No, Lands' End is not a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on seasonal collections, timeless designs, and quality construction, which contrasts with the rapid, trend-driven production cycles of typical fast fashion companies.
While the brand shows a moderate commitment to ethical sourcing and uses some sustainable materials, it falls short on supply chain transparency and comprehensive environmental targets. Here's a detailed look at Lands' End's practices.
Lands' End follows a more traditional retail model, focusing on durability and classic styles rather than the high-volume, disposable approach of fast fashion.
Lands' End demonstrates a moderate commitment to ethical production, with some responsible sourcing initiatives but significant gaps in transparency and worker compensation.
Lands' End manufactures in countries like Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam, where labor risks are high. While the company outlines a code of conduct and uses third-party auditors, it doesn't provide enough detail to verify that all workers are treated fairly. In some supplier factories in Bangladesh, for example, workers may earn around $180-$200 per month, falling far below the estimated living wage of $350.
The company publishes a list of its suppliers and participates in some audits certified by SA8000 and WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production). However, it does not disclose comprehensive audit results or detailed information about working conditions and wages throughout its entire supply chain, making it difficult to fully assess its claims.
Lands' End has a decent animal welfare policy, refraining from using fur or exotic skins. The brand utilizes some wool from suppliers adhering to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), which ensures better animal treatment and land management practices.
Lands' End has taken some positive steps toward sustainability, particularly with materials, but its overall strategy lacks ambitious goals, comprehensive reporting, and key certifications.
The brand is making progress by incorporating more responsible fabrics. According to its own reports, approximately 30-40% of its products contain more sustainable materials, including recycled polyester in its swimwear, organic cotton, and RWS-certified wool. Some textiles are also certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which tests for harmful substances.
While Lands' End has stated goals to improve energy efficiency, it has not published comprehensive emissions data for its Scope 1, 2, and 3 footprint. Without a clear public carbon reduction target or neutrality plan, it's impossible to track its progress in reducing its climate impact.
The brand's emphasis on durable, long-lasting products inherently fights against the throwaway culture of fast fashion. However, its efforts in circularity are minimal. It offers limited in-store textile recycling but lacks widespread take-back or repair programs to manage its products at the end of their life.
Lands' End has committed to increasing its use of sustainable materials and improving efficiency, but its public-facing goals often lack specific, time-bound targets. This makes it difficult to hold the company accountable for its environmental promises compared to industry leaders.
Compared to true fast fashion, Lands' End is a step up. However, it still has significant work to do to be considered a leader in ethical and sustainable fashion, particularly regarding labor wages and environmental transparency.
Lands' End earns a B for its efforts with responsible sourcing, including the use of RWS-certified wool and participation in factory audits like WRAP. However, the score is held back by the lack of a clear living wage commitment for its workers and insufficient supply chain transparency, which prevents full accountability.
The brand receives a C+ for sustainability. Its increased use of recycled and organic materials (30-40%) and focus on product longevity are positive factors. The grade is lowered due to a lack of published emissions data, vague environmental goals, and minimal investment in circular programs like repair or take-back.
If you're looking for brands that offer similar classic styles but with stronger, more transparent commitments to people and the planet, consider these alternatives:
Patagonia is a B Corp leader renowned for its outdoor and casual wear, built with an unwavering commitment to environmental action and ethical production. As a 1% for the Planet member with many Fair Trade Certified factories, it uses over 70% recycled or organic materials and offers an ironclad repair program to extend the life of every product.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Everlane focuses on modern, timeless basics with a policy of "Radical Transparency," sharing detailed information about its factories and production costs. The brand is increasing its use of sustainable fabrics, with over 60% of materials currently being more sustainable, and works to ensure fair wages in its partner factories.
Shop now at everlane.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Certified Fair Trade and uses almost exclusively GOTS-certified organic cotton and sustainable materials. Every product is made with a focus on empowering artisans, paying living wages, and protecting the environment, making it a true leader in the space.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
As a Certified B Corp, Tentree offers comfortable casualwear and plants ten trees for every item sold - far surpassing 50 million trees planted. It uses sustainable materials like Tencel, organic cotton, and recycled polyester while maintaining transparent and ethical manufacturing processes.
Shop now at tentree.com
This Certified B Corp is dedicated to ocean conservation, removing one pound of trash from oceans and waterways for every product sold. It creates durable outdoor and casual apparel from sustainable materials like recycled polyester, organic cotton, and hemp, with a fully transparent supply chain.
Shop now at unitedbyblue.com
Lands' End requires its suppliers to adhere to a code of conduct and uses third-party audits to monitor conditions. However, without a public commitment to paying verifiable living wages, working conditions in some factories may not meet Western standards, even if they comply with local laws.
Durability and quality are central to the Lands' End brand identity. The company focuses on classic, well-constructed apparel designed to last many seasons, distancing itself from the poor quality and short lifespan associated with fast fashion items.
Lands' End largely outsources its manufacturing to contractor factories in Asia, with major production hubs in China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The company also sources some products from the United States and other regions across the globe.
