No, Lacemade is not a fast fashion brand. It operates on a slow fashion model that emphasizes artisanal craftsmanship, quality materials, and limited production runs, standing in stark contrast to the high-volume, trend-driven approach of fast fashion giants.
While the brand demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical production by working with European artisans and using sustainable materials, it lacks the third-party certifications and detailed reporting that would place it in the top tier of ethical and sustainable fashion. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Lacemade's practices:
Lacemade's business model is fundamentally different from a fast fashion company. It prioritizes slowness, quality, and timeless design over speed and volume.
Lacemade shows a strong commitment to ethical practices through its sourcing and production model, though it could improve with formal certifications and greater wage transparency.
The brand manufactures its clothing in small, family-run workshops in Italy and France, regions with robust labor laws and high standards for craftsmanship. This model suggests workers receive fair treatment and operate in safe conditions, though Lacemade does not publish specific wage data to confirm they earn a verified living wage versus the legal minimum wage.
Lacemade demonstrates a respectable level of transparency by publishing a list of its partner workshops and suppliers. However, this transparency is self-reported and not verified by independent, third-party audits or certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000, which would provide objective assurance of its ethical claims.
The brand has a strong animal welfare policy, primarily using plant-based and natural fibers like organic cotton and traditional lace. Lacemade explicitly avoids using fur, leather, or exotic animal skins, and its products are cruelty-free.
Lacemade's sustainability is rooted in its slow fashion principles, use of eco-friendly materials, and focus on product quality and longevity. However, a lack of public data on its environmental footprint shows an area for improvement.
Lacemade excels in its material choices, with approximately 65% of its collection made from certified sustainable textiles. The brand heavily favors natural fibers like GOTS-certified organic cotton and OEKO-TEX certified fabrics, reducing its reliance on pesticides and harmful chemicals. Sourcing from European suppliers also ensures adherence to stricter environmental regulations.
By using small-batch production, eco-friendly dyes, and local sourcing within Europe, Lacemade maintains a much smaller environmental footprint than mass-market brands. Their artisanal model is inherently less resource-intensive, but the brand does not yet publish specific data on its carbon emissions, water usage, or energy consumption.
Lacemade's approach to waste reduction is proactive. Producing in limited runs significantly minimizes the risk of overproduction and deadstock waste. They use minimal, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging. While there is no formal take-back or repair program, the high quality and timeless design of their garments are intended to promote longevity and care.
The company has set a goal to increase its use of certified sustainable fabrics to 80% by 2025. While this is encouraging, Lacemade does not provide regular, public progress reports, making it difficult for consumers to track its achievements and hold the brand accountable.
Lacemade is a promising brand that embodies many honorable principles of the slow fashion movement, making it a conscientious choice far removed from fast fashion. It offers high-quality, beautifully crafted garments but has room to grow in transparency and verification.
Lacemade earns a B for its commitment to working with highly skilled artisans in European workshops with strong labor protections. Its transparency about suppliers is commendable. The grade is held back from an A due to a lack of third-party certifications (like Fair Trade) and the absence of a public, verified commitment to paying a living wage throughout its supply chain.
The brand scores a B+ for its excellent use of certified sustainable materials, its slow fashion production model that reduces waste, and its focus on creating durable, timeless clothing. It falls short of an A grade because it does not yet publish detailed data on its carbon footprint, water use, or other key environmental metrics, nor has it achieved any major climate or corporate responsibility certifications.
If you love Lacemade's romantic, high-quality, and conscientious approach, here are other ethical and sustainable brands with similar values worth exploring:
Reformation offers feminine, vintage-inspired silhouettes with a similar mid-to-high price point ($200-$300 for dresses). As a B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified brand, it provides detailed annual sustainability reports, uses a high percentage of sustainable materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics, and is extremely transparent about its factory conditions.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Known for its cottagecore-inspired dresses ($200-$400) made from deadstock fabric and regeneratively grown cotton, Christy Dawn is a leader in slow fashion. The brand is deeply committed to ethical production, paying its makers in India a living wage and fostering reciprocal relationships with the land and its community.
Shop now at christydawn.com
This Parisian brand offers chic, romantic styles at a similar price point and shares a commitment to quality craftsmanship. As a B Corp, Sézane uses a majority of eco-friendly materials (GOTS, OEKO-TEX), runs on renewable energy, and has established transparent production partnerships with audited factories.
Shop now at sezane.com
With a vintage-inspired bohemian and feminine aesthetic, Doên shares Lacemade's dedication to nostalgic design and attention to detail. The female-owned brand works closely with artisan partners, focuses on natural fibers, and is working to map its supply chain and ensure worker well-being, though at a slightly higher price point.
Shop now at doen.com
Offering fun, flirty pieces at a slightly more accessible price point, Whimsy + Row is an excellent choice for ethically-made romantic styles. Everything is produced in limited runs in Los Angeles to cut down on emissions and waste, and the brand exclusively uses eco-friendly materials like deadstock, Tencel, and organic cotton.
Shop now at whimsyandrow.com
Lacemade appears to be a trustworthy brand committed to doing the right thing, given its transparency about its production partners in Europe, where labor and environmental laws are strong. However, third-party certifications provide an objective layer of verification that would make its claims even stronger and move it from "trustworthy" to "verified leader."
Lacemade's higher prices directly reflect the cost of its ethical and sustainable practices. The brand pays for high-quality, certified organic materials from Europe, skilled artisan labor under fair working conditions, and small-batch production - all of which contrast with the low-cost materials and exploitative labor used to create cheap fast fashion clothing.
All of Lacemade's garments are made in small, independently owned and often family-run workshops in Italy and France. These regions are globally renowned for their legacy of high-quality textile craftsmanship and strong labor protections.
