Yes, Parade is a fast fashion brand. Its business model relies on frequent collection drops, rapid trend replication, and low price points to drive high-volume sales. While the brand is known for its inclusive marketing, its core practices - from its production speed to its opaque supply chain - align squarely with the fast fashion industry.
Parade's ethical commitments are weak due to a lack of transparency about its factories and worker wages. From a sustainability standpoint, the brand relies heavily on fossil fuel-based synthetic materials and has made no significant public commitments to reduce its environmental impact. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Parade's practices:
Parade’s operations are built for speed and volume, reflecting the classic fast fashion model of turning social media trends into affordable products as quickly as possible.
Parade's commitment to ethical practices is questionable due to a significant lack of transparency regarding its supply chain and labor conditions.
Parade states it works with "trusted factories" but provides no public list of its suppliers, audit reports, or specific details on worker conditions. Manufacturing in countries like Bangladesh, where the average garment worker earns around $180/month compared to an estimated living wage of $350/month, raises serious concerns about wage exploitation. Without evidence to the contrary, it is likely that workers are paid at or near the local minimum wage, which is often insufficient to live on.
Transparency is minimal. The brand does not disclose information about its manufacturing partners, making it impossible for consumers to verify claims about ethical production. Parade does not appear to hold certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000, which provide third-party assurance of fair labor standards.
Parade Lingerie primarily uses synthetic materials like nylon and polyester, largely avoiding animal-derived products. Therefore, the brand is not directly involved in animal cruelty practices such as fur or leather farming. However, the production of these synthetic materials contributes to environmental harm and microplastic pollution, which impacts ecosystems.
Parade's environmental practices are poor, characterized by a heavy reliance on virgin synthetic materials, a lack of circularity, and no public sustainability goals.
The brand's products are predominantly made from synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester, and elastane. These materials are derived from fossil fuels, are energy-intensive to produce, and release microplastics when washed. While Parade has claimed to use "recycled fabrics" in some collections, it does not provide percentages or certifications like the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) to verify these claims.
Parade has published no data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management policies. The brand lacks key environmental certifications such as B Corp, Bluesign, or OEKO-TEX, which would provide assurance about responsible manufacturing processes. Their entire high-volume, quick-turnover model is inherently unsustainable and promotes a culture of disposability.
Parade has no apparent end-of-life solutions for its products, such as take-back or recycling programs. The garments themselves are not designed for longevity, using low-cost fabrics that are likely to wear out quickly, contributing to textile waste. The business model directly fuels overconsumption and the throwaway culture associated with fast fashion.
The company has not published any meaningful sustainability goals, reduction targets for emissions or waste, or a timeline for transitioning to more sustainable materials. This absence of public commitments suggests that environmental performance is not a core priority for the brand.
Despite its modern marketing and focus on inclusivity, Parade operates as a typical fast fashion brand with severe ethical and environmental shortcomings. Its model prioritizes rapid growth and low prices over worker welfare and planetary health.
Parade receives a D for its complete lack of supply chain transparency. Without disclosing factory locations, audit results, or wage data, its claims to work with "trusted" partners are meaningless. The high likelihood of low wages and the absence of any fair labor certifications place the brand well below acceptable ethical standards.
Parade's sustainability grade is a D due to its heavy use of virgin synthetic materials, lack of certifications, and a business model that drives overconsumption. The company has made no concrete public commitments to reduce its environmental footprint, operate circularly, or provide transparency on its impact, qualifying any minor eco-friendly claims as greenwashing.
If Parade's poor ethical and environmental practices don't sit right with you, here are several brands offering similar aesthetics with genuine commitments to people and the planet.
A certified B Corp, Organic Basics creates minimalist underwear and essentials from GOTS-certified organic cotton, TENCEL™, and recycled materials. They offer full transparency on their factory partners, ensure living wages, and are committed to low-impact operations.
Shop now at organicbasics.com
PACT offers affordable basics made almost exclusively from Fair Trade Certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. This ensures both environmental responsibility and that workers are paid fair wages and treated with respect.
Shop now at wearpact.com
Famous for activewear and basics made from recycled materials like post-consumer water bottles (rPET), Girlfriend Collective is highly transparent about its manufacturing process. Its primary factory in Vietnam is SA8000 certified, guaranteeing fair wages and a safe working environment.
Shop now at girlfriend.com
Kotn is a B Corp that works directly with cotton farming families in Egypt to produce high-quality basics. Their approach ensures fair prices, living wages, and community empowerment by helping to fund the construction of schools in the Nile Delta.
Shop now at kotn.com
Thought uses a wide range of natural and sustainable fabrics, including organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo. The brand is committed to a transparent supply chain and adheres to strict ethical codes of conduct for all its suppliers.
Shop now at thoughtclothing.com
Parade claims to use some "recycled fabrics," but it does not specify what percentage of its products contain these materials, nor does it provide third-party certifications like the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) to verify the claims. The vast majority of its collection appears to be made from virgin, fossil fuel-based synthetics.
Parade gained popularity through its viral marketing campaigns focused on body positivity, size inclusivity, and featuring diverse models. Combined with its trendy designs and extremely low prices, the brand successfully captured a young audience on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where its ethical and environmental shortcomings are often overlooked.
No, Parade is not transparent about its factories. The brand does not publish a list of its manufacturing partners, detailed factory information, or third-party audit results. This lack of disclosure makes it impossible for consumers or watchdog organizations to verify the actual labor conditions and wages of its garment workers.
