No, Vuori is not a fast fashion brand. Its focus on premium quality, durable materials, higher price points, and seasonal collections places it in the activewear market alongside brands like Lululemon, rather than the high-turnover model of fast fashion giants like Zara or H&M.
While Vuori makes genuine efforts toward sustainability and ethical production, it currently lacks the comprehensive transparency and third-party certifications needed to be considered a leader in the space. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its practices.
Vuori's business model is built on creating long-lasting, premium activewear, which contrasts sharply with the fast fashion principles of speed, volume, and disposability.
Vuori promotes ethical production, but a lack of third-party verification and detailed transparency makes it difficult to fully assess its claims.
Vuori manufactures its products in the United States, Vietnam, China, and parts of Central America. The company states it partners only with suppliers that adhere to fair labor standards, but it does not provide third-party audit results or certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 to independently verify these claims. This absence of external validation is a significant gap in its ethical framework.
Vuori is not fully transparent about its supply chain. While it lists some supplier information, it does not publish a complete factory list or detailed audit reports. Without this information, consumers cannot confirm if workers are paid a living wage or if working conditions meet international best practices beyond basic legal compliance.
The brand does not heavily rely on animal-derived materials, largely avoiding fur, down, and exotic skins. However, it does use some wool without providing certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), leaving its animal welfare policies somewhat unclear. It is not PETA-approved.
Vuori is taking positive steps toward sustainability, particularly with its material choices, but it lags behind industry leaders in goal-setting, reporting, and circularity.
Vuori makes a credible effort in material sustainability, with approximately 45% of its fabrics being made from recycled or organic materials like TENCEL Lyocell. These materials are certified by reputable standards such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which ensures they are free from harmful substances.
The company claims its manufacturing partners utilize eco-friendly processes like water recycling and reduced chemical inputs. However, Vuori does not publicly disclose data on its overall water usage, chemical management policies, energy consumption, or total carbon footprint, which makes it hard to measure its actual environmental impact.
Vuori’s circularity initiatives are in the early stages. It has small-scale take-back programs but lacks a comprehensive repair or resale program to extend the life of its garments. Its packaging includes some recyclable and biodegradable materials, but it hasn't fully eliminated single-use plastics.
Vuori has stated a goal to be net-zero by 2030, but it has not committed to science-based targets or published a clear roadmap with interim progress reports. The brand also lacks key environmental certifications like B Corp or Climate Neutral, which would strengthen its sustainability credentials.
Vuori occupies a middle ground - it is a clear step above fast fashion but has not yet met the high standards set by industry leaders in ethics and sustainability. Its primary weaknesses are a lack of transparency and third-party validation for its claims.
Vuori earns a B- for its good intentions and supplier code of conduct. However, the grade is held back by a significant lack of external audits, fair labor certifications, and wage transparency. While its practices are likely compliant with local laws, there is no proof that they exceed these basic minimums to ensure workers a living wage and robust protections.
Vuori receives a C+ for making significant progress in using sustainable materials like recycled polyester and organic cotton. Its commitment to improvement is evident, but the lack of transparent impact data, underdeveloped circularity programs, and vague, non-verified climate goals prevent a higher score. The brand is on the right path but needs to back its claims with measurable targets and comprehensive reporting.
If you're looking for activewear brands with stronger and more transparent commitments to people and the planet, consider these alternatives:
A B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, Patagonia is an industry leader using 87% recycled materials, Fair Trade Certified sewing, and offering an ironclad lifetime repair program. It has set transparent, science-based climate goals and is a vocal advocate against overconsumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Founded with sustainability at its core, Outerknown is Fair Trade Certified and uses nearly 100% recycled or organic fibers. It provides radical transparency into its supply chain and is committed to becoming fully circular by 2030, ensuring fair labor and minimal environmental impact.
Shop now at outerknown.com
Specializing in activewear made from post-consumer recycled materials like water bottles and fishing nets, Girlfriend Collective holds both SA8000 and GRS certifications. The brand ensures its factory in Vietnam pays living wages, provides a safe work environment, and offers a take-back program for old apparel.
Shop now at girlfriend.com
prAna is a longtime leader in sustainable activewear and is certified Fair Trade, using a high percentage of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and other responsible materials. The brand is transparent about its factory partners and progress toward sustainability goals, focusing on animal welfare and reducing its carbon footprint.
Shop now at prana.com
A certified B Corp, Tentree plants ten trees for every item sold and is committed to Climate Neutrality. The brand uses 95%+ sustainable materials like Tencel and recycled polyester and partners with ethical factories that are regularly audited to ensure fair wages and safe conditions.
Shop now at tentree.com
Vuori's prices reflect its positioning as a premium brand that uses high-quality, durable performance fabrics. The cost also covers their investment in more sustainable materials, such as recycled polyester and organic cotton, which are more expensive to source than conventional alternatives. Their pricing is comparable to other premium activewear brands, but doesn't necessarily guarantee the highest ethical standards.
When it comes to sustainability and ethics, both brands are in a similar category of making improvements but lacking full transparency. Vuori is more vocal about its use of sustainable materials (around 45%), while Lululemon has also set targets to use 75% sustainable materials by 2025 but faces ongoing criticism for a lack of supply chain transparency. Neither brand has robust third-party verification for a living wage across its entire supply chain.
Vuori primarily manufactures its clothing in the United States, Vietnam, China, and Central America. While the brand claims these factories meet fair labor standards, it does not provide public audits or third-party certifications to independently verify these working conditions or wage levels.
