Yes, Terranova is a fast fashion brand. It operates on a model of rapid production cycles, trend replication, and low prices to fuel high-volume sales. While the brand adheres to local labor laws, it lacks transparency and faces significant shortcomings in its ethical treatment of workers and its commitment to environmental sustainability.
Terranova's ethical and environmental efforts are minimal, placing it firmly in the lower tier of fast fashion brands. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its practices.
Terranova’s business model is built on the core tenets of fast fashion: speed, volume, and low costs. Its operations prioritize getting trendy items from concept to customer as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Terranova’s ethical performance is poor due to a near-total lack of transparency in its supply chain, which raises serious concerns about labor conditions.
Terranova manufactures primarily in countries known for low production costs and weak labor protections, like Bangladesh, Turkey, and India. While the company claims to abide by local laws, it provides no evidence to verify worker conditions. Industry data for these regions indicates that garment workers often earn between $180-$250 per month, far below the estimated living wage of $350-$400 needed to cover basic necessities.
The brand fails on transparency. It does not publish a list of its supplier factories, and no third-party audits confirming fair wages, safe conditions, or worker rights are made public. Without this disclosure, it's impossible for consumers to verify any ethical claims a company makes. The brand holds no certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000.
Terranova primarily uses synthetic and plant-based materials and does not appear to use fur or exotic animal skins. However, it does use some wool and down in select items without disclosing the source or providing animal welfare certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or Responsible Down Standard (RDS).
Terranova's sustainability efforts are almost nonexistent. Its reliance on fossil fuel-derived materials and complete lack of public environmental goals position it as a major laggard in the industry.
The brand relies heavily on cheap, environmentally damaging materials. An estimated 60-70% of its collections consist of conventional polyester and other synthetics derived from fossil fuels, which shed microplastics when washed. Less than 15% of its materials are from more sustainable sources like organic cotton or recycled fibers, and the brand lacks widely recognized certifications like GOTS or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).
Terranova does not publish any data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. The company has not set any science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its supply chain and has no public goals for achieving carbon neutrality or net-zero emissions, showing a lack of commitment to addressing its climate impact.
The brand has no circular initiatives in its business model. It does not offer repair services, take-back programs, or clothing recycling initiatives, meaning its products overwhelmingly end up in landfills. Its business thrives on a linear "take-make-waste" model, actively contributing to the global textile waste crisis.
Terranova embodies some of the worst aspects of fast fashion, with very little effort made to address its significant ethical and environmental impact. Its business model relies on a lack of transparency and a high volume of cheaply made, disposable clothing.
This grade is based on a complete lack of supply chain transparency. With no supplier lists, independent audits, or fair labor certifications, there is no way to verify that workers are treated humanely or paid a living wage. Although Terranova has no major scandals, its opacity is a major red flag and is typical of brands prioritizing low costs over worker welfare.
Terranova receives a D- for sustainability due to its heavy reliance on virgin fossil fuel-based materials, a total absence of climate goals, and no circularity programs. The brand makes no meaningful effort to mitigate its massive environmental footprint, and its business model directly promotes overconsumption and textile waste, which outweighs any minor use of "better" materials.
If you're looking for trendy and affordable clothing but want to support brands with stronger ethical and environmental commitments, here are some far better alternatives:
While known for outdoor gear, Patagonia's casual staples prioritize durability and responsible manufacturing. As a certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, the brand uses nearly 90% recycled materials, ensures Fair Trade certified production, and offers a lifetime repair program to combat waste.
Shop now at patagonia.com
A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Certified Fair Trade and uses GOTS-certified organic cotton in most of its collections. The brand guarantees fair wages and safe working conditions for its producers, offering stylish and timeless pieces handmade with traditional artisan skills.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
As a certified B Corp, Organic Basics focuses on creating high-quality wardrobe essentials from sustainable materials like GOTS organic cotton and TENCEL™ Lyocell. It partners only with certified factories that pay living wages and has a published low impact index showing the footprint of its products.
Shop now at organicbasics.com
This certified B Corp offers accessible, earth-first apparel and plants ten trees for every item purchased. tentree uses primarily recycled polyester, organic cotton, and TENCEL™ in its comfortable casualwear and is vocal about its transparent manufacturing and climate goals.
Shop now at tentree.com
On the higher end, Eileen Fisher focuses on timeless designs intended to last a lifetime. The brand is a leader in circular fashion with its extensive take-back and resale program and uses sustainable materials like organic linen and recycled fibers while championing supply chain transparency.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
Terranova is owned by the Italian OVS Group, which is known for operating in the fast fashion retail sector. Its business model, like Terranova's, focuses on offering trendy and affordable clothing with high stock turnover rates across its various brands.
Terranova's low prices are a direct result of its fast fashion model. Costs are kept down by mass-producing garments in countries with low labor wages, using inexpensive synthetic materials like polyester, and ordering in huge volumes to reduce the cost per item.
As of late, Terranova has not been directly implicated in major public scandals like factory collapses or design theft. However, its complete lack of transparency about its factories means many potential ethical issues likely remain hidden from public view.
There is currently no public evidence to suggest that Terranova is making significant improvements to its ethical or sustainability practices. The brand has not announced any major deadlines for using sustainable materials, achieving emissions reductions, or providing supplier transparency, unlike some of its fast fashion competitors.
