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Someone wearing a floppy hat and white dress with YesStyle written over the top above a sad smiley face emoji.
18 Jan
Someone wearing a floppy hat and white dress with YesStyle written over the top above a sad smiley face emoji.

How Ethical Is YesStyle?

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Beauty and fashion marketplace YesStyle may claim to exist to “empower and inspire”, but it rates “We Avoid” for its lack of transparency. This article is based on the YesStyle rating published in May 2022.

The popular fast fashion marketplace under the microscope

Founded in 2006, YesStyle ranks among the most popular beauty and fashion e-commerce stores in the world. The Hong Kong-based retailer lists hundreds of thousands of products in categories such as “casual or formal wear to kawaii style, K-pop style, fest outfits, and eco-friendly wear”, according to its website. YesStyle has earned a loyal following from K-beauty fans across continents—stocking some of the most popular brands in the space.

YesStyle may aim to “empower and inspire [their] customers to find their own style and be their own unique and beautiful selves”, but how does it measure up on the sustainability front in a world battling a worsening climate crisis? And how does it treat the makers behind all those cheaply priced products? How ethical is YesStyle? Read on to see why “We Avoid” YesStyle.

Yes style, no sustainability

In our “How Ethical Is” series, we usually have a closer look at a company’s rating and break it down so that you know more about how it is performing across the three key areas of environmental impact, labour conditions, and animal welfare.

Unfortunately, for YesStyle, there isn’t much to say. Our team scoured the retailer’s website and credible public sources, but YesStyle provides insufficient relevant information about how it reduces its impact on people, the planet, and animals. This means that, at the time of writing, there isn’t enough information for us to dig deeper into YesStyle’s practices.

Overall, YesStyle is rated “We Avoid” for its lack of transparency. As a shopper, you have the right to know how a company’s production practices impact the world and its inhabitants.

YesStylem may claim to list “eco-friendly”, “organic”, and “vegan” products, but those small efforts are let down by its overwhelming encouragement of overconsumption with taglines like “Thousands of items added daily!” proudly displayed. The retailer should also start disclosing more information about how, where, and by whom its items are produced, as well as the materials used. Transparency is crucial to ethical and sustainable fashion and is the first step towards reducing a business’ impact.

Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the company’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

A diehard fan of K-beauty and K-fashion but want to shift your consumption habits to the greener side? Here are a few better brands making similar styles with lower-impact fabrics and production practices. You can also check out our article on how the most popular Korean fashion brands rate.

Good swaps

“Good and “Great” alternatives to YesStyle

Afends

Rated: Good
Wide leg carpenter hemp and organic cotton jeans by Afends.

Born in Byron Bay, Australia, Afends is a more responsible brand leading the way in hemp fashion. Drawing inspiration from the environment, streetwear, and surf culture, Afends’ mission is to create more sustainable clothing through innovation, action, and positive change. As true hemp advocates, it purchased 100 acres of farmland called Sleepy Hollow to grow its own hemp crops and ignite the hemp revolution.

Find most of the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Afends.

Plant Faced Clothing

Rated: Good
two women wearing black and white Plant Life crop tees by Plant Faced Clothing

Streetwear without the sweatshops, that's the motto of this British 100% vegan and cruelty-free streetwear apparel brand that is all about promoting a new wave of consciousness that supports the non-harming or exploitation of any beings in fashion production.

Buy Plant Faced Clothing in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Plant Faced Clothing.

Spell

Rated: Good
flowy baby pink sustainable party dress by Spell brand

Spell is an Australian fashion brand inspired by far-off places, vintage treasures, and childhood memories. Its clothes are proudly designed and sampled in Byron Bay, and produced responsibly in factories around the world.

Most garments are available in sizes 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Spell.

STANLEY/STELLA

Rated: Great
A blue split side sweater by STANLEY/STELLA.

Belgian brand STANLEY/STELLA celebrates simplicity in its pieces by focussing on comfort, quality, and durability. It uses 100% organic cotton and mainly recycled polyester to support the circular economy and reduce waste.

Find the styles in inclusive sizes 2XS-5XL.

See the rating.

Shop STANLEY/STELLA.

Whimsy + Row

Rated: Good
WOMA

Whimsy + Row is a US-based lifestyle brand born out of a love for quality goods and responsible practices. Since 2014, its mission has been to provide ease and elegance for the modern woman. Whimsy + Row utilises deadstock fabric, and by limiting each garment to short runs, the brand also reduces packaging waste and takes care of precious water resources.

Find most products in XS-XL, with an extended sizing range up to 3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Whimsy + Row.

Shop Whimsy + Row @ Earthkind.

Editor's note

Feature image via Unsplash, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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