Yes, That's So Fetch is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is defined by rapid trend replication, weekly new collection drops, and a high-volume production schedule designed to keep pace with micro-trends.
The brand's ethical practices are concerning due to a significant lack of supply chain transparency and no evidence of a commitment to paying living wages. While it has some basic animal welfare policies and makes vague sustainability claims, its core model of high-speed, high-volume production fundamentally undermines any serious environmental efforts. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:
That's So Fetch built its brand on the core tenets of the fast fashion model: speed, volume, and low prices. This approach prioritizes quick turnover and trend agility over quality and sustainability.
While the brand promotes inclusivity in its marketing, its ethical practices are largely unproven and highly opaque, raising significant red flags about worker welfare and corporate accountability.
That's So Fetch sources from factories in regions notorious for poor labor conditions. Wages in these areas often fall far short of a living wage, for example, average garment worker wages in Bangladesh and Vietnam range from $180-$250 per month, while a living wage is estimated to be $350-$400. The brand claims compliance with certifications like SA8000 and BSCI, but it fails to publish any independent audit results or factory details to verify these claims.
The brand's supply chain is almost completely opaque. It does not publish a list of its suppliers or provide any concrete details about the factories that make its clothes. This lack of transparency makes it impossible for consumers or third-party organizations to verify if workers are paid fairly or work in safe conditions.
That's So Fetch has a decent animal welfare policy on paper, stating that it does not use fur, leather, or exotic skins. It primarily uses synthetic materials. The brand does claim to use wool and down from suppliers compliant with Responsible Wool and Responsible Down Standards, but like its labor claims, these are not backed by public, independent verification.
That's So Fetch's sustainability efforts are minimal and appear to be more focused on marketing than on meaningful environmental change. The brand's entire business model actively works against sustainability.
The brand relies heavily on cheap, environmentally damaging materials. Its collections are made of approximately 65% polyester, a fossil-fuel-based synthetic that sheds microplastics, and 25% conventional cotton, a water-intensive crop. Although some products are marketed as containing recycled polyester (rPET), the company doesn't disclose the actual percentage or provide GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification to back this up.
That's So Fetch provides no data on its environmental footprint. The company does not report its Scope 1, 2, or 3 carbon emissions, water consumption, or use of hazardous chemicals in its production process. This utter lack of reporting makes it impossible to assess the true scale of its environmental damage.
There is no evidence of any circularity initiatives. The brand offers no take-back, recycling, or repair programs for its products. In fact, its model is the exact opposite of circularity: produce low-quality items designed to be worn a few times and then discarded, creating enormous amounts of textile waste.
The brand claims it is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, but provides no clear roadmap, interim targets, or progress reports to substantiate this goal. Without a transparent plan, this target appears to be greenwashing. That's So Fetch does not hold any credible environmental certifications like B Corp or Climate Neutral Certified.
That's So Fetch embodies the fast fashion model's most concerning traits: a lack of transparency, a disregard for sustainable practices, and an operating model that prioritizes profit over people and the planet.
The brand receives a D due to its complete lack of supply chain transparency. Without disclosing its factories or providing verifiable audits, its claims about ethical manufacturing cannot be trusted. Its reliance on low-wage countries without a commitment to paying living wages demonstrates a fundamental gap in its ethical responsibilities.
That's So Fetch earns a C-. While a vague target to be carbon neutral by 2030 and some unverified claims of using recycled materials prevent a failing grade, its overall impact is negative. The brand's heavy use of virgin synthetics, failure to report environmental data, and lack of any circular initiatives show a minimal commitment to sustainability.
If you're looking for stylish clothing without the ethical and environmental baggage, consider these brands that prioritize transparency and sustainability:
Reformation offers trendy, fashionable dresses and apparel ($50-$200) using eco-friendly materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics. It is Climate Neutral Certified, discloses detailed impact data in its "RefScale," and audits its factories to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Everlane focuses on modern, minimalist wardrobe staples ($20-$80) with a commitment to "Radical Transparency" about its factories and production costs. The brand uses a significant amount of certified organic cotton and recycled materials and partners with audited factories to ensure fair and ethical treatment of workers.
Shop now at everlane.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree ($50-$150) is certified by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and uses GOTS-certified organic cotton. The brand guarantees fair wages and safe conditions for its artisans and producers, making it one of the most trusted names in the ethical fashion space.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Known for its durable outdoor gear and casual wear ($50-$200), Patagonia is a certified B Corp that puts environmental activism at its core. It uses over eighty-five percent recycled materials, ensures its suppliers pay fair wages through its Fair Trade certification, and offers a lifetime repair program to combat throwaway culture.
Shop now at patagonia.com
For sneakers ($120-$150), VEJA is a leader in ethical sourcing and transparency. The brand uses organic cotton, wild rubber from the Amazon rainforest, and innovative fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, all while working directly with producers to ensure fair trade practices.
Shop now at veja-store.com
That's So Fetch maintains its low prices by mass-producing its garments in countries with low labor costs, like Bangladesh and China, where wages are far below what is considered a living wage. It also uses inexpensive, synthetic materials like polyester, which keeps material costs down.
There are no direct reports of worker abuse, but the brand's total lack of transparency is a major cause for concern. By refusing to identify its factories or publish audit results, That's So Fetch makes it impossible to verify that workers are being treated and paid fairly, a common tactic for brands with poor labor practices.
While using recycled materials is better than using virgin ones, the brand's claims are questionable. It does not provide any certifications (like the Global Recycled Standard) or disclose what percentage of each garment is recycled. This lack of detail is a form of greenwashing, as it uses a vague sustainability claim to appear more eco-friendly than it is.
