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28 Unethical Clothing Brands to Avoid in 2025

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Are you wondering which clothing brands are the worst offenders when it comes to ethics and sustainability? You’re not alone.

Whether you’re trying to shop more consciously or just avoid supporting exploitative labor practices, this list will help you steer clear of the most unethical clothing brands in 2025.

Many of these brands contribute to harmful environmental practices, fail to ensure fair labor conditions, or are simply greenwashing with no real change behind their claims.

Let’s break them down — including who owns whom, so you know which companies are connected.

What Makes a Clothing Brand “Unethical”?

Unethical clothing brands usually:

  • Underpay and overwork garment workers
  • Lack of supply chain transparency
  • Use environmentally harmful materials
  • Greenwash consumers with vague or misleading claims
  • Overproduce cheap, disposable fashion that ends up in landfills

Now, let’s look at the worst offenders.

The Worst Unethical Clothing Brands

Table:

BrandRecent Scandals & Why to Avoid
Shein GroupAccused of 75-hour work weeks and $0.04/item wages, linked to forced labor, relies on cheap synthetics fueling microplastic pollution, and floods the market with over 600,000 styles.
TemuUltra-low prices suggest labor exploitation and unsafe materials, with allegations of forced labor, privacy-invasive tech, and product safety issues.
ZafulLacks transparency, uses toxic synthetic materials, and offers ultra-cheap items without proof of ethical sourcing or safe conditions.
Boohoo GroupLinked to UK sweatshops, workers paid £3.50/hour, adds 100+ new items daily, and are flagged for unsafe chemical use and poor labor practices.
Inditex GroupPuts out over 1.5 billion items yearly, contributing to overproduction; uses animal products and shows little proof of fair wages or ethical sourcing.
H&M GroupLinked to UK sweatshops, workers paid £3.50/hour, add 100+ new items daily, and are flagged for unsafe chemical use and poor labor practices.
Arcadia GroupHistory of labor violations, animal welfare concerns, and founder scandals like misusing pension funds.
Fashion NovaBroke promise to pay living wages by 2018, has a history of labor abuse, and makes vague sustainability claims with little evidence of action.
Forever 21Fined for safety violations, offers vague green claims, no fair wage guarantees, and uses animal materials without disclosing sources.
MissguidedKnown for unsustainable gimmicks like £1 bikinis, sold real fur as faux, and drops 1,000+ styles weekly with no ethical policies.
NikeLinked to forced Uyghur labor, child labor in past scandals, relies on petroleum-based synthetics, and faced lawsuits over false eco claims.
AdidasAccused of union busting, fined for unsafe work conditions, linked to labor abuse, and called out for greenwashing in France.
LululemonAccused of greenwashing, relies on synthetics, and overcharges despite questionable labor practices.
CiderNo data on labor or sustainability, relies on mass-produced synthetics, and markets itself as ethical without proof.
Brandy MelvilleOffers zero public info on labor practices or sustainability.
New LookAccused of paying UK workers £3/hour, lacks transparency on both labor and eco practices.
Cotton OnNo clear proof of fair wages or sustainable practices across its supply chain.
Gap (includes Old Navy, Banana Republic)Still reliant on synthetics, with vague and inconsistent sustainability commitments.
New YorkerShares no data on sourcing, environmental practices, or worker rights.
GuessNo evidence of ethical labor or sustainability improvements.
NextCriticized in 2024 for not paying living wages. Uses exotic animal hair and lacks clear labor standards.
PrimarkMass-produces cheap clothing linked to labor exploitation, with little sustainability commitment.
S. OliverProvides no meaningful info on reducing its environmental or social impact.
Urban OutfittersDiscloses nothing about its supply chain, labor conditions, or sustainability efforts.
Victoria’s SecretTied to child labor, excessive textile waste, and minimal ethical accountability.
MangoMakes lofty claims with minimal proof of sustainability.
UniqloTied to Chinese labor violations, with limited transparency around sourcing and fair wages.
United Colors of BenettonOffers weak evidence of ethical or environmental progress.

List:

1. Shein Group

Pumps out 6,000+ new styles a day like it’s printing money. Except it’s printing microplastics, trash, and worker exploitation.

Brands: Shein, Romwe

Why to avoid:

2. Temu

If the price tag makes you say “how?!” the answer is probably: underpaid labor, toxic materials, and zero ethics.

Parent: PDD HoldingsTemu

Why to avoid:

3. Zaful

When your outfit costs less than your iced coffee, it’s not a deal. It’s a red flag.

Parent: Global Egrow (Linked to Shein via Nanjing-based networks)

Why to avoid:

4. Boohoo Group

They cry “trendy,” we cry “sweatshop.”

Brands: Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, Nasty Gal

Why to avoid:

5. Inditex Group

Pretends to be chic and green while dropping over a billion garments a year.

Brands: Zara, Bershka, Pull&Bear, Stradivarius, Massimo Dutti, Oysho

Why to avoid:

6. H&M Group

Claimed it would pay living wages by 2018. Still waiting.

Brands: H&M, COS, Weekday, Monki, ARKET

Why to avoid:

7. Arcadia Group

From fashion royalty to fast-fashion horror story.

Brands: Topshop, Miss Selfridge

Why to avoid:

  • History of labor violations and mismanagement
  • No transparency on animal products or hazardous chemicals
  • Founder linked to misusing pension funds

8. Fashion Nova

No audits, no standards, just plastic clothes and unpaid labour.

Why to avoid:

  • Accused of paying U.S. garment workers less than $3 an hour
  • No info on supplier audits or environmental efforts
  • Continues to sell cheap, trend-based items made of synthetics

9. Forever 21

Cute clothes, fueled by worker exploitation.

Why to avoid:

10. Missguided

A £1 bikini? If your swimwear costs less than your bus fare, someone’s definitely paying the price.

Why to avoid:

11. Nike

Swooshed its way into sweatshop scandals and forced labor links. Just… don’t do it.

Why to avoid:

  • Long history of sweatshop labor, including child labor scandals
  • Accused of worker mistreatment in Vietnam, China, and Indonesia in the past
  • Uses unsustainable synthetic fabrics and petroleum-based dyes
  • Allegations of forced labor linked to Uyghur cotton supply
  • In 2023, there was a class action lawsuit for falsely claiming that some of its “sustainable” products were actually made from non-biodegradable plastics
  • No concrete evidence ensures workers in its supply chain are paid living wages

12. Adidas

Recycles a bit, but still drowning in plastic and labor drama.

Why to avoid:

13. Lululemon

Fast fashion with a greenwashed twist.

Why to avoid:

14. Cider

Where the only thing more synthetic than their clothes is their “sustainable” claims.

Why to avoid:

  • Emerging fast-fashion giant with zero labor transparency
  • Mass production model fuels textile waste
  • Uses synthetic fabrics with no clear plan for sustainability
  • No data on ethical sourcing or fair wages

Other Notoriously Unethical Brands:

  • Brandy Melville – No clear information on its sustainability efforts or production practices.
  • New Look – Accused of paying UK workers £3/hour. Lacks transparency regarding its labor and environmental practices.
  • Cotton On – Lack of transparency and proof regarding living wages.
  • Gap (includes Old Navy, Banana Republic) – Still relies heavily on synthetics.
  • New Yorker – Shares zero data on sustainability, production conditions, or animal welfare. 
  • Guess – No evidence of fair labor or eco progress.
  • Next – Uses exotic animal hairs, lacks fair labor standards. Criticized for failing to pay a living wage in 2024.
  • Primark – Faces criticism for exploiting garment workers, and overproduction.
  • S. Oliver – No sufficient information on reducing environmental impact.
  • Urban Outfitters – Offers no supply chain information.
  • Victoria’s Secret – Linked to child labor scandals and mass waste.
  • Mango – Says a lot, proves little.
  • Uniqlo – Labor violations in China, lacks transparency.
  • United Colors of Benetton – Weak proof of ethical progress.

What Can You Do About It?

  1. Look into ethical and sustainable fashion alternatives. Check out my list of affordable sustainable clothing brands.
  2. Buy secondhand. Explore my list with 30+ online thrift shops for unique, eco-friendly finds.
  3. Swap clothes with friends. Find out how to organize a clothing swap with my guide.
  4. Explore eco-friendly materials. Check out the best eco-friendly clothing materials to better understand the materials that minimize harm to the environment.
  5. Learn about sustainable fashion certifications. If you want to be more informed about certified sustainable options, read through 18 sustainable fashion certifications.
  6. Speak up! Let brands know we demand better. The more consumers hold brands accountable, the greater the change. Help spread awareness & choose to avoid brands with unethical practices.

Summary

Fast fashion is built on the exploitation of people, animals, and the planet. While some brands are trying to do better, many are still getting away with poor practices under the radar.

Staying informed is your first step toward making conscious choices. And now, you’ve got the list to help you do that.

Did I miss a brand? Drop a comment below! Let’s call them out together.

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2 Comments

  1. thank you for this useful information, Meri! 🙂

    I was very disappointed when I found out that Monki was bought by H&M :O

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