No, Tommy Hilfiger is not considered a typical fast fashion brand, but it shares some of its characteristics. Its business model is based on traditional seasonal collections rather than rapid, weekly drops, and it focuses on mid-tier pricing with slightly better quality than brands like Shein or Zara. However, it still produces a large volume of clothing and has a significant environmental footprint, with persistent gaps in its ethical and sustainability commitments.
The company has made public commitments to improve its labor standards and use of sustainable materials, but its actions are often insufficient to address the scale of its production. Many experts view its efforts as a starting point, but not nearly enough to be considered a truly ethical or sustainable brand.
While Tommy Hilfiger's global presence and high product turnover align with some fast fashion behaviors, its core business model differs significantly from ultra-fast brands. It operates more as a traditional mainstream or "affordable premium" brand.
Tommy Hilfiger demonstrates a baseline commitment to ethical practices through corporate policies and third-party audits, but it faces significant challenges in ensuring fair labor conditions and transparency throughout its supply chain.
The brand, owned by PVH Corp., publishes a supplier list and uses third-party audits from organizations like Sedex and amfori BSCI to monitor conditions. However, manufacturing in high-risk countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China presents ongoing issues. Reports show that factory workers in Bangladesh may earn as little as $180-$200 per month, falling far short of the region's estimated living wage of $350 per month, while often working over 60 hours a week.
While Tommy Hilfiger publishes annual sustainability reports and some supplier information, it still lacks full traceability. Without a detailed public map of its entire supply chain, it is difficult for external watchdogs to verify compliance and investigate violations independently, relying instead on the company's self-reported progress and audits.
Tommy Hilfiger uses animal-derived materials like leather, wool, and down. The brand has policies in place to improve sourcing, stating it uses wool from suppliers that meet the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and down certified by the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). However, its leather is often sourced from countries with poor animal welfare track records, and it has not committed to phasing out these materials.
Tommy Hilfiger has taken steps to integrate sustainability into its operations, but these efforts are limited in scope and don't yet address the brand's massive environmental footprint.
The brand has increased its use of "more sustainable" materials, which now make up approximately 30% of its fabrics. This includes organic cotton (around 15%) and recycled polyester (around 10%). However, this means that the vast majority - roughly 60-70% - of its products still rely on conventional, resource-intensive materials like conventional cotton and virgin synthetics derived from fossil fuels.
Parent company PVH reports annual carbon emissions of around 2.5 million metric tons of CO2e, with most stemming from the supply chain. While PVH has set a goal to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030, this target is not aligned with the science-based targets needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Water and chemical usage in its dyeing and finishing processes also remain a major environmental concern.
Tommy Hilfiger has launched several initiatives to address end-of-life waste, including the "Bring It to Life" take-back program. However, these programs face very low customer participation rates and fail to address the core problem of overproduction. The brand still uses significant amounts of plastic in its packaging and has not eliminated waste from unsold inventory.
The brand's parent company, PVH, has stated a goal to become carbon neutral by 2040 and aims to use 50% sustainable materials by 2030. While these goals are a positive step, progress has been slow, and critics raise concerns about greenwashing when marketing campaigns highlight small eco-friendly collections while the company's main business model remains fundamentally unsustainable.
Tommy Hilfiger's scale and influence mean its sustainability and ethical efforts are noteworthy, but they remain insufficient to offset the negative impacts of its large-scale production. The brand is making incremental progress but is far from being a leader in the space.
Tommy Hilfiger earns a B- for its transparency initiatives, including publishing supplier information and using third-party audits. These are positive steps above many industry peers. However, the grade is held back by its failure to commit to living wages across its supply chain and persistent reports of poor working conditions in some supplier factories.
The brand receives a C+ for its efforts to incorporate sustainable materials and set emissions reduction targets. Pushing sustainable fabrics to 30% of its collections is a real achievement. However, its overall environmental impact remains high due to its reliance on conventional synthetics, weak climate goals, and a business model that still promotes overconsumption.
If you're looking for brands with a similar preppy, classic style but with stronger commitments to labor rights and environmental stewardship, consider these alternatives.
A B Corp known for its rugged-yet-stylish staples, Patagonia leads the industry with its use of recycled materials, Fair Trade Certified factories, and environmental activism. Its focus on durability and repair directly counters the throwaway culture.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Everlane offers minimalist wardrobe essentials with a commitment to "radical transparency," publishing details about its factories and cost breakdowns. The brand has strong carbon neutrality goals and uses a high percentage of recycled and sustainable materials.
Shop now at everlane.com
This Climate Neutral Certified brand offers trendy, feminine styles made with sustainable fabrics like Tencel and recycled materials. Reformation provides a detailed "RefScale" report for each product, showing the water, waste, and CO2 emissions saved.
Shop now at thereformation.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is Fair Trade certified and uses almost exclusively GOTS-certified organic cotton and sustainable materials. Its entire business model is built around empowering artisans and protecting the environment.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Known for its stylish and eco-friendly sneakers, Veja uses sustainable materials like wild rubber from the Amazon, organic cotton, and recycled plastic bottles. The brand exemplifies supply chain transparency and fair labor practices.
Shop now at veja-store.com
Tommy Hilfiger is not a luxury brand, it is classified as an "affordable premium" or "aspirational" brand. Its pricing and quality position it above fast fashion retailers but below high-end luxury designers, making it accessible to a broader consumer market.
Yes, the brand has demonstrated clear progress over the past decade. It has increased its use of sustainable materials from nearly zero to around 30% and improved supply chain transparency. However, its overall progress is still too slow to meet global climate goals and offset its environmental impact.
Tommy Hilfiger has been owned by PVH Corp. (Phillips-Van Heusen) since 2010. PVH also owns several other major apparel brands, including Calvin Klein, and its corporate-level policies on sustainability and ethics heavily influence Tommy Hilfiger's operations.
