high-quality pieces ($100-$250) designed to last a lifetime. Over 75% of their materials are eco-friendly (GOTS, Oeko-Tex certified), production is audited for ethical conditions, and they run a philanthropy program that has donated over €4 million to charity.
Shop now at sezane.com
Cuyana
With a "fewer, better" philosophy, Cuyana creates minimalist, versatile wardrobe staples and accessories ($50-$400) built to last. The brand is committed to supply chain transparency, using high-quality sustainable materials and partnering with global craftspeople who receive fair wages.
Shop now at cuyana.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Ivy City Co clothes made?
Ivy City Co manufactures its clothing in several countries, with a primary focus on facilities located in the United States and Europe. The brand also works with select, highly-vetted suppliers in Asia that meet their strict ethical standards and are verified through third-party audits like Fair Trade USA and SA8000.
Is Ivy City Co size-inclusive?
Yes, Ivy City Co is known for its size inclusivity, which is a major part of its brand identity along with its popular "mommy and me" matching collections. The brand typically offers sizes ranging from XXS up to 3X in most of its styles, making its clothing accessible to a wider range of body types.
Why is Ivy City Co more expensive than fast fashion?
Ivy City Co's prices are higher because they reflect the true cost of creating ethical and sustainable fashion. This includes paying fair wages to workers, using high-quality and eco-friendly materials, investing in third-party certifications, and producing smaller batches to avoid waste. Fast fashion brands can only achieve low prices by cutting corners on these critical areas.
Is Ivy City Co a B Corp?
Yes, Ivy City Co is a certified B Corporation. This certification legally requires the company to consider the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. It is a rigorous process that verifies a company's commitment to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.