Is Alo Yoga Fast Fashion? An Expert Breakdown!
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The past few decades have made people increasingly aware of the planet and the harm that human activities have been inflicting on it. People are becoming desperate to make a change and have a role in transforming the rapidly depleting Earth. One of the ways that they think they can contribute is through fashion. They look towards fashion brands to be more eco-conscious because a significant percentage of global warming and toxic waste is being released by the fashion industry.
This is the reason that there has been a high demand for brands to be transparent in recent years. People like going through their websites and observing their efforts towards sustainability. The brand that we are looking at today is Alo Yoga. It was established in 2007 in Los Angeles by best friends, Danny Harris and Marco DeGeorge. They came up with the idea of Alo Yoga after becoming interested in yoga as a means of getting rid of anxiety and body pain.
The brand wants to share the “transformative power of yoga” with the world because Alo Yoga does not start and end on a mat. It is a lifestyle that assists you through every activity. Alo Yoga is for everyone, whether you’re a yogi looking for the most comfortable yoga wear or if you’re someone just looking for fashionable contemporary clothes for a day out. It caters to men and women, providing them with shorts, tops, bras, and even accessories such as yoga mats and gym bags, everything that you may need to get your life on track.
Alo Yoga designs its clothing in a way that helps you move comfortably and lends you flexibility. The brand believes that mindful movement is necessary for a healthy life. That is why it promotes the idea that Alo Yoga can help you on and off the mat. It is a constant companion that encourages you to bring responsible and healthy change in your life.
This makes creativity essential for the brand because it is making garments that not only provide comfort but look fashion-forward as well. It tries to incorporate trendy designs with high-quality materials to make the perfect yoga clothing.
Sustainability Rating: 5/10
Category: Clothing, Accessories
For: Women, Men
Products: Tops, Shirts, Sweatpants, Hoodies, Gym Mats
Style: Casual, Contemporary
Quality: Medium, High
Prices: -
Size: -
Fabrics: Polyester, Organic Cotton, Spandex, Viscose, Elastane, Linen, Leather, Nylon
100% Organic: No
100% Vegan: No
Ethical and Fair: No
Recycling: No
Manufacturing Countries: Los Angeles, Indonesia, Portugal, China, Vietnam, Turkey
Certifications: Not Transparent Enough
Alo Yoga’s success was boosted by many celebrities like Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner who took to the streets wearing the brand’s clothing, popularizing a minimal yet luxurious look. The name of the brand stands for “air, land, ocean” promoting the unity of all the elements of nature that lead to a balanced life.
The team behind Alo Yoga believes that yoga is a lifestyle that we can adopt to improve our lives for the better. It is so committed to the cause that it holds regular yoga classes at its stores in which employees can participate. In addition to clothing, it has also expanded to skincare that uses organic materials to encourage harmony with nature.
Alo Yoga cannot be called a fast fashion brand even though it does follow a few fast fashion archetypes. This is because, in terms of price, Alo Yoga is not cheap. It does not manufacture clothes that can only be worn a few times. It uses premium-quality materials to make sturdy clothing that lasts a long time and develops Alo Yoga as a trustable brand. The use of good raw materials is the reason behind its slightly expensive prices.
Also, Alo Yoga comes out with seasonal collections. Fast fashion brands typically introduce new collections every other day or week. Lastly, fast fashion brands are ignorant of the Earth’s condition and continue wasting natural resources and releasing toxic fumes. Alo Yoga seems to set itself apart from such brands.
Alo Yoga tries to use natural fibers like cotton and rayon in its products and has been utilizing recycling strategies and trying to reduce waste. By using high-quality materials, Alo Yoga prevents its clothing from being dumped in landfills where waste generates toxic gases like carbon monoxide which is a very harmful gas.
It has headquarters in Los Angeles which is run on solar power so that the brand can continue to reduce its carbon footprint. Moreover, it has an advanced recycling program that ensures that the least number of materials end up as waste. It also uses low water dyes so that the brand’s water consumption can be lessened.
Another facet that sets Alo Yoga apart from fast fashion brands is that it does not use sweatshops at all. It has been platinum certification awarded by WRAP that ensures safe working conditions and fair wages for all employees. Also, as we mentioned before, all employees have access to a yoga studio where they can relax and learn proper yoga techniques.
The brand has also been working on building a solar farm that can power up to 100,000 bulbs when the sun’s down. Many brands have been turning towards solar energy recently because not only is it eco-friendly but also a renewable resource.
Alo Yoga has installed electric car charging stations at its stores and headquarters to control fuel consumption and managed to bring its total waste down to that of a single household which is nothing for such a huge brand.
However, the brand is not 100% cruelty-free as it uses some animal products in its clothing like leather and wool but its new skincare collection is vegan. Alo Yoga’s cafes are organic and plant-based. This shows that perhaps the brand is finally paying more attention to being cruelty-free as well.
It also has small initiatives meant to spread awareness about yoga and its benefits in less developed communities especially to children. With illnesses like anxiety and depression reigning wild, Alo Yoga aims to provide children with the necessary skills to overcome such hurdles and surround themselves with positivity through the power of yoga.
We deem Alo Yoga a brand well on its way to achieving 100% sustainability but it still has a lot to do. It is quite transparent and progressive in its efforts and we highly recommend this brand to eco-conscious people.
Alo Yoga: What You Need To Know About The Athleisure Brand (luxe.digital)
Is Alo Yoga Sustainable? Let's Talk About Yoga Clothing (yogic-experience.com)
100% Sweatshop Free, Eco-Aware & Certified Ethical | Alo Yoga