Is Tees Goods Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Tees Goods

No, Tees Goods is not a fast fashion brand. Its business model focuses on quality, timeless staples, and ethical production, placing it in the slow fashion category alongside other conscious brands.

Tees Goods has built a transparent supply chain with strong labor and environmental standards that set it apart from high-volume, trend-driven companies. While there is still room for improvement, its practices are significantly more ethical and sustainable than those of a typical fast fashion giant. Here's a detailed breakdown of what you need to know about Tees Goods' practices.

What Makes Tees Goods NOT Fast Fashion?

Tees Goods operates with a slow fashion mindset, prioritizing durability and craftsmanship over the speed and volume that define fast fashion.

• Limited Production & Slower Cadence: Instead of weekly drops, Tees Goods releases around 8-12 collections per year. Their design-to-store timeline is approximately 4-6 months, allowing for thoughtful production, which contrasts sharply with the 4-8 week cycle of typical fast fashion brands.
• Mid-Range Pricing & Quality: With T-shirts priced at $25-$35 and dresses at $50-$80, the brand's pricing reflects higher-quality materials and fair labor costs. This encourages consumers to see their clothing as long-term investments rather than disposable items.
• Focus on Timeless Design: Tees Goods creates original, staple pieces designed to last for years rather than replicating fleeting micro-trends from social media. The estimated lifespan of a garment is 4-6 years, directly opposing the "wear once" culture of fast fashion.
• Ethical Manufacturing & Sourcing: The brand primarily manufactures in certified factories in Portugal and Turkey, which have stronger labor regulations than common fast fashion hubs. They work with suppliers holding certifications like SA8000 and BSCI.

Is Tees Goods Ethical?

Tees Goods shows a commendable commitment to ethical practices, with high levels of transparency and clear standards for its suppliers, though some aspirational goals are not yet fully met.

Labor Practices

The brand sources from certified factories in Portugal and Turkey, which are known for better labor standards. Factory workers in its Portuguese supply chain earn around €600-€700 per month, which is above the national minimum wage. Wages in its Turkish factories are above the minimum but fall slightly short of estimated living wage standards for the region.

Supply Chain Transparency

Tees Goods provides significant transparency by publishing a list of its supplier factories along with audit summaries and certifications like SA8000 and BSCI. They also conduct regular third-party audits and publish annual social responsibility reports, holding themselves accountable for worker conditions.

Animal Welfare

Tees Goods maintains a fully vegan and cruelty-free product line. The brand does not use any animal-derived materials, such as leather, fur, down, or wool, opting instead for organic cotton, recycled polyester, and other plant-based fabrics.

Where Tees Goods Falls Short Ethically

• Living Wage Gap: While the company has committed to paying living wages across its supply chain by 2025, wages in some regions, such as Turkey, currently fall below the estimated living wage threshold.
• Aspirational Goals: The commitment to achieve living wages by 2025 is a positive and ambitious goal, but it remains unverified and incomplete at present.
• Audit Detail: While publishing audit summaries is a step in the right direction, providing a more detailed look at corrective action plans and persistent challenges would further improve transparency.

Is Tees Goods Sustainable?

Tees Goods has a robust sustainability strategy with clear, science-based targets and a strong focus on eco-friendly materials and circularity.

Materials & Sourcing

Approximately 65% of Tees Goods' collection is made from sustainable materials. This includes 50% GOTS-certified organic cotton and 15% GRS-certified recycled polyester. The remaining 35% consists of conventional fabrics like viscose, which the brand is actively working to replace with more sustainable alternatives.

Environmental Impact

The brand uses low-impact, OEKO-TEX certified dyes and water-efficient dyeing techniques, cutting water consumption by an estimated 40%. Around 20% of its facility energy comes from renewable sources, with a goal to reach 50% by 2026. The company has also committed to a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030, in line with Science-Based Targets.

Circularity & Waste

Tees Goods promotes a circular economy with a take-back program for recycling old garments and rewards customers for participating. All packaging is made from 100% recycled paper, eliminating single-use plastics. In production, textile scraps are repurposed into new accessories, and deadstock fabric usage is under 5%.

Sustainability Goals & Progress

As a certified B Corp and a member of 1% for the Planet, Tees Goods' commitments are backed by credible, third-party verification. The brand aims for carbon neutrality by 2030 and transparently tracks its progress in annual sustainability reports.

Where Tees Goods Falls Short on Sustainability

• Recycled Polyester Issues: While recycled polyester keeps plastic out of landfills, its production still relies on fossil fuels and contributes to microplastic pollution when washed.
• Use of Conventional Fabrics: Roughly 35% of their materials are still conventional fabrics like viscose, which can be linked to deforestation and heavy chemical use if not sourced responsibly.
• Not Yet 100% Sustainable: The brand is transparent about its goals but has not yet fully transitioned to sustainable materials across its entire product line.

Our Verdict: Tees Goods's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Tees Goods is a strong example of a slow fashion brand making genuine efforts toward ethical and sustainable operations. It avoids the fast fashion model and has set measurable goals that far surpass industry norms, but still has key areas for improvement.

Ethical Practices: B+

Tees Goods earns a B+ for its high level of supply chain transparency, reliable third-party certifications (SA8000, BSCI), and commitment to worker well-being. By sourcing from regulated factories in Europe and ensuring wages are above minimums, it upholds a strong ethical standard. The grade is held back from an A due to the gap that still exists between current wages and verified living wages in parts of its supply chain.

Sustainability: B

With an audited carbon footprint, clear emissions reduction targets, B Corp certification, and 65% of materials being sustainable, Tees Goods deserves a solid B rating. Their transparent reporting and circularity initiatives are commendable. To reach an A grade, the brand needs to eliminate the remaining conventional fabrics from its line and address the environmental trade-offs of materials like recycled polyester.

More Ethical & Sustainable Brands Like Tees Goods

If you appreciate Tees Goods' commitment to classic styles and responsible production, here are some other ethical and sustainable brands with similar values worth exploring:

Pact

Pact specializes in affordable, super-soft organic cotton basics for the whole family, from underwear to hoodies ($20-$100). The brand is a leader in using GOTS-certified organic cotton and ensures its entire supply chain is Fair Trade Certified, guaranteeing fair wages and safe conditions for workers.

Shop now at wearpact.com

Tentree

Similar in price point ($30-$120), Tentree offers comfortable, 'earth-first' apparel and pledges to plant 10 trees for every item sold. As a certified B Corp, they use materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL™ while maintaining a transparent and ethical manufacturing process.

Shop now at tentree.com

KOTN

KOTN builds on the ethos of timeless design with high-quality basics made from Egyptian cotton ($30-$150). They are a certified B Corp that works directly with family-run farms in Egypt, ensuring fair prices and better livelihoods while funding the construction of local schools.

Shop now at kotn.com

Outerknown

With a focus on durable, coastal-inspired menswear and womenswear ($50-$250), Outerknown is built on total supply chain transparency. They rely on 95%+ sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled fishing nets and guarantee their denim for life, offering free repairs or replacement.

Shop now at outerknown.com

Known Supply

Known Supply celebrates the makers behind its products, with each garment featuring the signature of the person who made it ($30-$100). The brand is a certified B Corp and is Fair Trade Certified, using 100% organic cotton to create its relaxed, minimalist essentials.

Shop now at knownsupply.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tees Goods a B Corp?

Yes, Tees Goods is a certified B Corporation. This certification legally requires the company to consider the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment, verifying its high standards of social and environmental performance.

Does Tees Goods pay a living wage?

Tees Goods pays above the legal minimum wage in all its factories and has publicly committed to paying a verified living wage to all workers by 2025. While their wages in Portugal approach living wage standards, wages in their Turkish facilities are not yet at that level.

Where are Tees Goods clothes made?

Tees Goods primarily manufactures its clothing in certified factories located in Portugal and Turkey. These countries are known for having higher labor and environmental standards than many traditional fast fashion production hubs.

Is all of Tees Goods' clothing vegan?

Yes, Tees Goods is a 100% vegan brand. They do not use any materials derived from animals, including leather, wool, fur, down, or silk, making their products entirely cruelty-free.