Yes, Vero Moda is a fast fashion brand. As part of the Bestseller Group, its business model is built on rapid production cycles, trend-driven collections, and affordable pricing, all of which are defining characteristics of fast fashion. While the company has made some high-level commitments to sustainability, it faces significant criticism for its lack of supply chain transparency, poor labor practices, and heavy reliance on environmentally harmful materials.
Overall, Vero Moda's ethical and environmental efforts are insufficient to counteract the negative impacts of its high-volume production model. Here's a detailed breakdown of its practices.
Vero Moda’s operations align perfectly with the fast fashion model, prioritizing speed and volume to capture fleeting trends at low prices.
Vero Moda's ethical record is poor, marked by a lack of transparency and documented issues within its supply chain regarding worker wages and safety.
Vero Moda's production is concentrated in low-wage countries where labor rights are often compromised. Reports from non-profits like the Clean Clothes Campaign have highlighted unsafe working conditions in factories supplying brands like Vero Moda, including fire hazards and poor building safety. Workers in supplier factories reportedly earn between $80-$150 per month, which falls significantly below a living wage, estimated at $200-$350 in those regions.
While Vero Moda publishes a list of some of its suppliers, it fails to provide detailed information about factory audits, corrective actions, or specific working conditions. This lack of robust transparency makes it impossible to verify its claims of social compliance and adherence to labor standards. The brand does not hold any credible certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000, which would provide third-party validation of its ethical claims.
Vero Moda primarily uses non-animal materials like cotton, polyester, and viscose. The brand does not use fur or exotic skins but does use wool and down in some collections. However, it provides no information about the source of these materials and lacks key animal welfare certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or Responsible Down Standard (RDS).
Vero Moda's sustainability efforts are minimal and largely undermined by its fast fashion business model, with a heavy dependence on planet-harming synthetic materials and a lack of concrete action on its environmental goals.
The brand's material portfolio is far from sustainable. An estimated 45% of its clothing is made from polyester, 20% from conventional cotton, and 15% from viscose, all of which have significant environmental footprints. The use of more sustainable materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester is minimal, accounting for less than 5% of its total material use, and there is virtually no use of regenerative fibers.
Vero Moda's production processes lead to significant environmental harm. The creation of viscose and conventional cotton involves high water consumption and chemical pollution, while its reliance on polyester (a plastic derived from fossil fuels) contributes to microplastic shedding and climate change. The brand has not published comprehensive data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or wastewater management practices.
The brand's circularity efforts are insufficient. While a "Take Back" program exists in some stores, it is not widely promoted or accessible. Most unsold inventory and deadstock fabric are likely landfilled or incinerated, which is standard practice for fast fashion companies. Packaging remains predominantly single-use plastic, and the short lifespan of its low-quality garments directly fuels the textile waste crisis.
Vero Moda, under its parent company Bestseller, has a goal to become climate-neutral by 2030. However, it has not published a clear roadmap, interim targets, or progress reports to substantiate this claim. Without transparent data and third-party verification, these commitments are difficult to take seriously and raise concerns about greenwashing.
Vero Moda’s business practices perpetuate social and environmental harm. Its fast fashion model is built on low wages and resource-intensive production, and its public commitments fail to translate into meaningful, verifiable change.
Vero Moda receives a D+ for its poor ethical performance. The lack of living wage commitments, insufficient supply chain transparency, and documented labor concerns in its high-risk sourcing countries demonstrate a clear failure to prioritize worker well-being. While the basic supplier code of conduct exists, the absence of accountability mechanisms and third-party certifications makes it difficult to trust its claims.
Vero Moda earns a D for its massive negative environmental impact. The brand's heavy reliance on fossil-fuel-based synthetics, absence of credible circularity programs, and vague, unsubstantiated sustainability claims position it poorly. Its business model of overproduction directly contradicts any genuine effort towards planetary health, showing that sustainability is not a core part of its strategy.
If Vero Moda's business practices are a concern, consider these alternatives that prioritize fair labor, sustainable materials, and a slower approach to fashion.
A pioneer in fair trade fashion, People Tree is B Corp and GOTS-certified, offering timeless styles made from organic cotton and Tencel. It guarantees fair wages and safe conditions for its artisans and farmers, making it a truly ethical leader.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Thought creates beautiful, lasting pieces from sustainable materials like hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton. The brand maintains a transparent supply chain, prioritizes ethical production, and ships in plastic-free packaging.
Shop now at thoughtclothing.com
This German B Corp brand is committed to proving fashion can be done differently, using GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled materials. As a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, it actively works to ensure fair working conditions and living wages for its garment workers.
Shop now at armedangels.com
Though known for outdoor gear, Patagonia's everyday wear is a benchmark for sustainability. A B Corp built on Fair Trade principles, it uses a high percentage of recycled materials, campaigns against overconsumption, and offers a lifetime repair guarantee on all its products.
Shop now at patagonia.com
