In Part I of our series on the B Corp News, we analyzed how the ultrafast-fashion brand Princess Polly earned B Corp certification, which has sparked a controversy on whether B Corp should be used as a shopping guide.
This raises important questions: As a sustainability certifying organization itself, what makes Eco-Stylist trustworthy for consumers? How does it differ from B Lab?
Here’s the core differences in a nutshell:
Now, let’s dive into the details behind each of these points.
Who Are We Here For?
At the heart of every certification body lies its mission. It is a guiding principle that shapes all decisions, actions, and impacts. It is precisely because of our core mission that Eco-Stylist could never certify fast-fashion brands.
As we explored in Part I, B Lab aims for systemic change within capitalism by emphasising development, and inclusiveness. Their goal is to build a business community through their improvement framework. In this sense, B Corp certification functions more as a starting point toward achieving their broader mission.
Eco-Stylist, however, stands firmly with consumers. Our goal is creating a practical guidebook. While we support industry improvement and offer guidance to brands, we place our highest priority on real, tangible practices in sustainable production, fair labor, and other critical areas.
This fundamental difference in mission leads to a critical distinction in practice: B Lab’s inclusive, improvement-focused approach means it has, and likely will again, certify fast-fashion companies as part of its theory of change. At Eco-Stylist, however, our consumer-first mission means we will never certify fast fashion. This unwavering stance is a direct result of where we choose to place our ultimate priority.
This fundamental difference shapes your experience as a user. With Eco-Stylist, you get the complete picture: transparent evaluations, performance breakdowns, and clear reasoning behind every certification. We cut through the greenwashing noise so you can make truly informed choices.
How We Fund Our Research: Proactive Over Pay-to-Play
How a certification body is funded shapes whom it serves and whose interests come first.
At Eco-Stylist, the majority of our research is proactive, independent and self-funded. Unlike systems that primarily assess brands who pay to apply, we seek out brands ourselves. While brands can pay for deeper consultation, that doesn’t influence who gets into our guide.
Our team acts like sustainability detectives, researching those that show strong environmental and social practices—as well as those that don’t. We’re building a guide that highlights who to support, and who to avoid.
By prioritizing performance over payment, we avoid the conflicts that can arise when certifiers rely on fees from those they evaluate.
Expertise: We Are Built For Fashion
When it comes to sustainability, fashion is our only focus.
Generic certifications could possibly miss the nuances specific to the fashion industry. At Eco-Stylist, our standards are designed specifically for fashion. We evaluate what actually makes a fashion brand sustainable, not just “responsible” in a broad sense.
This specialized approach lets us recognize true leaders. When you see our certification, you know it represents meaningful excellence in sustainable fashion.
Want to learn more about how we verify them?
👉 Read Our Certification Framework
What Makes a Certification Truly Trustworthy?
So, what makes Eco-Stylist different? Three things:
- A consumer-first mission
- A transparent, proactive research model
- Deep expertise in fashion
We built Eco-Stylist to be a credible guide for people who want to wear their values—not an improvement platform for brands.
Want to see what that looks like in action?
👉 Check out how SAOLA shared their Eco-Stylist certification — and why it represents a new step forward for sustainable style.
Eco-Stylist Certified: A Transparent B Corporation Alternative for Fashion Brands
For fashion brands seeking a more transparent and fashion-specific certification, Eco-Stylist Certified offers a clear alternative to B Corporation. While B Lab takes a broad, improvement-focused approach, Eco-Stylist evaluates brands solely through the lens of sustainable fashion — from ethical labor practices to circular design.
Ready to get certified?
If you’re a sustainable fashion brand looking for a transparent and fashion-focused alternative to B Corporation, explore how to become Eco-Stylist Certified.
Our certification is designed exclusively for fashion — built on ethics, transparency, and accountability that consumers can trust.
Yutong is a sociology student exploring labor, culture, and sustainability through human-centred storytelling. She writes about people, practices, and ideas shaping the future of fashion and society.
