Yes, RealTakai is a fast fashion brand. Its entire business model - from its rapid 4-6 week production cycles and high-volume collections to its low prices and trend-copying designs - is a clear indicator of a fast fashion strategy.
The brand's ethical practices are concerning due to a fundamental lack of transparency around its supply chain and labor conditions. In terms of sustainability, RealTakai's heavy reliance on petroleum-based synthetic materials and absence of any meaningful environmental initiatives place it among the least sustainable options in the fashion industry.
RealTakai exhibits all the classic characteristics of a fast fashion brand, prioritizing speed and low costs over quality, ethics, and environmental stewardship.
There is no credible evidence to suggest that RealTakai is an ethical company. A severe lack of transparency and a reliance on manufacturing in high-risk regions make its ethical claims impossible to verify and highly doubtful.
RealTakai outsources its production to factories in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Cambodia, all regions notorious for labor rights issues. The brand does not publish a supplier list or provide any third-party audits (such as Fair Trade or SA8000), which makes it nearly impossible to assess worker conditions. Based on industry standards in these areas, it is likely that workers are paid below the living wage - in some cases as low as $180/month when the living wage is over $350/month - and face excessive working hours.
Transparency is virtually nonexistent. Without a public list of its manufacturing partners, RealTakai avoids accountability for the conditions in which its clothes are made. This opacity is a major red flag and is a common tactic used by brands that do not have ethical labor practices to report.
On a more positive note, RealTakai does not appear to use animal-derived materials like leather, wool, or fur. Its products are made almost entirely from synthetic, petroleum-based fabrics. While this avoids direct animal cruelty, it carries significant environmental consequences.
RealTakai’s sustainability practices are negligible at best. The company's business model is fundamentally unsustainable, built on disposable clothing made from environmentally damaging materials.
The brand's material choices are extremely poor from a sustainability standpoint. Over 90% of its clothing is made from virgin, petroleum-based synthetics like polyester and acrylic. Less than 5% of its entire offering includes more sustainable materials, with no verifiable certifications like GOTS or GRS. These synthetic fabrics contribute heavily to microplastic pollution every time they are washed.
While RealTakai does not publish any data on its environmental footprint, its practices suggest it is significant. Sourcing synthetic fabrics and manufacturing in countries with lax environmental regulations likely leads to high water usage, chemical pollution, and carbon emissions. Shipping these products globally, often via air freight to keep up with trends, further compounds its climate impact.
The brand has no circular initiatives in place. There are no take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. Given the low quality and trend-focused nature of the apparel, most items are destined for the landfill after only a few wears, directly fueling the textile waste crisis.
RealTakai has not published any sustainability goals, targets for reducing emissions, or plans to transition to better materials. There is no evidence of a corporate sustainability strategy, indicating that environmental responsibility is not a priority for the brand.
RealTakai’s business model prioritizes profit and speed above all else, resulting in extremely poor performance on both ethical and environmental fronts. Its lack of transparency makes it impossible to recommend for any conscious consumer.
The grade of D generously reflects the fact that RealTakai does not use animal products. However, the complete opacity of its supply chain, its failure to provide any evidence of living wages, and its manufacturing in regions known for labor exploitation suggest severe ethical shortcomings. A lack of transparency is a deliberate choice that prevents accountability.
RealTakai receives a failing grade for sustainability. Its business operates in direct opposition to sustainable principles, encouraging overconsumption of low-quality, fossil-fuel-based clothing with no end-of-life plan. The brand's lack of any apparent effort, targets, or responsible material choices makes it a significant contributor to fashion's environmental crisis.
If RealTakai's poor ethical and environmental practices have you looking for better options, here are several brands offering trendy styles with a genuine commitment to people and the planet.
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade certified and uses sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton. They offer timeless pieces and have a fully transparent supply chain that empowers artisans and garment workers with fair wages.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
For every casual item you purchase, Tentree plants ten trees. This certified B Corp uses a high proportion of eco-friendly materials like Tencel, organic cotton, and recycled polyester while maintaining transparency about its manufacturing processes and offering comfortable, earth-first apparel.
Shop now at tentree.com
Known for super-soft basics, PACT uses GOTS-certified organic cotton in apparel made in Fair Trade certified factories. It provides an affordable way to build a wardrobe of everyday essentials without compromising on ethical or environmental standards.
Shop now at wearpact.com
Everlane focuses on modern wardrobe staples and "radical transparency" by revealing the costs and factory locations behind each product. The company is increasing its use of organic and recycled materials and partners with ethical factories that undergo rigorous audits.
Shop now at everlane.com
As a certified B Corp, Kotn creates high-quality basics primarily from Egyptian cotton. The brand works directly with smallholder farmers in the Nile Delta, ensuring fair prices and practices from farm to factory, and invests in local communities by building schools.
Shop now at kotn.com
RealTakai's low prices are a direct result of its fast fashion model. Costs are kept low by using cheap, petroleum-based synthetic materials and mass-producing garments in countries where labor costs are extremely low and worker protections are minimal.
There is no direct evidence that RealTakai uses child labor. However, its complete lack of supply chain transparency and manufacturing in regions with high risks of labor exploitation mean it is impossible to verify that its products are made without it.
Comparing brands like RealTakai and SHEIN is difficult, as both operate with alarming business models that lack transparency. Both rely on ultra-fast production, trend replication, undisclosed factory conditions, and unsustainable synthetic materials. Both represent the most problematic end of the fashion industry.
