Is Champion Fast Fashion? An Expert Breakdown!

December 18, 2023

Champion, which is also known as Champion U.S.A., is a clothing brand that specializes in sportswear and is owned and marketed by HanesBrands, an American apparel company based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Hanesbrands also owns the labels Hanes, Bonds, Playtex, Bali, Wonderbra, Maidenform, Berlei, L'eggs, Just My Size, and Barely There.

Champion produces and markets a variety of items, such as accessories (bags, hats, collectibles), footwear (sandals, sneakers, socks), and casual wear clothes (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, leggings, shorts, jackets, undergarments).

The Feinbloom Brothers founded the business in 1919 under the name "Knickerbocker Knitting Company." The Michigan Wolverines and the firm quickly came to a deal for the production of team uniforms.

"Champion Knitting Mills Inc." was the new name given to the company in the 1930s when it started making hoodies and sweatshirts. The US Military Academy quickly began using Champion goods in its physical education and training regimens.

The Sara Lee Corporation bought Champion in 1989. From the 1970s through the 1990s, Champion provided uniforms for certain NFL teams as well as all NBA teams for use on the field and in retail. Numerous prestigious universities have purchased apparel from it as well.

Even though Champion is a well-known company that has been in existence for more than a century, it falls under the fast-fashion category.

Sustainability Rating: 5/10

Category: Clothing, bags, accessories, shoes

For: Women, men, kids

Products: Tops, sweatshirts, jackets, hoodies, jeans, leggings, shorts, loungewear, activewear, knitwear, underwear, shoes, bags, accessories

Style: Casual

Quality: High

Price: $

Sizes: XS-2XL, 2-14 (US), 34-44 (EU), 4-16 (UK), 4-16 (AU)

Fabrics: Cotton, lyocell, viscose, elastane, polyester, acetate, nylon, acrylic, knit, spandex, leather, wool

100% Organic: No

100% Vegan: No

Ethical & Fair: Yes

Recycling: Yes

Manufacturing countries: not transparent enough

Certifications: GOTS, Oeko-Tex, FSC, RCS

Interpretation Of The Sustainability Score

If a brand is rated 5/10, it is somewhat on the right track to make fashion sustainable. It is more transparent and responsible than most apparel brands and takes massive action to reduce its impact.

What Are The Sustainability Practices Of Champion?

Champion claims that they understand the impact they have on the environment over the course of their products' lifetimes as a company that contributes to the global apparel production industry.

Their goal is to employ more environmentally friendly versions of the materials they use most frequently, polyester and cotton. In addition, they'll endeavor to make their single-use plastic packaging recyclable so that, if it's not generally recyclable or compostable, they can get rid of it by 2025.

70% of their cotton comes from nations like the United States and Australia, which have more environmentally friendly land, water, pesticide, and labor methods.

The brand states that they have been making items with recycled polyester for almost ten years, and at the moment, they use around 15 million pounds of recycled polyester annually.

For the production, distribution, and office spaces held by HanesBrands, they are striving to utilize less water and electricity, lower carbon emissions, and prioritize renewable energy sources.

Additionally, they are a member of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organization (APCO) in Australia as a part of the Hanes Australasia Group. Reduced environmental effect in Australia is the result of more sustainable packaging.

Through their partnership with PACT Group, Australia's pioneer reusable hanger program, they are reusing shop hangers to keep them out of the trash and lower their carbon footprint.

Are There Any Ethical Practices Of Champion?

Champion states that Human rights and ethical sourcing are important to them, and they hold both themselves and their suppliers to high ethical standards.

They manage an ethical sourcing program under the direction of their parent business, HanesBrands, and they are a fully accredited member of the Fair Labor Association (FLA), a globally renowned multi-stakeholder labor rights group.

Their program examines social compliance to ensure that their policies are being implemented and to identify areas where they can continue improving through annual factory audits.

Additionally, the brand proudly states that the Baptist World Aid has acknowledged them for their dedication to sustainability and ethical sourcing.

In their 2021 Ethical Fashion Report, Champion and other Hanes products received a grade A rating. Champion was also placed in the top 20% of the organizations evaluated in 2022.

Furthermore, the brand states that it pays fair wages to its workers and expects its suppliers to comply with all wage laws, pay the minimum wage or the applicable prevailing wage, whichever is higher, and offer any fringe benefits mandated by the law or a contract.

They also pledge to provide a safe and healthy work environment to their workers and do not demand employees to work more hours than what is permitted by law in the nation in which they are employed.