When I started to make the switch to more ethical clothing, I was under the impression that Old Navy and GAP products were made with high labor standards due to their Corporate Social Responsibility statement. But then I learned that these statements don’t guarantee enforcement. Thus, the need for ethical alternatives to Old Navy.
In reality, GAP Inc. (the parent company for GAP, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta) has committed some of the worst and most public labor violations, including being linked to Rana Plaza, which collapsed, killing 1,129 people in 2013. They’ve also gotten in trouble for child labor. You can read more on this question here.
So, reluctantly, I decided to make a clean break with Old Navy a few years ago. It’s been a great decision for a number of ethical reasons, of course, but it also helped me break free from a single style and experiment a bit more.
There were also a few ethical brands that aided me in my transition. They’re necessarily more expensive than conventional retailers because they use eco-friendly materials and pay fair wages, but I think you’ll find that they hold up longer than anything you can buy at Old Navy.
A Note on Price Accessibility
Price accessibility is a really important issue to me, and I understand that those shopping Old Navy often do so for financial reasons. While the below options may not work for you, please know that this is not a place for shame.
“Ethical” purchases do not equate to ethical people, because people are not their purchases. Wage stagnation and un/underemployment are systemic issues on a global scale, products of extraordinary disregard for equity and flourishing. That includes those of us living in the US and other imperializing nations. I have included a list of posts on this topic at the end of this blog post.
This post focuses on women’s and adult clothing. Check out my recent post on Sustainable Kids’ Clothes for more suggestions.
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Ethical Alternatives to Old Navy: 15+ Better Brands
Organic cotton, fair trade basics. Shop undies, socks, tights, and flattering clothing made with quality materials. I recommend their cotton tights, a comfortable and thick alternative to standard tights.
Quince uses a factory-to-consumer model to offer lower prices on ethically-sourced goods. With men’s and women’s clothing, classic leather accessories, and even bedding, it’s a great option for high-quality items at lower prices than expected.
Everyday clothing with a decisive point of view made with factory transparency, better-than-average wages, and an increasing number of recycled and organic textile options. While Everlane has made some serious missteps this year, their organic and recycled collections make them an incrementally more sustainable choice than Old Navy.
It received a score of 41-50% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index. It has a basic policy to support diversity and inclusion in its direct operations and supply chain. It claims to have a program to improve wages but there's no evidence it ensures its workers are paid living wages in most of its supply chain.
In terms of child labor, Old Navy does adhere to a strict Human Rights Policy and Code of Vendor Conduct (COVC) that requires suppliers to use age-verification processes to prevent underage workers.
Ethical fashion is focused on ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for garment workers, who too often labor in dangerous and exploitative conditions. On the other hand, sustainability in fashion refers to any practices that reduce the negative environmental impact of manufacturing and distributing textiles.
"I will bear true faith and allegiance ..." Accordingly, we will: Conduct ourselves in the highest ethical manner in all relationships with peers, superiors and subordinates; Be honest and truthful in our dealings with each other, and with those outside the Navy; Be willing to make honest recommendations and accept ...
Unfortunately, in 2021 Old Navy's labour rating went down from “It's a Start” to “Not Good Enough” and has not improved since then. This can be explained by the fact that none of Old Navy's supply chain is certified by labour standards that ensure worker health and safety or other labour rights.
Old Navy is an American clothing and accessories retailing company owned by multinational corporation Gap Inc. It has corporate operations in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco, California.
“We strictly do not tolerate child labor. We treat any violations with utmost severity,” the spokesperson said, adding that “any such violations found would result in the immediate termination of (the firm's) business relationship with the supplier.” This article has been updated with additional information.
Particularly keen on minimising the industry's carbon footprint, sustainable brands often opt for local production or carbon offset initiatives to balance out their environmental impact. But ethical brands will care about their carbon footprint because of its consequences on human health.
In a (sustainably grown) nutshell, ethical fashion is fashion that is better for people, animals, and the planet. It's an umbrella term for the myriad approaches to reducing the fashion industry's negative impact and ensuring the health and well-being of everyone involved.
That being said, ethical fashion brands support fair factory practices: the use of organic textiles like cotton and low-impact dyes and natural fibers and higher quality, against-mass-production manufacturing and improvements on workers' access to healthcare.
Where Does Old Navy Make Its Clothes? Old Navy manufactures its clothes in countries including China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka. You can find a full list of the countries The Gap, Old Navy's parent company, sources its clothes from here.
In what areas does Gap perform well? Gap was awarded a top rating for Ethical Trading Schemes, as its parent company, Next, is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative. This demonstrates that the company is committed to improving the treatment of workers in its supply chain, despite its poor environmental record.
Female shoppers account for a significant share of Old Navy's shopper base at 62.6%, boosted by its ranges of maternity and plus size clothing, and its brand image of being a destination for families. Because of this, it has a stronger penetration among 25-54s, which account for 69.3% of Old Navy's shoppers.
Overall, we give them -21, safe to say that's a nay. This brand's sustainability isn't inspiring and they cater too much to the fast fashion market. We hope in the future GAP will do better. But for now, this brand failed our certification to be ethical and sustainable.
At Old Navy, we believe that everyone is family, that we are better together, that we all belong. We believe in the democracy of style, and a world of equality & opportunity, for everyone.
Where Does Old Navy Make Its Clothes? Old Navy manufactures its clothes in countries including China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka. You can find a full list of the countries The Gap, Old Navy's parent company, sources its clothes from here.
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