100+ Fast Fashion Brands To Avoid & Why They’re Terrible for the Planet

Here’s our list of 2024’s biggest fast fashion brands to avoid at all costs. These unethical clothing brands not only generate massive amounts of waste but also actively harm millions of workers in the process. It’s time we held accountable those brands turning a blind eye to the impact of their actions. Read on to learn more about the fast fashion environmental impact and the retailers that don’t deserve your money or support.

The Worst Fast Fashion Brands to Avoid in 2024

So, why is fast fashion bad?  Before we just right into the fast fashion brands list, let’s have a look at the fast fashion environmental impact. Unethical fast fashion brands are notorious for their breakneck speed in churning out new trends, fueled by low prices and disposable clothing.

The environmental cost of this race to the bottom is staggering – from excessive water usage to toxic chemical releases and mountains of textile waste. In fact, the fashion industry is responsible for the consumption of 79 trillion liters of water annually, contributing to about 20% of industrial wastewater. That’s hardly a surprise given that 92 million tonnes of textiles waste is produced every year.  

The Global Fashion Agenda estimates that the fashion industry’s carbon footprint could swell to 2.8 billion tons of CO2 by 2030 if we don’t pump the brakes on this trend-driven train. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation reports that the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is wasted every second – yes, every second! This is the stark reality we face, and it’s high time we make informed choices about where we invest our fashion dollars.

What Is Wrong With Fast Fashion?

In addition to polluting our Earth and wasting tons of natural resources, the world’s biggest fast fashion brands are also involved in modern-day slavery. For example, during a 2020 investigation, a Boohoo supplier’s factory in Leicester, UK was accused of paying meager wages as little as £3.50 ($4.40) an hour, well below the national living wage. The workers were subjected to unsafe conditions that were a clear violation of workers’ rights.

H&M, one of the worst fast fashion brands of 2024, was on the list of names associated with the Rana Plaza factory disaster. The building collapsed, killing 1,134 workers and injuring over 2,500, making it one of the deadliest industrial disasters in history.

We can’t talk about the top fast fashion brands to avoid without mentioning the OG of unethical business practices – SHEIN. In SEIN’s Chinese factories, workers are forced to produce a staggering 500 pieces of clothing per day. Shockingly, this translates to a meager payment of just 3p per item they create according to the Channel 4 documentary titled “Untold: Inside The Shein Machine.”

As consumers, our choices matter. By supporting transparent, fair trade, and sustainable clothing brands, we can send a powerful message to the fashion industry. Let’s choose quality over quantity, and together, we can redefine fashion as a force for good. 

How to Recongize If a Brand is Fast Fashion?

It’s pretty easy to pinpoint which are the biggest fast fashion brands to avoid in 2024. All you have to do is look at their rapid production cycles, low-cost strategies, and sometimes questionable labor and environmental practices. 

Fast fashion brands often offer products at extremely low prices. If a brand consistently sells clothing at prices that seem too good to be true, it may be an indication of a fast fashion approach. Fast fashion brands tend to have a high turnover of styles and a large inventory. If a brand constantly introduces a wide range of new styles and has a vast inventory, it could be a sign of a fast fashion approach.

Ethical and sustainable practices are typically not associated with fast fashion. Check a brand’s transparency about its supply chain, labor practices, and environmental impact. If this information is not readily available or seems vague, it might raise concerns.

It’s always a good idea to check a brand’s latest initiatives, certifications, and reports on labor and environmental practices to make an informed decision about supporting them.

1. & Other Stories
2. 18Montrose
3. Abercrombie & Fitch
4. Accessorize
5. Afound
6. Agent Provocateur
7. Amazon
8. Anthropologie
9. ARKET
10. ASOS (Check out our sustainability report)
11. AsYou
12. Banana Republic ( Check out our full review here)
13. Bershka
14. BHLD
15. Billabong
16. Bonmarché
17. Boohoo
18. BoohooMAN
19. Burton
20. Campri
21. Coast
22. Collusion
23. COS
24. Cruise
25. DC Shoes
26. Debenhams
27. Dorothy Perkins
28. Edinburgh Woollen Mill
29. Evans
30. Everlast
31. F&F at Tesco
32. Fabletics
33. Fashion Nova
34. Femme Luxe
35. Fila
36. Firetrap
37. Flannels
38. Forever 21
39. Free People (Read our full review of Free People)
40. GAP
41. Gelert
42. George at ASDA
43. Gilly Hicks
44. Gul
45. H&M
46. HERA
47. Hollister
48. House of Fraser
49. In The Style
50. I Saw It First
51. Jack Wills
52. J.Crew
53. J.Crew Factory
54. Jane Norman
55. ANYDAY at John Lewis
56. Kangol
57. Karen Millen
58. Karrimor
59. LA Gear
60. La Senza
61. Lillywhites
62. Loavies
63. Lonsdale
64. Lovell Sports
65. Madewell
66. Mango
67. Marks & Spencer
68. Massimo Dutti
69. Matalan
70. Mennace
71. Meshki
72. Missguided
73. Misspap
74. Miss Fiori
75. Miss Selfridge
76. Missy Empire
77. Monki
78. Monsoon
79. Motel
80. Mothercare
81. Nasty Gal
82. New Chic
83. New Look
84. Next
85. No Fear
86. Nobody’s Child
87. Nutmeg at Morrissons
88. Oasis
89. Oh Polly
90. Old Navy
91. Oliver Bonas
92. Outfit
93. Peacocks
94. Pretty Little Thing
95. Primark
96. Pull & Bear
97. Quiksilver
98. QUIZ
99. Reclaimed Vintage
100. REVOLVE
101. REVOLVEman
102. River Island
103. Romwe (Read our full Romwe review)
104. Roxy
105. SHEIN
106. Slazenger
107. Sondico
108. SoulCal
109. Sports Direct
110. Stradivarius
111. Superdry
112. Temu
113. TK Maxx
114. Topman
115. Topshop
116. Tu Clothing at Sainsbury’s
117. UNIQLO (Read more about UNIQLO here)
118. United Colors of Benetton
119. Urban Outfitters (Read our full review here)
120. USA Pro
121. USC
122. Van Mildert
123. Victoria’s Secret
124. Wallis
125. Warehouse
126. Weekday
127. Zaful
128. Zara (Check out our Zara review)
129. Cotton On
130. Rue21
131. Forever New
132. Dynamite
133. Garage
134. SHEIKE
135. Windsor
136. Charlotte Russe
137. Showpo
138. Sabo Skirt
139. Tiger Mist
140. Ally Fashion
141. Glassons
142. Factorie
143. Valleygirl
144. Ardene
145. Maurices
146. Fashion to Figure
147. Suzy Shier
148. Papaya Clothing
149. Eclipse
150. Tobi
151. Lulus
152. Dissh
153. The Iconic

Environmental Impact: Fast fashion contributes significantly to environmental degradation. The excessive use of resources, water pollution from dyes and chemicals, and the massive volume of textile waste are just a few examples of how this industry harms our planet.

Exploitative Labor Practices: Many fast fashion brands have been criticized for exploiting cheap labor in developing countries, where workers are subjected to low wages, poor working conditions, and even unsafe environments. Supporting such practices perpetuates human rights abuses.

Poor Quality and Short Lifespan: Fast fashion often prioritizes quantity over quality. Clothes are designed to be worn a few times before falling apart, promoting a culture of disposability. Investing in durable, higher-quality items can save money in the long run and reduce overall consumption.

Negative Impact on Local Economies: The exploitation of cheap labor in developing countries can have detrimental effects on local economies. Instead of fostering sustainable growth, fast fashion often perpetuates a cycle of poverty and dependency.

Lack of Transparency: Fast fashion brands are often criticized for a lack of transparency in their supply chains. This opacity makes it difficult for consumers to know the true environmental and ethical impact of the products they purchase.

Health Concerns: The use of toxic chemicals in dyeing and finishing processes can pose health risks to both factory workers and consumers. Sustainable fashion options prioritize non-toxic and eco-friendly fabrics and safer production methods. Some options include Tencel, Bamboo, Organic cotton, and Econyl. 

Supports a Throwaway Culture: Fast fashion perpetuates a culture of disposable clothing, where garments are worn a few times and then discarded. This not only contributes to landfills but also diminishes the value we place on the items we own.

Conclusion

The extensive list of over 100 fast fashion brands to avoid serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for change. From environmental degradation to exploitative labor practices, these fast fashion retailers

have been at the forefront of a throwaway culture that sacrifices our planet and its people for fleeting fashion trends. Let’s shift our focus away from the biggest fast fashion brands and towards brands that prioritize ethical practices, environmental responsibility, and transparency in their operations.