No, Triangl is a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on rapid trend replication, frequent product drops aligned with seasonal trends, and an online direct-to-consumer strategy that capitalizes on social media virality.
While positioned at a higher price point than ultra-fast fashion giants, the brand's core practices do not meet sufficient ethical or environmental standards. A lack of transparency in its supply chain and a heavy reliance on virgin synthetic materials are significant concerns. Here's a detailed breakdown of Triangl's practices.
Triangl's operations fit the fast fashion model by prioritizing speed, volume, and low costs over longevity and transparency. Its strategy is highly dependent on quick turnarounds to capture fast-moving social media trends.
Triangl's ethical practices are difficult to verify due to a severe lack of transparency across its supply chain. Without third-party audits or public disclosures, its claims cannot be substantiated.
Triangl manufactures in countries like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, which have documented risks of labor rights issues in the garment industry. The brand does not publish a supplier list or provide any third-party audit reports (like Fair Trade or SA8000), making it impossible to assess worker conditions, safety, or wages in its factories. Garment workers in these regions often earn below a living wage, for example, average monthly wages are around $200-$250, which is often insufficient to cover basic needs.
Transparency is a critical area where Triangl fails. The brand does not disclose information about its manufacturing partners, production processes, or sourcing locations. This opacity prevents consumers, researchers, and watchdog groups from verifying that its products are made in safe and fair conditions.
Given its focus on swimwear made from synthetic materials, animal welfare is not a primary concern for Triangl's core products. However, the company has no publicly available animal welfare policy and does not hold any certifications like PETA-Approved Vegan.
Triangl's environmental performance is poor. The brand's dependence on fossil fuel-based materials and its lack of clear sustainability targets or circularity programs result in a high environmental footprint.
Triangl's swimwear is predominantly made from virgin synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester. These materials are derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, and their production is energy-intensive. Furthermore, they shed microplastics when washed. The brand discloses that less than 10% of its range incorporates recycled materials and lacks certifications like the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).
The brand provides no data on its carbon emissions, water usage, or chemical management in its production processes. Triangl has not set science-based targets for reducing its environmental impact or made any public commitments toward carbon neutrality. This lack of measurement and goal-setting suggests that sustainability is not a key priority.
Triangl does not offer any take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. The brand's business model, which promotes buying new, trendy swimwear each season, contributes directly to textile waste. There are no public initiatives regarding waste reduction in its packaging or operations.
Triangl operates as a classic fast fashion brand that prioritizes social media marketing and rapid trend cycles over meaningful ethical and environmental commitments. Its lack of transparency is a major red flag that overshadows any surface-level appeal.
Triangl earns a C for its ethical practices. This grade reflects a critical lack of transparency rather than proven violations. Without any supplier information or independent audits, it's impossible to verify labor conditions, making the brand a risk for consumers concerned with fair labor. It meets the bare minimum by not having major public scandals but fails to demonstrate any proactive commitment to worker well-being.
With a D in sustainability, Triangl's environmental performance is very weak. The brand's heavy use of virgin, petrochemical-based plastics, coupled with a complete absence of public sustainability targets, waste reduction programs, or circular initiatives, places it far behind industry standards for responsible environmental practice.
If you're looking for trendy swimwear from brands with serious commitments to ethics and the environment, consider these better alternatives.
Offering stylish swimwear at a comparable price point ($60-$150), Summersalt is a B Corp that uses materials made from recycled plastic bottles. The brand is transparent about its supply chain and ensures fair wages and working conditions through third-party audits.
Shop now at summersalt.com
Known for its commitment to recycled materials, Girlfriend Collective builds its swimwear and activewear from post-consumer water bottles and recycled fishing nets (ECONYL). It is SA8000 certified, guaranteeing fair wages and safe conditions in its Vietnamese factory.
Shop now at girlfriend.com
As a leader in corporate responsibility, Patagonia offers durable swimwear made primarily from recycled nylon and produced in Fair Trade Certified factories. Although often pricier, its products are designed for longevity and backed by an ironclad guarantee and repair program.
Shop now at patagonia.com
This B Corp creates activewear and swimwear using sustainable materials like recycled nylon. Organic Basics partners with certified European factories to ensure ethical production and is transparent about its supply chain and environmental footprint.
Shop now at organicbasics.com
Reef focuses on eco-conscious production for its footwear and swimwear lines, often using materials made from recycled fabrics that are OEKO-TEX certified (tested for harmful substances). The brand partners with environmental organizations and is committed to fair labor practices throughout its supply chain.
Shop now at reef.com
Triangl's popularity surged in the 2010s due to its pioneering use of influencer and social media marketing. By focusing on trendy, photogenic designs and building a strong aesthetic on platforms like Instagram, it created viral demand without the need for traditional advertising or physical stores.
Triangl's swimwear is made from common synthetic "scuba" materials like neoprene, nylon, and polyester. While these fabrics perform well for swimwear, the brand's fast fashion model focuses on trendiness over long-term durability, and the product's lifespan is typical of other fast fashion brands.
Yes, but very minimally. Triangl has stated that less than 10% of its product range is made with recycled fibers. This falls far short of sustainable brands, many of which use over 75% recycled materials in their collections.
Triangl operates at a higher price point than ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein and does not produce at the same massive scale. However, both companies share significant ethical shortcomings, including a lack of transparency in their supply chains and business models reliant on rapid overproduction of trend-driven items.
