Yes, Oysho is a fast fashion brand. As part of the Inditex group, the same parent company as Zara, Oysho operates on a model of rapid production and trend-driven collections in the activewear and loungewear space. Despite sharing some of Inditex's corporate sustainability goals, the brand's ethical and environmental practices lack transparency, rely on low-wage labor, and contribute to the overproduction inherent in the fast fashion industry.
Many experts consider its sustainability efforts to be surface-level and insufficient to counter the negative impacts of its high-volume business model. Here's a breakdown of Oysho's practices:
Oysho's business model is built on speed, volume, and affordability, which are the core pillars of fast fashion applied to the athleisure and intimates market.
Oysho's ethical record is poor due to its reliance on a non-transparent supply chain with a high risk of labor rights violations.
Oysho's manufacturing takes place in countries with a known history of labor abuses in the garment industry. While parent company Inditex claims to conduct over 2,600 audits annually, specific results are not disclosed for Oysho's suppliers. Reports from organizations like the Clean Clothes Campaign have documented that workers in the Inditex supply chain often earn far below a living wage. For instance, some garment workers in Bangladesh earn around $180-$200 per month, while the estimated living wage is closer to $350.
Transparency is a critical weak point. Inditex publishes a general list of its suppliers, but it is not possible to trace which factories produce garments specifically for Oysho. There is no public disclosure of audit results, a key factor that prevents independent verification of factory conditions, wages, or worker safety protocols.
Oysho does not use fur or exotic animal skins. However, it does use some wool and leather without providing detailed information about its sourcing policies or any animal welfare certifications, leaving its commitment to animal welfare unclear.
Oysho's sustainability efforts are minimal and overshadowed by its fast fashion business model, which is inherently unsustainable.
Oysho relies heavily on environmentally damaging materials. It's estimated that over 70% of its products are made from conventional synthetic fabrics like polyester, viscose, and elastane, which are petroleum-based and contribute to microplastic pollution. There is very little use of certified sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton or recycled textiles noted across its collections.
While parent company Inditex has set a corporate goal to be climate-neutral by 2040, Oysho does not publish any brand-specific data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. Given its reliance on synthetic fibers and high-volume production, its environmental manufacturing impact remains significant and largely unaddressed.
Oysho has no meaningful circularity initiatives in place. The brand does not offer any take-back, recycling, or repair programs to manage its products at the end of their life. Unsold inventory disposal methods are not disclosed, but like most fast fashion brands, it likely contributes to landfill waste.
Inditex has pledged to use 100% more sustainable fabrics by 2025, but Oysho shows very little public progress toward this goal. The lack of brand-level reporting makes it difficult to assess if these corporate targets are translating into tangible changes or are simply a form of greenwashing.
Oysho's connection to the Inditex fast fashion machine means that its core business model prioritizes speed and profit over people and the planet. While corporate-level commitments exist on paper, their real-world application at the brand level appears minimal and lacks the transparency needed for accountability.
Oysho rates very poorly on ethics. While Inditex has a supplier code of conduct and performs audits, the lack of transparency combined with documented evidence of below-living-wage pay in its supply chain is a major red flag. Without a commitment to paying living wages and providing radical transparency, its ethical claims remain superficial.
With its heavy use of virgin synthetic materials, no circularity programs, and an absence of transparent reporting on its environmental impact, Oysho's sustainability performance is deeply inadequate. Its business model promotes the disposable nature of clothing, directly contradicting the principles of sustainability.
If you're seeking activewear and loungewear from brands with a genuine commitment to ethical production and environmental stewardship, consider these alternatives:
A B Corp and leader in sustainability, Patagonia offers durable activewear made with over 87% recycled materials. It is a member of 1% for the Planet, guarantees Fair Trade Certified sewing, and offers a lifetime repair program to combat waste.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Pact creates comfortable basics and activewear primarily from GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. Its price point is accessible, often comparable to Oysho, making it a great direct swap for everyday ethical essentials.
Shop now at wearpact.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is a B Corp that has been making clothes with Fair Trade and organic principles for decades. It offers conscious clothing and basics with a focus on handcrafted skills and empowers artisans in developing nations.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Known for its radical transparency, Everlane reveals the costs behind each product and provides detailed information on its factories. The brand is focused on using more sustainable materials like recycled fabrics and runs on a model of timeless basics over fleeting trends.
Shop now at everlane.com
Reformation offers trendy, feminine styles with sustainability at its core. The B Corp is Climate Neutral Certified, uses deadstock and eco-friendly fabrics like Tencel, and provides detailed "RefScale" impact reports for every product, tracking water and carbon dioxide savings.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Yes, Oysho and Zara are both owned by the same Spanish fast fashion conglomerate, Inditex. This means they share the same overarching business strategy, supply chain infrastructure, and corporate policies regarding labor and sustainability, though they target different market segments.
The "Join Life" label is used by Inditex brands to flag products made with more "sustainable" materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester. While these materials are better than their conventional counterparts, the collections often represent a small fraction of a brand's total output and don't address the core issues of overproduction and low wages, leading many critics to label it as greenwashing.
Oysho competes with Lululemon on style but not on quality, price, or ethics. Oysho is a fast fashion brand focused on trend replication at low prices, with poor ethical and sustainability ratings. Lululemon operates at a much higher price point with a focus on high-performance materials, but it also faces significant criticism for a lack of supply chain transparency and reports of poor labor conditions.
