Is Sisters & Seekers Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Sisters & Seekers

Sisters & Seekers is fast fashion. Learn about their trend-driven model, ethical concerns, and sustainability efforts. Get insights for mindful shopping.
Written by: 
Ash Read
Last updated: 

Yes, Sisters & Seekers is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on frequent collection releases, replication of current trends, and accessible price points that encourage high-volume consumption.

The brand faces significant criticism for its lack of transparency regarding labor practices and relies heavily on environmentally damaging synthetic materials. Here's a detailed breakdown of its ethical and sustainability practices.

What Makes Sisters & Seekers Fast Fashion?

Sisters & Seekers meets several key criteria of a fast fashion brand through its production speed, pricing, and trend-focused design strategy.

  • Frequent New Collections: The brand releases approximately 4 to 6 new collections annually, each containing dozens of new styles. This rapid turnover is designed to keep up with quickly changing trends and encourage regular purchases.
  • Affordable, Volume-Based Pricing: With T-shirts priced around $20-25 and dresses between $40-60, its pricing is comparable to major fast fashion retailers like Zara. This model prioritizes low costs and high sales volume over quality and longevity.
  • Trend Replication: Designs are heavily inspired by current streetwear and runway looks, enabling the brand to capitalize on popular aesthetics in real-time. This focus on imitation over original, timeless design is a textbook fast fashion characteristic.
  • Opaque Supply Chain: Manufacturing occurs primarily in China and Southeast Asia, but the brand does not disclose a list of its factory partners. This lack of transparency is common among fast fashion companies that seek to keep production costs low.

Is Sisters & Seekers Ethical?

Sisters & Seekers provides insufficient evidence to be considered an ethical brand. Major gaps in transparency regarding its supply chain and labor conditions are the primary concerns.

Labor Practices

The brand manufactures in China and Southeast Asia but does not publish a supplier list or provide third-party audit reports to verify working conditions. Without certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000, there is no proof that workers are paid a living wage or enjoy safe, fair working environments. For example, average factory wages in China can be as low as $220/month, falling far short of a living wage estimated at around $350/month in some regions.

Supply Chain Transparency

Transparency is extremely limited. The brand’s website offers vague statements about its ethical commitments but fails to provide concrete evidence, such as factory lists, audit results, or certifications like B Corp, to support these claims. This lack of disclosure makes it impossible for consumers to verify the brand's ethical performance.

Animal Welfare

Sisters & Seekers primarily uses synthetic materials like polyester and nylon and does not use animal-derived products like leather, fur, or wool. This makes its clothing vegan-friendly and free from animal exploitation in its material sourcing.

Where Sisters & Seekers Falls Short Ethically

  • Lack of Transparency: The refusal to disclose factory locations or provide third-party audits prevents any independent verification of labor conditions or worker safety.
  • No Evidence of Living Wages: The brand offers no public data to prove its factory workers are paid a living wage, a critical benchmark for ethical production.
  • Absence of Ethical Certifications: Lacking recognized certifications like Fair Trade, SA8000, or B Corp makes its ethical claims unsubstantiated and highly questionable.
  • Inclusivity Claims Lack Backing: While marketing features diverse models, Sisters & Seekers provides no data on diversity and inclusion within its own corporate leadership or staff.

Is Sisters & Seekers Sustainable?

Sisters & Seekers has a very poor sustainability profile due to its material choices, lack of climate goals, and business model that fuels overproduction and waste.

Materials & Sourcing

The majority of Sisters & Seekers' clothing is made from virgin synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon. These materials are derived from fossil fuels, are energy-intensive to produce, and release microplastics into waterways with every wash. The brand shows minimal use of sustainable alternatives like organic cotton, Tencel, or recycled materials and holds no material certifications like GOTS or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

Environmental Impact

The company does not publish any data regarding its environmental footprint. There are no reported targets for reducing carbon emissions, water usage, or chemical outputs in its manufacturing process, indicating that environmental management is not a priority.

Circularity & Waste

Sisters & Seekers has no publicly stated initiatives for circularity. It does not offer repair services, take-back programs, or recycling for its garments at the end of their life. Its business model of producing trendy, low-cost clothing inherently contributes to the textile waste crisis and throwaway culture.

Sustainability Goals & Progress

No clear, time-bound sustainability goals are listed on the brand's website. Without measurable targets or progress reports, its commitment to reducing its environmental impact appears non-existent. The company also lacks key environmental certifications such as B Corp, Climate Neutral, or Bluesign.

Where Sisters & Seekers Falls Short on Sustainability

  • Heavy Reliance on Virgin Synthetics: Its primary use of new, fossil fuel-based polyester and nylon is environmentally destructive and contributes to microplastic pollution.
  • No Climate Action Plan: The brand has not disclosed its carbon footprint or set any science-based targets for emission reductions.
  • Linear "Take-Make-Waste" Model: With no repair, resale, or recycling programs, the brand operates on a linear model that ends with its products in a landfill.
  • Drives Overconsumption: The core business model of rapid trend cycles and low prices encourages a throwaway mindset, which is fundamentally unsustainable.

Our Verdict: Sisters & Seekers's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Sisters & Seekers’ cool aesthetic and trendy marketing are not backed by responsible practices. The brand's significant lack of transparency and inaction on key ethical and environmental issues places it firmly in the category of unsustainable fast fashion.

Ethical Practices: D

A "D" grade is assigned due to the complete lack of supply chain transparency. With no factory disclosures, third-party audits, or proof of living wages, the brand's ethical claims remain unsubstantiated. While using animal-free materials is positive, it does not outweigh the significant and unaddressed risks of labor exploitation in its supply chain.

Sustainability: D

Sisters & Seekers earns a "D" for its poor environmental performance. Its business is built on virgin plastic-based fabrics, fails to address its climate impact, and lacks any circularity initiatives to manage waste. This model actively contributes to pollution and resource depletion, showing minimal commitment to environmental responsibility.

Ethical & Sustainable Alternatives to Sisters & Seekers

If you're looking for brands with a similar aesthetic but with proven commitments to people and the planet, here are some better alternatives:

Reformation

Reformation offers trendy and stylish pieces while being a certified Climate Neutral company. They use sustainable materials like TENCEL™ and recycled fabrics and provide detailed annual sustainability reports outlining their factory conditions and environmental impact.

Shop now at thereformation.com

Everlane

Known for its "Radical Transparency," Everlane discloses information about its factories and production costs for each product. The brand prioritizes high-quality, timeless basics made from more sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester.

Shop now at everlane.com

People Tree

A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade certified, guaranteeing that its artisans and farmers receive fair wages and work in safe conditions. The brand uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and other natural fibers, focusing on slow, sustainable production methods.

Shop now at peopletree.co.uk

Pact

Pact specializes in affordable basics made from GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. They offer transparency about their supply chain and ensure their production processes use significantly less water than conventional cotton farming.

Shop now at wearpact.com

Patagonia

While an outdoor brand, Patagonia is a leader in activism and corporate responsibility. As a certified B Corp, they use a high percentage of recycled materials, guarantee fair labor with Fair Trade Certified sewing, and offer a lifetime guarantee with repairs to fight overconsumption.

Shop now at patagonia.com