No, Olivia Mark is not a fast fashion brand. The brand operates with a slower, more deliberate model, releasing seasonal collections and focusing on timeless designs and quality materials rather than rapid trend replication.
Olivia Mark demonstrates a commendable commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability, though some areas for improvement in transparency remain. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the brand's practices:
Olivia Mark’s business model stands in direct contrast to the core tenets of fast fashion. Its operations prioritize quality and durability over speed and volume.
Olivia Mark maintains strong ethical standards, particularly concerning labor practices and supply chain management, though it falls short of top-tier certification.
Olivia Mark sources most of its garments from factories in Portugal and Italy, countries with robust labor laws. The brand states it pays wages above the legal minimum, aiming to provide a living wage that covers basic needs in line with Fair Wear Foundation standards. Their factories are audited by third-party organizations like Fair Wear and BSCI to assess working conditions, wages, and worker rights.
The brand demonstrates a high level of transparency by publishing a detailed list of its primary suppliers and factories online, complete with audit reports and compliance certificates. While this is a significant step beyond industry norms, gaps remain, as specific wage data and comprehensive worker benefit details are not fully disclosed.
Olivia Mark uses very few animal-derived materials. When it does use materials like wool, it sources from suppliers certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) to ensure animal welfare. The brand has a firm policy against using fur, angora, or exotic animal skins and does not conduct animal testing.
Olivia Mark has built sustainability into its core strategy through material choice and environmental commitments, but lacks comprehensive data reporting.
Materials are a strong point for the brand, with approximately 70% of its collections made from certified sustainable fabrics. This includes GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel Lyocell from closed-loop systems, and GRS-certified recycled polyester. The remaining 30% consists of conventional materials, a figure the brand aims to reduce to 10% by 2025.
The brand is a member of the Climate Neutral Certified program, offsetting its emissions through verified projects, and has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. They also work with factories that use water-efficient dyeing techniques and wastewater treatment. However, specific data on their overall carbon footprint, water usage, and chemical management across the supply chain is not publicly available.
To combat waste, Olivia Mark designs durable products, offers a repair service to extend garment life, and runs a take-back program for recycling old pieces. Production is managed carefully to minimize deadstock, often using pre-orders to gauge demand. All packaging is made from biodegradable or recycled materials with minimal plastic.
Olivia Mark has a clear goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, aligning with the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). They report progress on their website and continue to increase their use of sustainable materials, demonstrating a commitment to their public targets.
Olivia Mark is a conscientious brand making genuine efforts in ethics and sustainability, placing it far ahead of fast fashion. However, gaps in certifications and transparent reporting show there is still room to grow.
Olivia Mark earns a B+ for its strong commitment to ethical production, sourcing from high-regulation European countries and maintaining transparency through supplier lists and third-party audits. While its dedication is clear, the lack of a formal Fair Trade certification and limited public wage data prevent it from earning a top grade. Their active response to audit findings demonstrates a real commitment to improvement.
For sustainability, Olivia Mark receives a B. The brand excels in its use of sustainable materials (70%), ambitious carbon neutrality goals, and circular initiatives like repair and recycling programs. However, a lack of comprehensive, publicly available data on its exact environmental footprint and its continued use of some conventional materials hold it back from an A grade.
If you appreciate Olivia Mark's focus on quality and conscious production, here are some other brands with similar aesthetics and even stronger ethical and sustainable credentials.
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is fully Fair Trade and GOTS certified, guaranteeing fair wages and organic materials. As a B Corp, this brand offers timeless, bohemian-chic pieces with unmatched transparency in its supply chain.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Patagonia is a leader in environmental and ethical responsibility, famous for its durable outdoor gear and clothing. This B Corp is Fair Trade Certified, uses a huge proportion of recycled materials, and offers an ironclad repair program to ensure clothes last a lifetime.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Known for its trendy yet timeless styles, Reformation couples fashion-forward design with deep sustainability commitments. They are Climate Neutral Certified, provide radical transparency with detailed product impact reports ("RefScale"), and use a high percentage of eco-friendly and deadstock fabrics.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Thought offers beautiful, easy-to-wear pieces made from natural, organic, and recycled fabrics like hemp and organic cotton. The brand maintains a transparent supply chain and prioritizes durable, slow fashion designs meant to be cherished for years.
Shop now at thoughtclothing.com
Focusing on minimalist sneakers, Veja has redefined what a transparent and ethical footwear brand can be. They use innovative, sustainable materials like wild Amazonian rubber and organic cotton and work directly with Fair Trade cooperatives in Brazil.
Shop now at veja-store.com
Olivia Mark is not considered a luxury brand but operates in the contemporary or mid-market segment. Its prices ($80-$250 for key pieces) are higher than fast fashion, reflecting better quality materials and more ethical production costs, but are below luxury price points.
While Olivia Mark works with audited factories that follow fair labor guidelines, it has not pursued a formal Fair Trade certification. The brand claims it ensures living wages through direct supplier relationships and third-party audits, but certification would provide a higher level of independent verification.
The majority of Olivia Mark's garments are manufactured in Portugal and Italy. These countries are known for their high-quality textile industries and strong labor regulations, which aligns with the brand's commitment to ethical production.
Yes, the brand reports that it is currently a B Corp candidate and is actively working toward receiving the full certification. This process requires a company to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
