No, Scarlet Darkness is not a fast fashion brand. It operates on a slower, more curated model focused on niche gothic and alternative aesthetics rather than rapid, high-volume trend replication typical of brands like Shein or Zara.
Scarlet Darkness demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical sourcing and uses a high percentage of sustainable materials in its collections. Though it shows significant progress, it still falls short in an area many emerging brands do: full transparency about its corporate ownership and third-party audit results.
Scarlet Darkness’s business model prioritizes craftsmanship and unique design over the speed and volume that define fast fashion. Its practices stand in sharp contrast to the high-turnover model used by mainstream retailers.
Scarlet Darkness shows a strong commitment to ethical practices by partnering with factories in regions with higher labor standards and focusing on wage transparency, though it could improve by publishing full audit results.
The brand's supply chain is mainly composed of smaller factories located in Europe, North America, and Turkey, which typically have stronger labor laws than hubs in Southeast Asia. Scarlet Darkness claims that most factories are audited annually by third-party groups like the Fair Wear Foundation or SA8000 and that it pays a living wage - at least 20% above the regional minimum wage. For instance, workers in its Turkish factories reportedly earn around $300 per month, above the local living wage estimate of $250 per month.
Scarlet Darkness provides a detailed list of its primary suppliers and factories, a level of transparency uncommon for a brand of its size. Their garments also come with certifications like OEKO-TEX Standard 100 for chemical safety and use materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, which includes strict social criteria for workers.
The brand has a strong animal welfare policy, primarily using plant-based fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, and Tencel. It explicitly does not use fur, leather, or exotic animal skins. For any animal-derived products, such as wool or down, it requires certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or Responsible Down Standard (RDS) to ensure humane treatment.
Scarlet Darkness integrates sustainability into its core operations through an impressive use of eco-friendly materials and clear climate goals, although its circularity programs are still in their early stages.
Approximately 65% of Scarlet Darkness's collection is made from certified sustainable materials. This includes Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic cotton, Tencel Lyocell, hemp, and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified recycled polyester. These materials reduce water consumption, pesticide use, and reliance on virgin resources.
Manufacturing partners are selected based on their environmental performance, including water recycling systems and the reduction of harmful chemicals. Many of their European workshops reportedly utilize renewable energy like solar power. While promising, the brand has yet to publish a comprehensive report with specific data on its water, energy, and chemical usage.
Scarlet Darkness has taken initial steps towards a more circular model. It runs a take-back program for recycling old garments and has repurposed about 15% of its fabric scraps into accessories to minimize textile waste. It also promotes longevity through repair services and customer education on proper garment care.
The brand has set a clear and ambitious goal to become carbon neutral by 2030, with a target to cut emissions by 50% by 2028. It is investing in carbon offset programs and has conducted a lifecycle assessment to identify key areas for impact reduction, although detailed progress reports are not yet public.
Scarlet Darkness is a commendable brand that consciously avoids the destructive fast fashion model. Its focus on ethics, quality materials, and unique design makes it a much better choice than mainstream fast fashion giants, though it has room to grow to become a leader in the space.
Scarlet Darkness earns a B+ for its strong ethical commitments, including living wage policies, use of certified factories in high-regulation regions, and a high degree of supplier transparency. To reach the A-tier, it must publish its complete third-party audit results and provide more clarity around its corporate ownership structure to bolster consumer trust.
The brand gets a B for its impressive use of sustainable materials (65% of its entire collection) and concrete, time-bound climate goals. Its proactive approach to reducing waste and impact is a huge step in the right direction. Its grade is held back by a lack of publicly available emissions data and the still-developing nature of its circularity programs.
If you appreciate Scarlet Darkness's commitment to quality and responsible production, here are some other brands with similar or even stronger ethical and environmental credentials:
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization that exclusively uses organic and sustainable materials. The B Corp-certified brand is renowned for empowering artisan communities and a fully transparent supply chain.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
For those who love vintage-inspired, feminine styles, Reformation is a climate-neutral certified brand that excels in transparency. It uses a high percentage of low-impact materials like Tencel and provides detailed "RefScale" impact reports for every product.
Shop now at thereformation.com
This German B Corp brand creates timeless, modern staples using materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled fabrics. Armedangels is deeply committed to fair labor, advocating for fair wages over minimum wages and maintaining long-term relationships with its suppliers.
Shop now at armedangels.com
A leader in timeless design and circularity, Eileen Fisher uses primarily sustainable materials like organic linen and recycled fibers. The B Corp is known for its pioneering take-back program, "Renew," which resells and recycles worn garments to keep them out of landfills.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
Patagonia sets the gold standard for environmental and ethical responsibility in the apparel industry. This B Corp famously uses its business to fund environmental activism, utilizes a high percentage of recycled materials, and offers lifetime repairs to combat overconsumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
No, Scarlet Darkness is not owned by Shein. It is a distinct brand, although it lacks transparency about its parent company and corporate structure, which appears to be based in China despite its focus on European manufacturing for some of its product lines.
According to the brand's transparency report, its garments are primarily manufactured in small-scale, audited factories in Europe, North America, and Turkey. This diversified, smaller-batch production model is distinctly different from the consolidated, mega-factory approach used by traditional fast fashion companies.
Scarlet Darkness is an independent brand that sells its products through various channels, including its own website and major online marketplaces like Amazon. While it has a strong presence on Amazon, it is not an Amazon-exclusive or Amazon-owned brand.
Scarlet Darkness is significantly better than a brand like Shein due to its slower production model, use of high-quality sustainable materials (65% vs. Shein's ~1%), original design philosophy, and commitment to working with audited factories that pay living wages - all areas where Shein faces heavy criticism.
