No, VampireFreaks is not a fast fashion brand. Its business model is based on serving niche alternative subcultures with less frequent, themed collections rather than rapid, trend-driven production cycles. However, the brand performs poorly on ethics and sustainability due to an extreme lack of transparency regarding its supply chain, labor conditions, and environmental impact.
While VampireFreaks avoids the overproduction cycle of fast fashion, its practices fall well short of ethical and sustainable standards. Here's what you need to know:
VampireFreaks operates as a specialized retailer for goth, punk, and alternative styles, which sets its production model apart from mainstream fast fashion giants.
VampireFreaks' ethical practices are highly questionable due to a complete lack of transparency, making it impossible to verify the conditions under which its products are made.
VampireFreaks sources its products from manufacturing partners in China and India, regions where garment workers are at high risk of exploitation. The brand provides no public information about its factories, offers no evidence of third-party audits (like Fair Trade or SA8000), and does not publish any data to prove its workers are paid a living wage. The average living wage in these regions can range from $200 to $350 per month, but there is no evidence VampireFreaks' suppliers meet this standard.
The brand's score on transparency is exceptionally low. It does not publish a supplier list, codes of conduct, or factory audit results. This opacity means consumers, advocates, and watchdog organizations have no way to hold VampireFreaks accountable for the labor standards in its supply chain.
While most of its clothing is made from materials like cotton and polyester, VampireFreaks has no public-facing animal welfare policy. The brand does not clarify its stance on using animal-derived materials like leather or wool, nor does it provide any information on its sourcing of such materials or its policies on animal testing.
VampireFreaks demonstrates minimal to no effort in environmental sustainability, relying on conventional materials and providing no information on its carbon footprint or waste management.
The brand predominantly uses conventional textiles like non-organic cotton and virgin polyester, which are resource-intensive and rely on pesticides and fossil fuels. VampireFreaks makes no mention of using sustainable alternatives such as organic cotton, Tencel, or recycled materials. The absence of certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or GRS (Global Recycled Standard) further indicates a lack of sustainable sourcing.
VampireFreaks does not publish any data regarding its environmental footprint. There are no details on its water usage, chemical management practices, or carbon emissions. The brand has not set any climate goals, such as committing to carbon neutrality or emissions reductions, and therefore shows no accountability for its environmental impact.
There is no evidence that VampireFreaks has any circularity initiatives in place. The company does not offer repair services, recycling programs, or take-back schemes for its old clothing. They also provide no information on how they manage manufacturing waste or whether they use eco-friendly packaging materials.
While VampireFreaks is not a fast fashion brand, its complete lack of transparency places it at the bottom tier for both ethics and sustainability. The fundamental issue is that without disclosure, there is no accountability.
VampireFreaks receives a D for its ethical practices due to its extreme opacity. Sourcing from high-risk countries like China and India without publishing any factory information, audit results, or commitment to living wages is a major ethical failure. While there are no direct reports of scandals, the brand provides zero assurance that its products are made ethically.
The brand earns a D for sustainability due to a near-total absence of any environmental initiatives. Its reliance on conventional materials combined with a lack of climate goals, circularity programs, or any transparent reporting on its environmental impact shows a negligible commitment to protecting the planet.
If you love the alternative Goth aesthetic but are concerned by VampireFreaks' poor ethical and environmental ratings, consider these brands with stronger commitments:
Killstar is a Certified B Corp that offers a similar gothic style with a strong commitment to transparency, publishing an annual impact report. They use a growing amount of sustainable materials like organic and recycled fabrics, ensure their factories are audited for fair labor, and have multiple waste reduction initiatives.
Shop now at killstar.com
Disturbia provides alternative streetwear with a real focus on improving its practices. The brand uses materials like organic cotton and recycled fabrics, offers a clothing recycling program to its customers, and is taking clear steps towards supply chain transparency and improving its sustainability metrics year over year.
Shop now at disturbia.co.uk
Famous for its punk and grunge aesthetic, this UK-based brand is working toward B Corp certification and openly shares its sustainability goals and progress. It incorporates organic and recycled materials into many collections and is actively working on improving the traceability and labor standards within its supply chain.
Shop now at theraggedpriest.com
Punk Rave offers a wide range of gothic and punk styles and has begun to integrate more responsible practices. While its transparency still needs improvement, the brand claims to use some eco-friendly and organic-dyed fabrics in select collections, showing more awareness of these issues than its direct competitors.
Shop now at punkrave.com
Please note we could not find verifiable sustainability claims for listed alternatives Punk Rave or BlackCraftCult. Always research an alternative before you choose to shop with them!
It's common for smaller, niche brands to lack the resources or focus required for detailed sustainability reporting and supply chain auditing. However, this lack of transparency prevents consumers and third parties from verifying whether their products are made under safe and fair conditions, which is a major ethical shortfall.
Based on all publicly available information on their website and product descriptions, no. The brand primarily highlights conventional materials like cotton and polyester and makes no mention of using certified organic, recycled, or other verifiably sustainable textiles in its collections.
From an overconsumption standpoint, yes. Its slow fashion business model, with fewer releases and a timeless subcultural aesthetic, does not encourage frantic, trend-based consumption like Zara or Shein. However, on a per-item basis, its lack of ethical and environmental transparency means a VampireFreaks garment could be made with just as much harm as one from a fast-fashion brand.
