No, SSENSE is not a fast fashion brand. It operates as a high-end online retailer that curates luxury, streetwear, and contemporary brands rather than engaging in the rapid, high-volume, and low-cost production model typical of fast fashion giants.
While SSENSE offers frequently updated collections, its business model prioritizes exclusivity and brand storytelling over mass-market trend replication. However, its ethical and sustainability practices are difficult to verify due to a significant lack of transparency. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you need to know about SSENSE’s practices before you shop.
SSENSE operates as a premium retailer and curator for over 400 brands, a model fundamentally different from vertically integrated fast fashion companies that manufacture their own clothing at speed.
SSENSE’s ethical performance is average at best due to a significant lack of transparency. As a retailer, its ethics are tied to the hundreds of brands it stocks, yet SSENSE provides very little public information about how it screens these partners for ethical conduct.
There is no public information regarding SSENSE's policies for ensuring fair labor in its partner brands' supply chains. It sells products created around the world, including in countries with known risks of labor violations like China and Bangladesh. Without disclosing its standards for partners, it is impossible to verify whether workers are provided with safe conditions or paid living wages.
SSENSE does not publish a supplier list or any details about its partner brands' manufacturing facilities. The company does not appear to hold ethical certifications like B Corp or Fair Trade, and it does not state whether it requires its partners to undergo third-party audits. This absence of disclosure is a major red flag for ethical accountability.
The platform sells a wide variety of products made with leather, fur, wool, and other animal-derived materials. SSENSE has no publicly stated animal welfare policy and does not appear to require its partner brands to adhere to certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard or to be Fur Free Retailer certified.
SSENSE’s commitment to sustainability is minimal and lacks transparency, making it difficult to assess its environmental impact. The responsibility for sustainability falls on individual brands, which vary widely, and SSENSE does little to promote or standardize eco-friendly practices.
SSENSE sells products made from a vast range of materials - from conventional cotton and polyester to leather and recycled fabrics. While it stocks brands known for being more sustainable (like Stella McCartney), it does not provide consumers with data or filters to identify products made with sustainable materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester. There is no information on the overall percentage of sustainable materials used across its product range.
The platform has published no data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. As an e-commerce retailer, its major direct impacts come from shipping and packaging, but the far greater "Scope 3" emissions lie with its partner brands' manufacturing, and none of this is reported. There are no public goals for reducing emissions or becoming carbon neutral.
SSENSE has no publicly known initiatives related to circularity, such as repair services, resale platforms, or take-back programs. Although many luxury items it sells are durable and made to last, the platform does not actively encourage practices that extend the life of garments or reduce post-consumer waste.
Ultimately, SSENSE's model as a retailer complicates its ethical and sustainability ratings. By not manufacturing directly, it avoids some direct responsibilities but shirks its duty to hold its numerous partner brands accountable. This lack of transparency and proactive governance results in poor scores.
SSENSE receives a C because its ethical accountability is almost entirely opaque. It gets a passing grade only because, as a retailer, it isn't directly responsible for factory conditions like a fast fashion brand would be. However, its failure to establish a public code of conduct for suppliers or provide any supply chain transparency means it does little to actively ensure the fair treatment of workers.
The platform earns a D+ for its passive approach to sustainability. It has no stated environmental goals, offers no reporting on its impact, and fails to implement circularity programs. While some durable, high-quality products may counteract a "disposable" mindset, SSENSE as a company demonstrates a complete lack of initiative in addressing its significant environmental footprint.
If you're looking for curated styles with a stronger commitment to ethics and the environment, consider these platforms and brands instead.
Everlane delivers timeless, minimalist staples with a commitment to "Radical Transparency," revealing the cost and factory details behind each product. The brand is Climate Neutral Certified and primarily uses more sustainable materials like recycled fabrics and organic cotton, with prices often more accessible than SSENSE's luxury tier.
Shop now at everlane.com
For sneakers with an aesthetic that fits right in with SSENSE's streetwear curation, VEJA is an industry leader. The brand crafts its shoes from organic cotton, wild Amazonian rubber, and recycled plastic bottles, all while ensuring fair wages and transparent production in its Brazilian factories.
Shop now at veja-store.com
Organic Basics creates high-quality underwear, activewear, and essentials using materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, and recycled materials. Certified B Corp, the brand prioritizes low-impact manufacturing and works only with accountable, certified factory partners.
Shop now at organicbasics.com
A true pioneer in sustainable apparel, Patagonia is a B Corp that uses 87% recycled materials and guarantees its products are made under Fair Trade Certified conditions. While known for outdoor gear, its commitment to quality, durability, and lifetime repairs offers a powerful alternative to trend-driven consumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
SSENSE’s ethical practices are difficult to rate because it is a retailer, not a manufacturer. Its accountability depends on the hundreds of brands it sells, which all have different standards. Without a public code of conduct or supply chain transparency from SSENSE itself, there's no way to verify the labor conditions behind its vast catalog of products.
Yes, SSENSE does carry several brands known for stronger sustainability and ethical commitments, such as Stella McCartney, Marine Serre, and VEJA. However, the platform does not offer filters or a dedicated section to help conscious consumers find these brands, making it difficult to shop with intention unless you already know which brands to look for.
It can be, but it's not a guarantee. Luxury items are often made with higher-quality materials and craftsmanship, encouraging longer use and less disposability. However, luxury production can still be resource-intensive and unethical. The lack of transparency from SSENSE and many of its partner brands means that a high price tag does not automatically equal a low environmental or social impact.
