Is Luxe To Kill Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Luxe To Kill

Discover why Luxe To Kill isn't fast fashion. Explore its ethical approach, limited-edition drops, and sustainable practices for a conscious wardrobe choice.
Written by: 
Ash Read
Last updated: 

No, Luxe To Kill is not a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on slower, limited-edition seasonal drops and higher price points, distinguishing it from the high-volume, trend-driven model of conventional fast fashion companies.

The brand shows a solid commitment to ethical production by manufacturing in regulated European countries and using some eco-friendly materials. However, its efforts are hampered by a lack of full transparency regarding factory audits, worker wages, and detailed environmental impact data.

Why Luxe To Kill Isn't Fast Fashion?

Luxe To Kill operates more like a contemporary or slow-fashion label, prioritizing more thoughtful production cycles and design longevity over the rapid-turnover model that defines fast fashion.

  • Slower Production Cycles: Instead of weekly or daily drops, Luxe To Kill releases new collections quarterly or bi-annually. This slower pace focuses on curated, limited-edition designs rather than flooding the market with new styles.
  • Higher Price Points: With items averaging between $150 and $400, the brand's pricing reflects a focus on quality materials and craftsmanship. This is significantly higher than fast fashion brands like Zara or Shein, where dresses often sell for $25–$40.
  • Emphasis on Longevity: Luxe To Kill promotes its pieces as investment-wear, featuring original, timeless designs inspired by art and haute couture. This approach encourages building a lasting wardrobe, which directly contrasts with the disposable nature of fast fashion trends.
  • Sourcing from Regulated Regions: The brand primarily manufactures its garments in Southern Europe, including Portugal and Italy, where labor laws and factory standards are more stringent than in common fast fashion production hubs in Asia.

Is Luxe To Kill Ethical?

Luxe To Kill's ethical practices are better than average, but a notable lack of third-party verification and transparency prevents it from earning top marks.

Labor Practices

The brand manufactures in European countries like Portugal and Italy, which have stronger labor laws than many fast fashion production centers. Luxe To Kill states it works only with factories that ensure fair wages and safe conditions. However, it does not publish a supplier list or disclose specific wage data, making it impossible to verify if workers earn a proven living wage.

Supply Chain Transparency

While the brand claims to conduct regular factory audits, it does not provide public reports or certifications from third-party auditors like Fair Trade or SA8000. This reliance on internal oversight instead of independent verification is a significant transparency gap. However, its B Corp certification requires meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Animal Welfare

Luxe To Kill maintains a strong cruelty-free stance. The brand primarily uses materials like organic cotton and recycled fabrics, avoiding fur, exotic skins, and real leather in most of its collections. It also incorporates premium vegan leather alternatives, aligning with ethical, animal-friendly practices.

Where Luxe To Kill Falls Short Ethically

  • Lack of Wage Transparency: The brand does not publish data to confirm that workers in its supply chain are paid a verifiable living wage, not just the local legal minimum.
  • No Public Supplier List: Without a detailed list of its factories, independent verifications of its labor and safety claims are difficult for consumers and watchdog groups to perform.
  • Absence of Third-Party Audits: Luxe To Kill does not share results from independent factory audits, forcing customers to rely on the brand's internal claims about working conditions.

Is Luxe To Kill Sustainable?

Luxe To Kill makes a genuine effort to be sustainable by using better materials and setting clear goals, but its actions are not yet comprehensive and lack detailed public data.

Materials & Sourcing

The brand incorporates a mix of materials in its collections, with about 30-40% being organic cotton and 20% recycled polyester. However, a significant portion (40-50%) still consists of conventional fabrics. Luxe To Kill does use fabrics certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which ensures they are free from harmful substances, showcasing a commitment to material safety.

Environmental Impact

Luxe To Kill reports that its partner factories use water-saving dyeing techniques and partner with renewable energy providers. As a certified B Corporation, it is held to higher environmental standards. Despite this, the brand does not publish specific data on its carbon footprint (Scope 1, 2, or 3 emissions) or water usage, making its overall environmental impact difficult to assess.

Circularity & Waste

By producing in limited, curated collections, Luxe To Kill aims to reduce the waste caused by overproduction. The brand also has a take-back program for customers to return used garments for recycling or repurposing, although details on the scale of this program are limited. Information on how unsold inventory is managed remains undisclosed.

Sustainability Goals & Progress

Luxe To Kill has set a public goal to become carbon neutral by 2030 and reduce emissions by 50% by 2028. While these are commendable targets, the brand has not yet released progress reports to showcase its performance against these goals, leaving its actual progress unverified.

Where Luxe To Kill Falls Short on Sustainability

  • Reliance on Conventional Materials: Nearly half of the brand's material usage still relies on conventional textiles, which have a higher environmental footprint than their sustainable counterparts.
  • No Published Emissions Data: Without transparent, third-party verified data on its carbon emissions and resource usage, it's hard to measure the real-world impact of its sustainability initiatives.
  • Limited Transparency on Waste: The brand does not provide clear information on its policies for managing unsold stock or the overall effectiveness of its take-back program.

Our Verdict: Luxe To Kill's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Luxe To Kill successfully avoids the fast fashion label by building a responsible business model focused on quality and longevity. Its efforts are genuine, but significant gaps in transparency and verification keep it from being an industry leader.

Ethical Practices: B

Luxe To Kill earns a solid 'B' for its commitment to ethical manufacturing in regulated European regions and its strong cruelty-free policies. As a B Corp, it meets verified standards of social accountability. The grade is held back by a lack of public factory audits and transparent wage data, which are necessary to fully confirm its 'fair labor' claims.

Sustainability: B-

The brand receives a 'B-' for its efforts in sustainability. Using a significant portion of organic and recycled materials, along with its B Corp status and clear carbon-neutral goals, demonstrates a serious commitment. However, this grade is tempered by its continued use of conventional materials and the absence of published emissions data needed to validate its environmental progress.

More Ethical & Sustainable Brands Like Luxe To Kill

If you appreciate Luxe To Kill's contemporary style and commitment to better practices, here are some other ethical and sustainable brands with similar values worth exploring:

Reformation

Reformation offers trendy, feminine pieces with a price point similar to Luxe To Kill ($100-$350). The brand is Climate Neutral Certified, uses sustainable materials like TENCEL™ and recycled fabrics, and provides detailed transparency about its factories and carbon footprint.

Shop now at thereformation.com

Cuyana

Cuyana's "fewer, better things" mantra aligns perfectly with Luxe To Kill's investment-wear philosophy. This B Corp certified brand creates timeless, high-quality apparel and accessories ($98-$400) from materials like organic cotton and Italian leather sourced from tanneries with high environmental standards.

Shop now at cuyana.com

Sézane

Known for its chic Parisian aesthetic, Sézane is a B Corp that offers high-quality pieces in a similar price range ($100-$300). The brand focuses on producing in small batches, runs transparent production workshops, and already uses eco-friendly materials for over 75% of its collection.

Shop now at sezane.com

ABLE

ABLE is a B Corp that champions radical transparency by publishing the wages of its manufacturing partners to demonstrate its commitment to empowering women. It offers classic, durable clothing and leather goods ($80-$300) designed for longevity, making it a great alternative for ethically-minded shoppers.

Shop now at ableclothing.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Luxe To Kill B Corp Certified?

Yes, Luxe To Kill 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, verifying its commitment to high social and environmental standards.

Where are Luxe To Kill's clothes made?

Luxe To Kill primarily manufactures its garments in Southern European countries, including Portugal and Italy, as well as some production in Turkey. These regions are known for having more regulated and stringent labor laws compared to many fast fashion manufacturing hubs.

Why is Luxe To Kill more expensive than fast fashion?

Luxe to Kill's higher price point reflects its commitment to quality and ethics. The brand invests in higher-quality, more durable materials, manufactures in regions with higher labor costs and fairer wages, and focuses on original design and smaller production runs rather than mass-producing cheap, trendy items.