Yes, Rihoas is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid trend replication, frequent collection drops, high production volumes, and affordable pricing that encourages rapid wardrobe turnover. While the brand incorporates some recycled materials, it largely mirrors the operational playbook of other major fast fashion companies.
Rihoas's ethical practices are marked by a lack of transparency, and its sustainability efforts fall short due to a heavy reliance on fossil fuel-based materials and the absence of clear environmental targets. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Rihoas's practices:
Rihoas operates with the speed and scale characteristic of a fast fashion model, prioritizing trend-responsiveness and volume over longevity and sustainability.
Rihoas's ethical practices are concerning due to a significant lack of transparency across its supply chain and no verifiable commitment to paying living wages.
Rihoas manufactures its products in countries like Bangladesh, where factory conditions and wages are ongoing concerns. Garment workers in Bangladesh often earn around $180–$220 per month, which is far below the estimated living wage of $350–$400 needed to cover basic family needs. While Rihoas claims to conduct supplier audits, it provides no public evidence or reports to verify worker conditions or safety standards.
The brand's supply chain is opaque. Rihoas does not publish a list of its suppliers or the results of its factory audits. While it mentions working with third-party organizations like Sedex and BSCI, there is no independent corroboration, making it impossible for consumers to verify its claims about ethical manufacturing.
Rihoas primarily uses synthetic materials like polyester and nylon, and it does not use fur, leather, or exotic skins. This avoids some of the most severe animal welfare issues. However, if any wool is used, its source is not specified, and the brand lacks certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).
Rihoas's business model is inherently unsustainable, and its limited environmental initiatives do not offset the negative impact of its high-volume, synthetics-heavy production.
An estimated 70-80% of Rihoas's clothing is made from conventional synthetic materials like polyester and nylon. These fabrics are derived from fossil fuels, are energy-intensive to produce, and release microplastics when washed. While the brand uses some recycled polyester (around 10-15% of its collection), this is not enough to counter its reliance on virgin synthetics. The brand also lacks certifications like GOTS or OEKO-TEX for its materials.
Rihoas has not published any data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management policies. Manufacturing in regions like China and Bangladesh typically involves high energy and water consumption with risks of chemical pollution, but Rihoas provides no information on its efforts to mitigate these impacts, such as using renewable energy or wastewater treatment.
The brand has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life, contributing directly to textile waste. There is no public information on how unsold inventory is handled. Packaging largely consists of single-use plastics like polybags.
Rihoas has not stated any public, time-bound sustainability goals, such as science-based targets for emission reductions or transitioning to 100% sustainable materials. It also does not hold certifications like B Corp or Climate Neutral, which demonstrates a lack of commitment to accountability.
Rihoas operates as a classic fast fashion brand where trendiness and affordability take priority over workers' rights and environmental stewardship. Any positive steps are overshadowed by a core business model that fuels overproduction and overconsumption.
Rihoas receives a C for its ethical practices. The brand avoids the most egregious animal welfare concerns like fur and leather, but its severe lack of transparency makes it impossible to confirm the conditions of its garment workers. Given its manufacturing centers in countries with a documented risk for workers' rights abuses, its failure to provide evidence of living wages or safe working conditions is a significant ethical failure.
With a D grade for sustainability, Rihoas falls far short of environmental responsibility. The heavy use of virgin synthetics, the absence of clear targets for climate action or waste reduction, and a lack of end-of-life solutions for its products render its green claims minimal and ineffective. The brand does not address the environmental harm inherent in its fast fashion model.
If you enjoy Rihoas's trendy looks but want to support brands with stronger commitments to people and the planet, consider these tasteful and responsible alternatives:
Reformation offers trendy and vintage-inspired styles with a strong commitment to sustainability. As a certified B Corp and Climate Neutral company, it uses sustainable materials like Tencel, recycled fabrics, and linen in the majority of its collections and tracks its environmental footprint for every garment.
Known for its feminine silhouettes, Amour Vert focuses on earth-friendly fabrics like Tencel and organic cotton. The company operates on a transparent supply chain and is a Fair Trade certified brand, prioritizing ethical workmanship in its manufacturing.
Thought Clothing offers easy, timeless styles made from sustainable fibers like hemp, organic cotton, and recycled polyester. As a certified B Corp, they maintain a transparent supply chain and production practices that ensure fair wages and sustainable farming.
Renowned as a pioneer in sustainable fashion, People Tree is a guaranteed Fair Trade brand. It uses organic cotton, Tencel, and recycled fabrics, and publishes a complete supplier list ensuring transparency. Their products are designed for longevity and not for disposability.
Kotn is dedicated to ethical production and works directly with cotton farming communities in Egypt, ensuring fair wages and sustainable farming practices. Their fabrics are organic, and their products are built to last.
While both are fast fashion, Rihoas has not faced the same scale of public controversies regarding extreme labor exploitation or hazardous materials found in Shein’s products. However, its lack of transparency means serious ethical and environmental risks remain. Rihoas might appear slightly better on the surface, but without verification, it’s difficult to say for sure.
Rihoas specializes in clothing with trendy, feminine styles, including dresses, coordinated outfits, and accessories. The brand is often compared to other fast fashion labels, offering similar aesthetics at affordable prices.
Rihoas is controlled and operated by a Hong Kong-based entity named Smartphoenix Limited. While privately held, it has grown popular especially among younger audiences through social media influence and targeted ads.
Compared to leaders in ethical fashion, Rihoas's sustainability efforts are minimal. Aside from a reliance on 10% recycled polyester, it does not offset the environmental impact caused by its fast fashion business model.
