Quince has carved out a niche as a “luxury for less” brand, offering silk blouses, Mongolian cashmere, and linen basics at prices that seem too good to be true. But in a fashion industry where affordability often comes at a cost to people and the planet, we had to ask-what’s really behind Quince’s price tags?
Despite its minimalist aesthetic and promises of direct-to-consumer transparency, our deep dive into Quince’s sustainability practices reveals a troubling disconnect between the brand’s polished image and its ethical reality. Quince fails to meet basic standards across the board: it discloses no supply chain information, provides no assurance of fair labor conditions, and offers only modest progress in environmental responsibility.
So, is Quince really redefining conscious luxury? Or is it another example of a brand using sustainability buzzwords to build trust without accountability?
Let’s explore the facts.
Is Quince Fast Fashion?
While Quince doesn’t resemble your typical fast fashion giant with weekly drops or $5 crop tops, it still shares the DNA of fast fashion in more subtle ways.
Quince’s business model revolves around mass production of trendy wardrobe staples, rapid restocking, and incredibly low price points for materials like cashmere and silk. These are classic fast fashion hallmarks-high volume, low cost, and speed. What makes Quince more dangerous is the veneer of quality and ethics that gives it cover.
The brand claims to eliminate the middleman to bring consumers “ethical essentials” at affordable prices. But without transparency around how these products are made-no factory disclosures, no third-party labor certifications, no evidence of living wages-it’s impossible to verify if Quince’s pricing is ethical or just cleverly disguised exploitation.
Fast fashion isn’t just about style cycles-it’s a system that prioritizes profit over people and the planet. And while Quince isn’t fast fashion, it is very much a part of that system.
Is Quince Greenwashing?
We made a video about it. In under 6 minutes, I lay out 5 reasons Quince fails our sustainability test — fair labor, transparency, greenwashing, and more.
Is Quince Sustainable?
Quince presents itself as a responsible alternative to traditional luxury brands. Their site highlights a commitment to sustainable materials, reduced packaging waste, and factory audits-but the reality is far more opaque.
To start, Quince earned just 12 out of 49 points in the “Sustainably Made” category. That’s not the score of a sustainability leader-it’s not even a passing grade. While the brand does use some eco-friendly materials like organic cotton and touts OEKO-TEX and GOTS certifications, this only applies to a small fraction of its products.
Crucially, Quince provides no evidence of measuring or reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, or hazardous chemical discharge-critical indicators of a brand’s environmental footprint. Without this data, sustainability claims remain just that: claims.
It’s clear that while Quince may dabble in sustainable practices, it lacks the systemic commitments needed to truly be a sustainable brand.
What Materials Does Quince Use?
Quince markets itself on quality and longevity, often highlighting luxurious materials like Mongolian cashmere, Mulberry silk, and organic cotton. While this sounds promising, the brand’s lack of transparency undermines these claims.
For example, Quince does use GOTS-certified organic cotton and OEKO-TEX certified fabrics, which signals some effort to reduce toxic chemical use and environmental harm. However, the extent to which these certified materials make up their overall product line is unknown.
Even more concerning is their use of animal-derived materials, such as cashmere and alpaca wool, with no clear animal welfare policy in place. While the company highlights ethical sourcing, it provides no third-party verification or details about the treatment of animals, workers, or ecosystems impacted by these materials.
In short, Quince is choosing some better materials-but without clear percentages, supply chain traceability, or animal welfare standards, it’s impossible to gauge their actual impact.
Is Quince Carbon Neutral?
No, Quince is not a carbon neutral company-and there’s no indication that they’re actively working toward that goal.
Carbon neutrality requires measuring emissions, setting reduction targets, and offsetting what can’t be eliminated. These are foundational steps for any brand claiming environmental consciousness, yet Quince fails to disclose even the basics.
There is no public data on their greenhouse gas emissions, no mention of carbon offset programs, and no climate action plan available on their website.
Without transparency or science-based targets, Quince’s environmental claims ring hollow.
Does Quince Have a Clothing/Shoe Recycling Program?
No, Quince does not offer a clothing or shoe recycling program.
Unlike forward-thinking sustainable brands that invest in circular fashion-think resale, repair, take-back schemes, or recycling-Quince offers nothing to extend the life cycle of its products. That’s not sustainable design; that’s linear fashion thinking.
Circularity is a vital part of true sustainability. It shows that a brand is thinking beyond production and profit and considering what happens to garments when consumers are done with them.
Is Quince Ethical?
When it comes to ethics, Quince leaves us in the dark.
Despite its branding as a transparent, values-driven company, Quince earned 0 out of 33 points in our Fair Labor category. That’s a glaring red flag.
There is no public disclosure of factory names or locations, no third-party labor certifications, and no evidence of living wage commitments for garment workers. We don’t know where Quince products are made, under what conditions, or by whom.
Where Are Quince Clothes/Shoes Made?
That’s a question Quince doesn’t answer-and that’s a problem.
Quince provides no public factory list, no information about manufacturing locations, and no insight into the working conditions or wages of their garment workers. This level of opacity is unacceptable for a brand claiming to prioritize transparency.
Is Quince Vegan and Cruelty-Free?
No, Quince is not a vegan or fully cruelty-free brand.
The company promotes products made from animal-derived materials like alpaca wool, Mongolian cashmere, and silk. While it claims to source responsibly, there is no overarching animal welfare policy or third-party verification for most materials. The one exception is their down, which is certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS).
Still, RDS down makes up a small portion of their offerings. Without brand-wide animal welfare standards or transparency, customers are left guessing about the ethical treatment of animals in their supply chain.
Quince Brand Rating: How Sustainable is Quince Clothing Really?
Here’s how Quince stacks up using the Eco-Stylist sustainability criteria:
Transparency: 0/14
Quince does not disclose its factory locations, supply chain details, or audit information. There is no public roadmap for transparency improvements.
Fair Labor: 0/33
The brand provides no information on wages, working conditions, or certifications ensuring safe and ethical labor practices.
Sustainably Made: 12/49
Quince uses some certified organic and OEKO-TEX materials, but these efforts are limited in scope. There’s no evidence of progress on emissions, waste, or water use.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI): 4/4
Quince meets Eco-Stylist’s DEI standards at the leadership level and shows some initiative in inclusive hiring.
Our Principles: 0
Our three principles are designed to help ensure we only promote the best brands. While Quince isn’t technically fast fashion, we easily could have deducted points for our other two principles: does the brand inspire us and do we trust the brand?
In this case, we chose not to deduct points. But it’s worth noting that their “Our Factories” page is borderline greenwashing. It tries to make you feel good about where the clothes are made without giving you any concrete data like a factory list, factory names, etc.
Quince Overall Score: 16/100
Despite a polished image and some better material use, Quince’s lack of transparency, ethical labor practices, and environmental accountability leaves it far behind truly sustainable brands.
Ethical Alternatives to Quince
If you’re drawn to Quince for its minimal aesthetic, elevated basics, and “luxury for less” promise, here are three sustainable brands that deliver on style-and ethics.
1. Outerknown
Eco-Stylist Gold-Rated
Outerknown leads with quality and substance. Their timeless essentials-like soft sweaters, coastal-inspired layers, and travel-ready basics-mirror Quince’s aesthetic while exceeding expectations in ethics. With 90% preferred fabrics, Fair Labor Association affiliation, and a pre-loved resale program, Outerknown proves that sustainable luxury isn’t a fantasy.
2. Everlane
Eco-Stylist Silver-Rated
Everlane’s clean, minimal style is nearly a one-to-one match with Quince. From crisp button-ups to cozy cashmere and denim, their collections offer that curated, capsule-wardrobe appeal. While they’ve faced accountability challenges in the past, Everlane has made strides in material sourcing, wage transparency, and carbon labeling.
3. Pact
Eco-Stylist Silver-Rated
If you love Quince for its comfort and price point, Pact is a go-to. With Fair Trade-certified factories and GOTS-certified organic cotton, Pact delivers everything from underwear to hoodies with a casual, wear-everywhere vibe. It’s one of the most accessible and genuinely ethical brands out there.
Each of these brands is a meaningful step up from Quince in both ethics and environmental care.
Why Trust Our Ratings?
At Eco-Stylist, we research fashion brands to help you find and support the best brands on Earth. Our rigorous sustainability criteria cover transparency, fair labor, environmental impact, and inclusion-so you can shop with confidence.
Learn more about our rating system and discover 100+ ethical brands in our brand guide.
Garik Himebaugh is the founder of Eco-Stylist, the go-to resource to find ethical clothing. He’s also a sustainable personal stylist and international speaker on all things sustainable fashion. Garik loves coffee, climbing, and clothes.
