Hong Kong-based Emmiol is one of the most-hyped fashion brands that popped up during the pandemic year. Passionate about offering fashion-loving girls the trendiest garments, Emmiol aims to define your individuality with glam designs. But, no one knows where its clothing is manufactured. Its success is the result of breakneck production speed and rock-bottom prices. Does that give out a whiff that Emmiol is a fast fashion brand?
Emmiol claims, “We move toward a sustainable future.” How exactly it does so? No idea! It did set a date where its team plants trees every month, but is that enough to minimize the impact of mass-producing unsustainable garments? And what about an ethical supply chain? How do we know that garment makers are receiving fair pay and are provided with safe working conditions? Let’s dive into Emmiol and unearth its sustainability and ethical efforts!
Is Emmiol Fast Fashion?
Yes, Emmiol is a fast fashion brand. It calls itself as sustainable but, in reality, shows all signs of following a fast fashion business model.
To begin with, Emmiol garments are highly trend-driven and priced as low as $13. Every product category has hundreds of styles, and flash sales are a regular on its website. When clothes are sold at exceptionally low prices, it creates doubts if the workers making them are paid enough. And there is no saying where its clothing is produced.
The strategy of offering affordable items at unbelievable discounts is a usual fast fashion tactic to tempt customers to buy more. And Emmiol is doing exactly that! Also, many of its garments are made from virgin synthetic materials, which are known for being harmful to our ecosystem. It seems like, unknowingly, Emmiol is making all efforts to prove why fast fashion is bad!
What’s worse is, Emmiol claims to produce limited batches of clothing in order to prevent textile waste. But a closer look on its website and you’ll realise it’s literally oozing with tons of stock. No wonder the brand offers heavy discounts to flush garments out. So in all senses, Emmiol makes for the ideal greenwashing example.
Is Emmiol Ethical?
No, Emmiol can not be considered ethical, as it doesn’t maintain a transparent supply chain. It neither discloses its suppliers’ list nor has a Vendor’s Code of Conduct that addresses labor rights issues.
Labor Practices
Emmiol mentions that it has set strict standards for its suppliers regarding human rights, transparency, and security- the three parameters of labor welfare. However, the brand doesn’t provide any evidence to back this declaration.
Additionally, there are no labor welfare policies on Emmiol’s website, even though it is a successful label working with manufacturers globally. While it states that its Tier 1 sourcing partners must adhere to a transparency list, there is no proof supporting this statement. The lack of labor rights standards and factory information poses concerns about an ethical supply chain. This also indicates that none of its suppliers are Fair Trade certified.
Again, there is no mention that Emmiol audits its factories. With so much disregard and silence around its supply chain, there’s a possibility that it might be one of the brands that use sweatshops.
Sourcing Practices
Emmiol doesn’t have its own factories. Just like most fast fashion brands, it turns to low-cost East and Southeast Asian manufacturing countries for production. The label says it diligently selects its suppliers and checks them for fair trade and ethical practices. But unfortunately, it doesn’t share details about the criteria for picking its suppliers, leaving room for skepticism.
Without clear information about its sourcing partners, evaluating the ethical aspects of Emmiol’s supply chain becomes challenging.
Child Labor
So far, there have been no reports linking Emmiol to child labor. However, it is to be noted that child labor in the fast fashion industry is a common practice despite being illegal. So, even if it isn’t employing underage workers directly, there’s a possibility that the developing countries it partners with do so.
And with zero information regarding Emmiol’s supply chain, the chances of minors working in its supply chain cannot be eliminated completely.
Overall Rating: 1
Is Emmiol Cruelty Free?
Yes, Emmiol can be marked as cruelty-free. It strictly prohibits animal-derived textiles such as fur, leather, angora, wool, and exotic animal skin or hair in its product portfolio.
However, it doesn’t have a formal animal welfare policy that addresses the brand’s efforts to reduce animal suffering. Without clear policies around protecting animals, it’s uncertain if Emmiol uses animal-based glue or other materials.
Overall Rating: 3.5
Is Emmiol Sustainable?
No, Emmiol is not 100% sustainable. It is certainly taking up eco-friendly initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, but it has a long way to go to become fully sustainable.
For starters, almost Emmiol’s entire range is made from unsustainable materials like polyester, spandex, rayon, acrylic, etc. These materials demand tons of finite resources, with production involving harmful chemicals, high water usage, and significant CO2 emissions. Additionally, they are non-biodegradable, taking decades to break down.
As Emmiol follows a rapid production cycle, it encourages the throwaway culture. And when you discard volumes of garments made from non-biodegradable materials, they rot in landfills polluting the environment. This practice leaves a devastating impact of fast fashion on the environment.
Emmiol mentions including sustainable materials like hemp, linen, and recycled cotton in its collections. But for now, only a small section of its products are made from these fibers. Besides, there is no information that these textiles are responsibly sourced. The label doesn’t even have any ‘Repair or Recycle’ program where it takes back used Emmiol garments for recycling.
The sustainability plan of the brand also aims to use greener packaging materials to minimize environmental waste. However, there are no details about what packing materials is it using exactly. It also refrains from disclosing its Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions which is crucial information to assess its progress towards carbon neutrality.
On the brighter side, it has started tree planting programs with One Tree Planted to neutralize its carbon footprint. Additionally, it has set the 24th of every month as Emmiol Green Day, wherein it donates $0.1 of every purchase made on this date to environmental causes.
While these efforts deserve applause, Emmiol can’t get away with bulk-manufacturing cheaply made garments using unsustainable processes by just planting some trees. It has to work seriously to trace its supply chain, decarbonize each factory, minimize its water consumption levels, and implement wastewater recycling.
Overall Rating: 2.5
Some of the Best Sustainable Alternatives to Emmiol
From pricey to spicy fashion looks, online fast fashion retailers like Ted Baker, Buckle and Shekou have it all covered for you to do some fashion shopping.
But we urge you to consider some of these colorful clothes by some of the best sustainable fashion brands like the following that don’t burn a hole in your pocket:
1. KOTN
Based in Canada, KOTN is home to super-comfortable basics for men and women. What’s special about them is, they exclusively use 100% premium Egyptian cotton and OEKO TEX certified dyes in their entire collection. Meaning, their t-shirts, bottoms, dresses, loungewear, bedding, and bath textiles are designed to give you the ultimate level of comfort. The materials are ethically sourced directly from 2,390 smallholder farmers in Egypt’s Nile Delta and Faiyum regions. As a B Corporation, KOTN aims to uplift underserved communities by creating jobs, infrastructure, systems, and education to alleviate poverty. Plus, every purchase funds the building of new schools.
2. Amour Vert
Amour Vert is a sustainable women-led brand that creates stylish clothing blending relaxed elegance with strong femininity. Embracing slow fashion, its apparel range includes tops, bottoms, dresses, denim, and outerwear that seamlessly transitions from work to a date night. The name “Amour Vert,” meaning “green love” in French, reflects their commitment to eco-consciousness. They choose earth-friendly fabrics, prioritize artisan-made production, and conserve biodiversity in partnership with American Forests®. For every tee sold, a tree is planted in North America, making it a label that not only dresses you in style but also contributes to a greener planet.
3. Sézane
Hailing from Paris, Sézane is renowned for elegant and luxurious womenswear. From party dresses to chic knitwear, Sézane embodies sophistication. What makes the brand unique is its focus on sustainability, using eco-friendly fabrics that enhance the lifespan of its garments. Dedicated to ethical production, it partners with global ateliers to craft each piece with expertise. As a certified B Corp, the brand adheres to stringent social and environmental standards, leveraging business for positive change. It also engages in philanthropic efforts and partners with several charities to give back to society. With an online-first approach, Sézane reaches a global audience while minimizing its environmental impact.
4. Reformation
Don’t miss out on Reformation if you love to dress up super-chic! Its sustainable collection features effortless, feminine designs that enhance your silhouette, making you feel like a goddess. Each piece is crafted ethically in their LA fair trade factory and other verified manufacturers, ensuring safe and healthy workplaces. Creating limited edition collections in small batches prevents overproduction, while their commitment to sustainability includes partnerships with the Fair Labor Association. As a Climate Positive brand, Reformation prioritizes responsibly sourced materials and circularity, making sustainability a central focus.
