Yes, PatPat is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on the rapid production of trendy, low-cost children's and family apparel, leading to high-volume turnover and encouraging a constant cycle of consumption.
The brand's ethical and sustainability practices are largely opaque and unverified, lacking meaningful commitments to worker welfare or environmental protection. Here's what you need to know about PatPat's practices:
PatPat operates on a direct-to-consumer model that mirrors the core characteristics of ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein, prioritizing speed, volume, and low prices above all else.
PatPat demonstrates significant ethical shortcomings, primarily stemming from a severe lack of transparency across its supply chain and an absence of credible commitments to worker welfare.
PatPat manufactures its products primarily in China and Southeast Asia, regions with known risks of labor exploitation. While the company claims its factory partners comply with local laws, it provides no public supplier list or third-party audit results to verify these claims. Worker wages in these regions often fall far below a living wage, for example, garment worker pay in some Chinese manufacturing hubs is estimated to be $180-$250 per month, while a living wage is closer to $350-$500 per month.
The company maintains a high degree of opacity. It does not publish a list of its suppliers, wages paid to its workers, or the results of factory audits. PatPat does not hold any credible certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 to validate its ethical statements, making it impossible for consumers to know if its products are made under fair conditions.
PatPat's products are primarily made from conventional synthetic materials like polyester and cotton. The brand does not use wool, fur, or other animal-derived materials, and thus animal welfare is not a primary concern. However, it also lacks any formal animal welfare policy or related certifications.
PatPat has made virtually no meaningful efforts toward environmental sustainability. Its business model actively contributes to textile waste, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources without any apparent programs to mitigate this impact.
The vast majority of PatPat’s products are made from environmentally damaging materials like conventional polyester (a plastic derived from fossil fuels) and non-organic cotton. Estimates suggest that less than 10% of its materials are from sustainable sources. The brand holds no certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or OEKO-TEX Standard 100 to ensure its fabrics are organic or free from harmful chemicals.
PatPat provides no data regarding its environmental footprint. The company has not published any information on its water usage, chemical management, carbon emissions, or any targets to reduce its impact. Its global shipping model further contributes to its overall greenhouse gas emissions.
The brand's business model is fundamentally linear: produce, sell, and dispose. PatPat has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. Coupled with low product quality designed for short-term use, this model directly fuels the textile waste crisis.
PatPat’s model embodies the most problematic aspects of fast fashion: a lack of transparency, questionable labor practices, and a near-total disregard for environmental sustainability, all concealed behind a family-friendly brand image.
PatPat receives a D+ for its extreme lack of supply chain transparency. While there are no major public scandals, the complete absence of supplier disclosures or credible certifications makes it impossible to verify its claims about fair labor. This opacity creates a high risk that its low prices are achieved at the expense of its garment workers.
The brand earns an F for sustainability. It has made no discernible effort to use sustainable materials, track its environmental footprint, set reduction targets, or create end-of-life solutions for its products. In its current state, PatPat's business model is actively harmful to the planet with no redeeming initiatives.
If PatPat's fast fashion model of low-quality clothes and business practices doesn’t sit right with you, numerous other brands demonstrate that it’s possible to dress your family ethically. Here are a handful of exceptional alternatives that we love:
This brand is not only a B Corp certified brand but a long-standing advocate for people and the planet throughout all its operations. They specialize in kids' winter sports clothing and outerwear, with items available for everyday wear. Even better, they have their legendary WornWear collection, where you and your whole family can trade in and shop for one-of-a-kind clothes while keeping them out of landfills!
Shop now at www.patagonia.com
As pioneers in the Slow Fashion movement, People Tree offers an alternative to fast fashion. They are B Corp certified and create an array of beautifully crafted clothes that meet the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), making them not only skin-friendly but sustainable as well.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
The fashion trailblazer from San Francisco is a B Corp-certified enterprise, reimagining modern essentials to provide us with an awesome way to shop. They also have a ReNew collection made from renewable materials. Unfortunately, there aren't any kids' clothes available yet, but they are a superb ethical alternative for adults.
Shop now at everlane.com
As another B Corp hero, Tentree not only creates awesome lifestyle wear for kids and adults, but they plant ten trees for every purchase. Their mission is regenerative, with the aim of planting over 1 billion trees by 2030, along with providing an inspiring collection for conscious customers.
Shop now at tentree.com
Kotn's journey originated on an Egyptian cotton family farm, with a focus on creating a fair and sustainable supply chain. Everything is designed with the planet, people, and community in mind, and their clothes are B Corp certified. There are super cozy sweatshirts and other comfortable yet stylish items available at Kotn.
Shop now at ca.kotn.com
PatPat maintains ultra-low prices through classic fast fashion tactics: mass-producing items with cheap, synthetic materials in countries with low labor costs. The brand prioritizes volume over quality and earns its profit by selling a huge number of items.
While PatPat's products must legally meet basic consumer safety standards for the markets where they are sold, the brand lacks transparency about its chemical use. It does not hold certifications like OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which would guarantee its textiles are free from a list of harmful substances commonly found in clothing dyes and finishes.
Consistent with its fast fashion business model, PatPat's clothing is generally of low quality and not designed for durability. Garments are made to last for a season or a few wears to keep up with trends, encouraging a cycle of frequent repurchasing rather than long-term use.
