Yes, Showpo is a fast fashion brand through and through. The Australian-based online retailer's business model relies on the rapid production of trend-driven clothing, frequent new arrivals, and affordable prices that encourage high-volume consumption. Ethically, the brand suffers from a severe lack of transparency, offering no evidence of fair wages or safe working conditions in its supply chain.
From a sustainability perspective, Showpo's practices are minimal, with a heavy reliance on virgin fossil fuel-based fabrics and no clear environmental commitments. While it avoids major public scandals, its core operations align squarely with the unsustainable and ethically questionable fast fashion industry. Here's what you need to know about Showpo's practices.
Showpo’s business model is built on the core tenets of speed, volume, and trend replication, which are the defining characteristics of fast fashion.
Showpo provides very little evidence to support its claims of being an ethical company. Its lack of transparency into its supply chain makes it difficult to verify working conditions, wages, or worker safety.
Showpo outsources manufacturing to countries with low labor costs, including China, India, and Bangladesh. The brand does not publish third-party audits or certifications, and there's no evidence it ensures workers are paid a living wage. In many of the regions where its clothes are likely made, garment workers earn as little as $150-$200 per month, which is far below the estimated living wage of $350 per month.
Transparency is extremely poor. Showpo does not publish a list of its suppliers or factories, which prevents independent organizations from verifying its ethical claims. Vague statements on its website about working with "ethical suppliers" are not backed by any concrete data, certifications, or audit reports.
Showpo primarily uses synthetic materials like polyester and faux leather, so animal welfare is less of a central concern compared to brands using wool or leather. However, it does not hold any animal welfare certifications, such as PETA-Approved Vegan, to formalize its position.
Showpo’s sustainability efforts are minimal and appear to be more focused on marketing than meaningful impact. The brand's foundational business model of producing high volumes of low-quality, trend-based clothing is inherently unsustainable.
Showpo’s collections are overwhelmingly made from conventional synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which are derived from fossil fuels, do not biodegrade, and shed microplastics. While some recycled materials are occasionally mentioned, they make up an estimated 10% or less of the total product range. The brand has no certifications like GOTS or OEKO-TEX for its materials.
The brand does not publish any data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. Without this information, its environmental impact cannot be measured or managed. Production in countries with lax environmental regulations partnered with global shipping contributes significantly to its carbon emissions.
Showpo has no take-back, recycling, or repair programs to manage its products at the end of their life. Its business model directly contributes to the textile waste crisis by encouraging consumers to treat clothing as disposable. There's no mention of using deadstock fabrics or other waste-reduction strategies in its production.
The company has not published any meaningful, time-bound sustainability targets, such as goals to reduce emissions or increase the use of sustainable materials. General claims like "we care about the planet" are not supported by any concrete action, strategy, or progress report. It is not a certified B Corp or Climate Neutral.
Showpo is a quintessential fast fashion company that prioritizes rapid growth and trendiness over people and the planet. Its actions and level of disclosure fall significantly behind modern standards for ethical and sustainable brands.
Showpo scores a C due to its profound lack of transparency. While there are no major, publicly documented scandals involving worker abuse, the complete absence of supplier information, third-party audits, or proof of living wages is a serious red flag. The grade avoids a lower score simply because of a lack of direct negative evidence, but the opacity suggests significant ethical risks.
The brand earns a D for sustainability because its business model is fundamentally at odds with environmental responsibility. A heavy reliance on virgin synthetics, no public environmental targets, no data reporting, and no circularity programs demonstrate a negligible commitment to minimizing its impact. Vague marketing claims on its website amount to little more than greenwashing.
If you're seeking trendy styles but want to support brands with stronger commitments to the planet and people, here are some far better alternatives:
Reformation offers chic, on-trend pieces with a strong sustainability backbone, using fabrics like Tencel and recycled materials. The brand is Climate Neutral Certified and provides detailed 'RefScale' reports showing the environmental footprint of each garment.
Shop now at thereformation.com
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree guarantees Fair Trade production for its entire supply chain. It specializes in timeless pieces made from organic cotton and sustainable materials, proving that great style doesn't have to come at a human cost.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
As a certified B Corp, Kotn produces high-quality wardrobe basics from organic Egyptian cotton. The brand works directly with farmers, ensuring fair wages and practices while investing in the local communities where its cotton is grown.
Shop now at kotn.com
A B Corp and leader in activism, Patagonia uses 87% recycled materials and guarantees Fair Trade Certified sewing for a large portion of its products. It also offers a lifetime warranty and repair program to fight against fashion's throwaway culture.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Focused on timeless design and circularity, Eileen Fisher uses materials like organic cotton and recycled fibers. The brand has a take-back program called Renew, where it resells or remanufactures old garments to keep them out of landfills.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
Showpo claims it works with ethical suppliers but provides no public policies, factory lists, or independent audits to verify this. There is no evidence of a commitment to living wages, so any internal policies it may have cannot be considered robust or transparent.
While the brand does not disclose specific factory locations, its production is outsourced to countries known for low-cost garment manufacturing, primarily China, India, and Bangladesh. This lack of transparency is a key ethical concern.
Currently, there is no public evidence that Showpo is making a serious effort to become more sustainable. The company has not published any reduction targets, comprehensive material strategies, or reports on its environmental impact, and its core business model remains unchanged.
