Yes, Suzy Shier is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid trend replication, frequent collection drops, high-volume production, and affordable pricing that encourages high turnover.
The brand's ethical practices lack transparency, with no public information about its supply chain or worker conditions. Environmentally, Suzy Shier relies heavily on unsustainable materials and has no public sustainability goals, placing its impact on par with other fast fashion retailers. Here's what you need to know about Suzy Shier's practices:
Suzy Shier fully aligns with the fast fashion model through its speed-to-market and trend-focused strategy, although it operates at a slightly higher price point than ultra-fast brands.
Suzy Shier's ethical practices are difficult to verify due to an almost complete lack of transparency, making it impossible to confirm fair labor conditions are being met.
There are significant concerns about Suzy Shier's labor practices, primarily due to its lack of open disclosure. The brand manufactures in regions like Bangladesh, where typical factory wages are around $100-$150 per month, falling far short of the estimated living wage of $250-$350. The company has not made any public commitment to paying a living wage to workers in its supply chain.
Suzy Shier publishes no list of its suppliers, provides no third-party audit results, and shares no specific details about the factories that produce its clothing. This extreme lack of transparency makes it impossible for consumers or watchdog groups to assess the conditions under which its garments are made.
The brand primarily uses conventional, synthetic fabrics and appears to avoid leather, fur, and exotic skins. However, without a formal animal welfare policy, there is no guarantee about the ethical sourcing of other materials like wool or down that may occasionally be used in their collections.
Suzy Shier demonstrates minimal to no commitment to environmental sustainability, and its core business model actively contributes to the industry's negative impact.
An estimated 80% of Suzy Shier’s collections are made from unsustainable, conventional materials such as polyester and non-organic cotton. Polyester is a fossil fuel-based plastic that sheds microplastics when washed and is not biodegradable. The brand has no stated goals to increase its use of sustainable alternatives like organic cotton, recycled polyester, or Tencel.
The brand does not report any data on its carbon emissions, water consumption, or chemical usage. Its production processes likely involve significant water use and discharge of chemical-laden wastewater, typical of mass-market apparel manufacturing. There are no public initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint.
Suzy Shier has no programs for recycling, repair, or garment take-back, meaning its clothes are destined for the landfill at the end of their short lifespan. The brand shares no information on how it manages textile waste or unsold inventory and commonly uses single-use plastic packaging for its products.
Unlike some of its competitors that have set public targets, Suzy Shier has published no concrete sustainability goals, deadlines, or progress reports. The brand does not hold any credible environmental certifications like B Corp, Bluesign, or Climate Neutral.
Suzy Shier operates as a classic fast fashion brand with a business model that prioritizes profit and speed over people and the planet. Its alarming lack of transparency and an absence of meaningful initiatives result in poor ratings across the board.
The brand earns a D for its refusal to be transparent about its supply chain. Without any disclosure of its factories, audit results, or a commitment to living wages, there's no way to verify that workers are treated fairly or paid adequately. This opacity shows a significant disregard for ethical accountability.
Suzy Shier receives a D for its profound lack of action on environmental issues. Its business model relies on cheap, petroleum-based materials, and it has not published any targets to reduce its massive environmental footprint. The brand's operations are fundamentally incompatible with sustainability, with no effort made to mitigate harm.
If Suzy Shier's poor ethical and environmental performance concerns you, consider these alternatives that offer trendy styles with a genuine commitment to sustainability and fair labor.
Everlane offers modern, minimalist basics with radical transparency into its factory locations and production costs. The brand builds its collections with lower-impact materials like recycled fibers and organic cotton and commits to fair wages for its workers.
Shop now at everlane.com
A pioneer in fair trade fashion, People Tree is a B Corp that guarantees Fair Trade production and primarily uses organic, sustainably-sourced materials. They offer feminine and bohemian styles while empowering artisans and farmers in its supply chain.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Amour Vert creates stylish, eco-conscious essentials in small batches using non-toxic dyes and sustainable fabrics like Tencel and organic cotton. They plant a tree for every tee purchased and prioritize local, ethical manufacturing in the United States.
Shop now at amourvert.com
While known for outdoor gear, Patagonia's casual wear is built to last and backed by ironclad environmental commitments. As a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, the brand champions Fair Trade certified factories and uses an overwhelming majority of recycled materials.
Shop now at patagonia.com
For timeless, elegant clothing, Eileen Fisher is an industry leader in sustainability and circular design. The brand uses a high percentage of organic and recycled fibers, has a take-back program to create new designs from old clothes, and maintains transparent, fair labor practices.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
