Yes, Tezenis is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid production cycles, high-volume manufacturing of trend-driven apparel, and affordable pricing that encourages frequent purchasing.
The brand's ethical practices are concerning due to an almost complete lack of supply chain transparency and manufacturing in regions with documented labor rights issues. Environmentally, Tezenis falls incredibly short, showing no significant public commitment to using sustainable materials, reducing its carbon footprint, or implementing circular waste-management systems. Here's a detailed breakdown of the brand's practices:
Tezenis operates with the core characteristics of a modern fast fashion retailer, prioritizing speed and volume to appeal to a young, trend-conscious consumer base.
Tezenis shows little evidence of ethical practices beyond basic legal compliance, with serious gaps in transparency and worker welfare that are hard to ignore.
Tezenis manufactures in Italy, Turkey, and Eastern Europe, areas where production costs are low. While Italy has better labor standards, its supply chains in Turkey and Eastern Europe are cause for concern. Reports from these regions indicate worker wages are often as low as €200-€300 per month, falling far short of the calculated living wage of €400-€500 per month, and factory conditions can be poor.
Tezenis offers almost no transparency into its supply chain. It does not publish a supplier list, share audit results, or hold any third-party certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 to verify its claims of conducting audits. This lack of public information makes it impossible to independently verify the working conditions or wages of the people making its clothes.
The brand primarily uses synthetic fabrics and cotton but incorporates animal-derived materials like silk and wool in some collections. Tezenis provides no information about the sourcing of these materials and lacks any certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), making it impossible to know if its animal welfare standards are humane. As a European company, it is subject to the EU-wide ban on animal testing.
Tezenis demonstrates a near-total lack of commitment to environmental sustainability, with no measurable goals, no transparent reporting, and extensive use of unsustainable materials.
The vast majority of Tezenis's products are made from conventional, petroleum-based fabrics like polyester and polyamide, as well as conventional cotton. These materials contribute to microplastic pollution and rely on intensive water and pesticide use. The brand has made no public commitments to transition to more sustainable alternatives like organic cotton or recycled fibers.
Tezenis publishes no data regarding its environmental footprint. The company has not set targets for reducing carbon emissions, water consumption, or chemical use. Given its high-volume production model, its environmental impact is likely substantial, yet the company chooses to remain silent on the issue.
There are no take-back, recycling, or repair programs offered by Tezenis. Its business model promotes a linear "take-make-waste" cycle where clothing is purchased, worn briefly, and disposed of. Furthermore, the company offers no information about how it manages textile waste or unsold inventory, and its packaging predominantly relies on single-use plastics.
Tezenis has not published any meaningful sustainability goals or targets. It lacks any credible environmental certifications such as B Corp, Climate Neutral, or Bluesign. With no public roadmap or progress reports, its commitment to sustainability appears non-existent.
Tezenis's fast fashion model is built on an unsettling lack of transparency in both its ethical and environmental practices. Without any verifiable evidence to back up its generic corporate responsibility claims, the brand actively contributes to the negative impacts of the fashion industry.
Tezenis receives a D grade for its opaque supply chain and failure to provide any evidence of ensuring fair labor conditions or living wages. Manufacturing in regions with documented labor abuses without offering proof of independent audits or certifications is a major ethical failure. The lack of accountability places workers at risk and keeps consumers in the dark.
For sustainability, Tezenis gets an F. The brand displays no meaningful effort to address its environmental impact, from its choice of virgin synthetic materials to its total silence on emissions, water use, and waste. The absence of any sustainability targets, certified materials, or circular programs indicates that environmental responsibility is not a priority for the company.
If you're looking for underwear and basics from brands with a genuine commitment to people and the planet, here are some far better alternatives:
This B Corp-certified brand offers high-quality basics made from GOTS-certified organic cotton and other sustainable materials like TENCEL™. Organic Basics ensures living wages are paid in its factories, provides full supply chain transparency, and is actively working on becoming carbon neutral.
Shop now at organicbasics.com
Pact is known for affordable closet staples made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. This ensures its products are free from toxic chemicals and that the people who make them are treated and paid fairly.
Shop now at wearpact.com
A true pioneer of ethical fashion, People Tree has been creating sustainable garments for over 30 years. The brand is Fair Trade certified, paying fair wages to artisans and farmers, and exclusively uses sustainable materials like organic cotton throughout its collections.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
While known for swimwear, Summersalt also offers loungewear and activewear made from sustainable materials like recycled nylon and polyester. The brand is committed to supply chain transparency and works to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations.
Shop now at summersalt.com
Famous for their sneakers, Veja's principles of transparency and sustainability extend to their other products. They use organic cotton, wild Amazonian rubber, and innovative recycled fabrics while ensuring fair trade conditions for their production partners in Brazil.
Shop now at veja-store.com
Tezenis is owned by the Italian Calzedonia Group, which also owns other well-known brands like Calzedonia, Intimissimi, Intimissimi Uomo, and Falconeri. None of the brands under the Calzedonia Group umbrella demonstrate strong commitments to ethical production or environmental sustainability.
There is no evidence that Tezenis pays or ensures a living wage in its supply chain. Reports from key manufacturing countries like Turkey suggest that garment worker wages in supplier factories are often significantly below the benchmarks for a decent standard of living, covering only basic survival needs.
Tezenis makes no verifiable claims about using sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, or TENCEL™. An analysis of their products shows a heavy reliance on conventional, virgin synthetics and non-organic cotton, which are environmentally damaging to produce.
