Is Uniqlo Fast Fashion?
In recent years, the brand Uniqlo has taken the fashion world by storm. What began as a Japanese textile manufacturer has grown to become one of the trendiest, recognizable brands in fashion. As a conscientious consumer, you may want to know about Uniqlo’s commitment to people and to the planet at large. Is Uniqlo ethical? How do this brand’s values align with your own? Perhaps most importantly, is Uniqlo fast fashion?
We’re going to answer these questions and more so you can have a full picture of the brand’s practices and determine for yourself if they are ethical or not. Let’s dive in!
What is Fast Fashion?
Everyone wants to stay up to date with the latest fashion trends. Most consumers keep an eye on their bank accounts and look for low-cost options to fit whatever the current style may be.
That’s where fast fashion comes into play. This business model is based on warp-speed production of garments, which allows manufacturers to get products onto shelves rapidly and for low consumer costs. This way, consumers can stay on top of fashion trends while they are hot – and ditch them when they’re not.
Unfortunately, that’s where the good news ends. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, upwards of 10% of global carbon emissions stem from the fashion industry.
Fast fashion has led to a direct increase in the consumption of clothing, which has environmental ramifications from production all the way to disposal. Throw in concerns about underpaid workers toiling away in unsafe conditions, and it becomes clear that the cost of fast fashion goes far beyond the price of the item you see on the shelf.
Fast fashion, in some ways, is the antithesis of ethical fashion, which boasts sustainable products, fair worker compensation, and products designed to last a long time so they don’t end up in a landfill shortly after they make their debut.
Who is Uniqlo?
Uniqlo finds itself in a unique (lo?) situation. This brand was founded in Yamaguchi, Japan, in 1949. This century, Uniqlo has boomed. It opened its first retail store outside Japan in 2001 and now has over 2,000 stores in more than 21 countries–and counting. The company’s premise, and one of the driving factors in its recent success, is its promise of high-quality everyday clothing at affordable prices.
Uniqlo is currently listed among the world’s top 100 most valuable brands, and its growth is expected to continue. By blending fashion, affordability, quality, and scale, the company has become a fixture in the garment industry.
Is Uniqlo Fast Fashion?
The success of the Uniqlo brand begs the question: is Uniqlo fast fashion? With the speed of its production and low consumer costs, the answer may seem straightforward. However, a little bit of context is needed for the sake of accuracy. Uniqlo produces high-quality items that can be worn repeatedly without falling apart, so they do fit the minimalist lifestyle in that sense. Also, rather than simply chasing fashion trends, Uniqlo is committed to producing wardrobe “staples” that don’t fall out of style as quickly as products offered by some bonafide fast fashion brands.
So, is Uniqlo fast fashion? Maybe. It depends. It’s almost a toss-up, and it’s probably best that we consider it fast fashion-adjacent.
Perhaps the next question will be a bit clearer: is Uniqlo ethical fashion? A quality product is a sustainable product, and Uniqlo consistently churns out items made to last a long time. The brand runs a program known as RE.UNIQLO, which offers clothing repairs, clothing recycling centers, and a donation outlet to provide clothing to those in need. It passes this aspect of the ethical fashion test, but there’s more to it than just sustainability.
Uniqlo Working Conditions
Uniqlo has partner factories around the world, employing people in many countries to produce the clothing we love to wear. You may want to know how serious the brand is about providing its workers with safe conditions and fair pay. Here is where the brand receives mixed marks.
The company claims to stand for fair conditions. Still, it has come under scrutiny by Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) for hosting dangerous working conditions and forced overtime within its supply chain. Afterward, the company went into damage control and has since boosted its transparency and seemingly tried to rectify its shortcomings.
Uniqlo has translated its code of ethics into local languages so workers in foreign factories are aware of their rights. The brand has also installed new standards of workplace hygiene and healthcare information in its partner plants. It appears to have taken its criticism to heart and–at least outwardly–has begun to turn a new page on workplace ethics.
Does Uniqlo use child labor?
Uniqlo has a zero-tolerance policy on child labor according to the company’s code of conduct. Since the company explicitly prohibits the use of child labor, any shortcomings here are probably more so the fault of partner factories than the brand itself. It bears mentioning that, despite past reports of poor workplace standards, the brand is trending in the right direction in the public eye.
Is Uniqlo Good Quality?
Uniqlo prides itself on producing garments that can be worn over and over again. This is part of the brand’s sustainability pledge.
Now, to be clear, the products made by Uniqlo are not likely to match the quality offered by higher-end brands. But at their price point, Uniqlo’s clothing is well-constructed, durable, and timeless, so you can wear it for years to come. When your clothing has reached the end of its useful life, it can easily be recycled.
Does Uniqlo Use Sustainable Materials?
Many of Uniqlo’s products include sustainable materials. Uniqlo has developed the innovative Blue Cycle Jeans, which drastically reduce water waste. The brand also has a line of clothing that includes recycled materials, such as nylon, polyester, and cotton.
Uniqlo is also a member of the Better Cotton Initiative. The company aims to use 50% recycled materials in its clothing by 2030. So, while it is not currently using entirely sustainable materials, it is clearly making progress to that end.
Uniqlo: Animal Welfare
Uniqlo has received mixed reviews regarding its commitment to animal welfare.
Yes, the brand uses sustainable down and feathers, limiting its impact on waterfowl. It also employs non-mulesed wool, limiting its harm to sheep. It has banned the use of certain animal-derived materials, such as shearling and fur.
Uniqlo does, however, incorporate leather and animal hair into its products, so if you are looking for a totally animal-free garment company, you might have to look elsewhere.
Alternatives to Uniqlo
If you are still unsure how you feel about Uniqlo, your concerns are understandable. The brand walks a tightrope between fast fashion and…not fast fashion.
If you are looking to avoid fast fashion altogether and want to prioritize sustainability and ethics above all, check out the following brands for a similar look:
Our Take on Uniqlo
Uniqlo is known the world over for its affordable, fashionable, well-made clothing. Its products are designed to outlast passing fashion trends and survive years of use.
Overall, it is a great brand at its price point. There are some concerns about how closely it parallels the world of fast fashion, and past scrutiny pertaining to ethics has somewhat clouded the brand’s image. However, the company seems to be aiming for a more ethical, more sustainable model. We think the progress has been encouraging.
Featured image via Uniqlo
