No, Skims is not considered a traditional fast fashion brand, but it occupies a gray area. Due to its higher price point and focus on quality and original designs, it avoids the rock-bottom pricing and rapid trend copying that define brands like Zara or Shein. However, its frequent collection drops and significant lack of transparency about its environmental impact and labor practices align with some fast fashion characteristics.
Skims commits to ethical manufacturing on paper but fails to provide meaningful public evidence to back up its claims. Environmentally, its heavy reliance on fossil fuel-based synthetic fabrics and absence of clear sustainability goals are deeply concerning. Here's what you need to know about Skims's practices.
Skims's business model is a hybrid, blending the high-volume, trend-responsive elements of fast fashion with a more premium price point and branding. Here are the key characteristics of its production model:
Skims markets itself as an inclusive brand with a commitment to ethical standards, but a lack of transparency makes these claims difficult to verify. There are no publicly reported scandals, but significant information gaps remain.
Skims states that its manufacturing partners are audited regularly to ensure compliance with labor standards. However, with production hubs in China and Vietnam - countries with track records of poor labor conditions - the absence of public audit reports or supplier lists is a major ethical concern. Worker wages, safety conditions, and benefits remain unknown.
Transparency is Skims's biggest ethical failing. The brand does not disclose the names or locations of its factories, nor does it share the results of its supposed audits. This opacity prevents independent verification of its claims regarding fair wages and safe working conditions and contrasts sharply with brands that prioritize genuine ethical responsibility.
On a positive note, Skims's product line is almost entirely free of animal-derived materials. By using synthetic fabrics like nylon and spandex along with plant-based materials like cotton, the brand avoids the animal welfare issues associated with leather, fur, and exotic skins.
Skims's sustainability efforts are minimal at best. The company's heavy reliance on virgin synthetic materials and lack of stated environmental goals place it far behind competitors who are taking climate change seriously.
The majority of Skims's products are made from nylon, spandex, and polyester - all plastic-based fabrics derived from fossil fuels. These materials shed microplastics when washed and are not biodegradable. While some collections use small amounts of organic cotton, the brand provides no data on what percentage of its total material use is sustainable.
Skims does not report on its environmental footprint. There is no publicly available data regarding its carbon emissions, water consumption, chemical use, or waste management practices. This lack of disclosure suggests that sustainability is not a core priority for the brand.
The brand does not offer any take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their lifecycle. Products are primarily packaged in plastic, with no major initiatives announced to transition to recycled or compostable materials. Its business model's focus on new collections also contributes to a culture of disposability.
Skims has not published any meaningful sustainability goals, such as targets for reducing emissions, increasing the use of sustainable materials, or achieving carbon neutrality. The brand holds no environmental certifications like B Corp, Climate Neutral, or Bluesign to verify its practices.
While Skims has disrupted the shapewear market with its inclusive marketing, its foundational ethical and environmental practices lag far behind. The brand's anemic efforts in transparency and sustainability undermine its "solution-oriented" branding.
Skims earns a C+ for its commitment to inclusive marketing and its publicly stated ethical sourcing policies. However, the grade is held back by a severe lack of transparency. Without a public supplier list, third-party certifications, or verified wage data, its ethical claims are more marketing than proof of an accountable and fair supply chain.
With a D+, Skims's sustainability performance is poor. Its overwhelming reliance on virgin, fossil fuel-based synthetics, coupled with a total absence of public environmental goals, certifications, or circularity programs, indicates that sustainability is not a priority. The brand shows little to no meaningful effort to address its environmental impact.
If Skims's lack of transparency and anemic sustainability efforts don't align with your values, here are better alternatives offering similar styles with strong commitments to people and the planet.
This certified B Corp offers high-quality essentials made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, recycled materials, and TENCEL™. Organic Basics provides full supply chain transparency and ensures workers are paid a living wage in its certified factories.
Shop now at organicbasics.com
Known for its affordable organic cotton basics, PACT offers loungewear and underwear made in Fair Trade Certified factories. The brand uses GOTS-certified organic cotton, which uses 91% less water than conventional cotton, and ships in plastic-free packaging.
Shop now at wearpact.com
Everlane focuses on radical transparency, sharing detailed information about its factory partners and production costs. The brand is increasing its use of sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled fabrics, with classic essentials that rival Skims's aesthetic.
Shop now at everlane.com
For trendier options, Reformation is a certified B Corp and Climate Neutral company that uses sustainable materials like TENCEL™, recycled fabrics, and organic cotton. They publish quarterly sustainability reports to track their progress on reducing waste, water, and emissions.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Specializing in activewear and loungewear, Patagonia is a leader in environmental and ethical responsibility. It's a B Corp, uses a high percentage of recycled materials across its product line, ensures fair labor practices in its factories, and offers a lifetime repair program.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Yes, Kim Kardashian is the founder and a majority stakeholder in Skims. She plays a central role in the brand's creative direction and marketing, which has been a huge driver of its commercial success.
Skims is positioned as a premium or aspirational brand rather than a true luxury brand. Its prices are higher than fast fashion and mass-market retailers but generally fall below the threshold of high-fashion luxury houses like Gucci or Prada.
Skims manufactures its products in several countries, including the United States, China, and Vietnam. The brand does not disclose the specific factories it partners with, which makes independent verification of its labor standards impossible.
