Close up of a sweater and jeans overlaid with white text reading Topshop and a sad emoji face highlighted.
11 Nov
Close up of a sweater and jeans overlaid with white text reading Topshop and a sad emoji face highlighted.

How Ethical Is Topshop?

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UK fast fashion giant Topshop is lacking action across the board, and is rated “Not Good Enough”. This article is based on the Topshop rating published in September 2022.

Topshop isn’t coming out on top

With over 500 stores across the globe, UK fast fashion giant Topshop doesn’t look like it intends to slow down anytime soon. But how does the brand treat people, the planet, and animals? How ethical is Topshop?

Over the past decade, Topshop has enjoyed global success and collaborations with a number of artists and celebrities. But its owner the Arcadia Group has been no stranger to controversy, having made headlines over the past decade due to allegations of labour abuses, including unfair wages paid to garment workers and poor working conditions. Topshop itself has also faced allegations, like when it was claimed Topshop x Beyonce’s Ivy Park collection’s mostly female garment workers were toiling under unfair conditions despite the range supposedly promoting female empowerment.

So after running a gauntlet of bad headlines and controversy, has Topshop since picked up its ethical game? Read on to find out.

Environmental Impact

Topshop has made some effort to improve its impact on the planet, but it still has a long way to go before it can become truly sustainable.

Despite the release of its CONSIDERED collection, as well as a vegan shoe collection in 2019 in an attempt to lower its environmental impact by using eco-friendly and recycled materials, the impact of the fast fashion giant on the planet is considerable, as it still relies on the mass production of brand new clothing.

What’s more, there is no evidence that it has taken any meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals, or that it implements water reduction initiatives. There is also no evidence it has set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

But even if Topshop does incorporate more sustainable materials, as one of the world’s biggest fast fashion chains, Topshop’s business model is inherently unsustainable. By emphasising fleeting trends over timeless designs and producing huge amounts of poorly-made clothes, it’s hard to see how Topshop can become a truly ethical brand without ditching a fast fashion model. For all these reasons, its environmental impact is ‘Not Good Enough’.

Labour Conditions

We gave Topshop a labour rating of ‘Not Good Enough’. It received a score of 31-40% in the Fashion Transparency Index.

Some of Topshop’s supply chain is certified by Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit – SMETA Best Practice Guidance including all of the final stage of production, which is a promising move. The brand likely publishes information about its supplier policies, audits, and remediation processes, as well as a list of suppliers in the final stage of production (but not the second stage). Topshop may also be publishing limited information about forced labour, gender equality, or freedom of association.

Concerningly, we found no evidence Topshop ensure the payment of a living wage in its supply chain, and it does not disclose any policies or safeguards to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19.

Topshop needs to improve its transparency surrounding its labour practices, and make sure its workers are paid a living wage and protected amid COVID-19 disruption.

Animal Welfare

Topshop received a score of ‘It’s a Start’ for animal welfare. Although Topshop has banned the use of angora, down, exotic animal skin and fur in its products, it still uses leather, mohair, and wool in its products without providing any information about where they are sourced from. It has a general statement about minimising animal suffering but not a formal animal welfare policy. The welfare of both animals and workers cannot be guaranteed when the source of these materials is unknown. Topshop could improve its score in this area by being more transparent about where it gets its leather and wool from, or even better, by not using animal products in its clothes at all!

Overall Rating

We’ve given Topshop a rating of ‘Not Good Enough’ based on information from our own research.

Topshop needs to do much more to improve its practices in all areas. While Topshop appears to be putting some measures in place to shrink its carbon footprint, none of them apply to the resource-intensive garment manufacturing process, which is the most important thing that the brand needs to address if it hopes to become more sustainable.

And in facing a number of allegations of labour abuse over the years, Topshop has shown time and time again that it’s willing to put profit over people. The brand needs to ensure that workers are being paid a living wage!

See the rating.

So next time you need to fill up a gap in your wardrobe, why not give Topshop a miss and choose one of these ethical brands rated ‘Good’ or ‘Great’?

Good Swaps

Ethical Alternatives to Topshop

Afends

Rated: Good
two images of people in tops, shirts and trousers

Offers

People in jackets by Afends.

Afends – Jackets

Expect workwear touches with a redesigned modern vibe. ⁠Exclusives featuring relaxed denims, anoraks, and puffers, designed for you to wear it well.   Exclusive 25% off Jackets with code GOODWINTER25. (Ends: 4 JUL)

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People in hoodies by Afends.

Afends – New Season Hoods & Crew necks

Pieces to keep you warm through the cooler weather. From the Vintage-inspired, to graphic knits and basics in hemp, organic cotton & recycled fabrics.   Exclusive 25% off New Season Hoods & Crew necks with code GOODWINTER25. (Ends: 4 JUL)

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People embracing wearing long-sleeved tops by Afends.

Afends – Long-sleeve tops

Timeless staples and hand-drawn motifs. Crafted from combinations of soft-feel recycled fabrics, hemp and blends, for those who like it loud, to the minimal. Exclusive 25% off Long-sleeve tops with code GOODWINTER25. (Ends: 4 JUL)

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People in white tops and jeans by Afends.

Afends – Pants

Straight from the streets and built to keep your dry and warm during heavy weather. Your pick of on-trend, relaxed, and hugging fits to suit you. Exclusive 25% off Pants with code GOODWINTER25. (Ends: 4 JUL)

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Born in Byron Bay, Afends is a 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, they purchased 100 acres of farmland called Sleepy Hollow to grow their own hemp crops and ignite the hemp revolution.

Find most of the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Afends.

Armedangels

Rated: Great

Innovative, responsible, and on-trend. Germany’s Armedangels gets a top score overall from us. The brand covers all the basics in womenswear, menswear, and kidswear. Armedangels' quality and long-lasting pieces are made from lower-impact and certified materials, like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton. The brand also adopted the Fair Wear Foundation Code of Conduct to protect its workers abroad.

Its products are available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Armedangels.

Shop Armedangels @ Earthkind.

Shop Armedangels @ Veneka.

Whimsy + Row

Rated: Good

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.

Threads 4 Thought

Rated: Good

Threads 4 Thought uses a range of lower-impact materials including TENCEL™ Modal harvested from the limbs of beech trees. This process means that the trees are never cut down and 95% of the production materials to make the yarn are recovered and reused. The brand's manufacturers are a combination of Fair Trade USA certified and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production certified.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL, with an extended sizing range up to 3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Threads 4 Thought.

MUD Jeans

Rated: Great
A man wears navy jeans and a blue top

Dutch denim brand MUD Jeans is all about sustainability. Not only does it offer a repair service, but it also provides a rental service where you can lease a pair of jeans for up to a year! MUD Jeans uses a combination of GOTS and post-consumer recycled cotton.

See the rating.

Shop MUD Jeans.

Shop MUD Jeans @ Labell-D.

MANNING CARTELL (Pre-Owned)

Rated: Not Good Enough

MANNING CARTELL is a designer brand that is ethically-made in Australia and committed to creativity, inclusivity and igniting joy. This Australian brand was created by three sisters, creating for women, who understand how women want to look and feel.

See the rating.

Shop MANNING CARTELL Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

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. We love to recommend some of the best sustainable brands, rated "Good" or "Great". We also encourage shopping pre-owned as another great way to reduce the impact of our fashion choices. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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