While known for accessible footwear, Nine West is considered a fast fashion brand. It operates on a model of high-volume, trend-driven seasonal collections, though its production speed is slower than ultra-fast giants like Zara or SHEIN.
The brand's ethical and sustainability practices are limited, with significant shortcomings in supply chain transparency, labor rights commitments, and environmental impact. Overall, Nine West's operations prioritize rapid trend turnover over sustainable and ethical production. Here's what you need to know about its practices.
Nine West's business model uses a fast fashion framework of rapid inventory turnover and trend replication, though at a slightly slower pace and higher price point than an ultra-fast fashion brand.
Nine West's ethical practices are largely unverified due to a lack of transparency, with evidence suggesting significant areas for improvement, particularly regarding labor wages and supply chain oversight.
Nine West outsources all its production to third-party factories in China, Vietnam, and India. Investigations have identified violations at some supplier factories, including excessive working hours and unpaid overtime. Factory wages in these regions are estimated to be between $150–$250 per month, falling far short of the estimated living wage of $350–$450 per month. There is no evidence that Nine West is certified by programs like Fair Trade or SA8000.
The brand scores moderately on transparency, largely based on limited publication of partner lists. As of 2021, the partnership with As You Sow highlighted some supply chain transparency, but more current supply information hasn't met the same standards. Because it does not publish a comprehensive supplier list, it is difficult to independently audit its partners or verify its social responsibility claims.
Nine West uses both conventional leather and synthetic alternatives. It does not provide any public information regarding its leather sourcing and lacks animal welfare certifications like the Leather Working Group. Without transparent sourcing policies, the welfare of animals in its supply chain cannot be guaranteed.
Nine West's sustainability efforts are minimal, relying heavily on petroleum-based synthetic materials without making meaningful public commitments about reducing carbon footprint or waste management.
The majority of Nine West's products are made from environmentally damaging, petroleum-based synthetic materials like polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride. These materials do not biodegrade, contributing to long-term landfill waste. The estimated use of recycled materials is negligible. Lack of credible sourcing and verification further complicates any assessment of these materials.
The production and manufacturing of Nine West's footwear result in considerable chemical pollution, with no publicly-declared plans to minimize this practice. The logistics involve significant greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbated by lack of innovation or public sustainability reporting.
Nine West does not operate take-back programs, repair services, or recycling initiatives, leading to a reliance on discounting unsold/returned stock. The absence of formal guidance on managing unsold stock suggests a default to landfill disposal.
Nine West has not set any science-based sustainability targets or made public commitments about circular economics. The lack of transparency in its commitments is compounded by the absence of established timelines or accountability plans.
Given Nine West's low ratings in ethics and sustainability, consider these alternatives:
Nisolo offers sustainable leather goods and is a Certified B-Corp, ensuring transparency throughout its supply chain. Shop at nisolo.com.
Rothy's uses recycled materials and aims for net-zero emissions by 2025. Visit rothys.com.
Veja emphasizes sustainability with its source materials, such as wild rubber. Visit veja-store.com.
Everlane prioritizes transparent sourcing and offers recycling programs. Visit everlane.com.
Allbirds is known for using sustainable materials like sheep wool. Visit allbirds.com.
