Is Grey Bandit Fast Fashion? An Expert Breakdown!
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Grey Bandit is like a breath of fresh air among various fashion brands with its drive towards conveying confidence to customers and also advocating for mental health awareness. Founded in 2017 by triplets, Lindsey, Courtney, and Robert Glasser, Grey Bandit has grown into a multi-million-dollar business that has a significant presence on social media.
The story behind Grey Bandit is quite interesting as the brand was merely a senior year project by the two sisters who always knew that they wanted to do something related to fashion since 2015 when both of them spent several months shopping obsessively but were not satisfied by brands who were either not affordable or did not sell clothing suited to their tastes.
When it was time to do their senior project in college, the sisters decided to give this brand a go. Inspired by their mother who is an entrepreneur herself, they faced many challenges from people doubting their abilities and not having enough. However, their mother advised them to wait at least 3 years before abandoning the project and this advice turned out to be life-changing for the siblings who saw tremendous growth in the brand. While they gained a few thousand followers in the initial months after its inception, 6 years later Grey Bandit has surpassed $5 million in sales and has amassed over 150,000 followers on Instagram.
A lot of the drive behind Grey Bandit is related to the sisters experiencing anxiety and depression after the COVID-19 era. The physical and mental isolation in addition to the constant atmosphere of fear had very devastating effects on the younger generation who felt like they were deprived of their youthful years. People tend to ignore the mental health decline that took place during post-covid years but the founders of Grey Bandit want to spread awareness regarding it as much as they can.
The first line on the About Us page on its website says,
“It's okay not to be okay. Just know that even when you're not okay, you're still loved, valued, and beautiful.”
Sustainability Rating: 2/10
Category: Clothing, Accessories, Shoes, Bags
For: Women
Products: Dresses, Outerwear, Boots, Necklaces
Style: Trendy, Classic, Vintage
Quality: Low, Medium
Prices: -
Size: S – 3XL (International Size)
Fabrics: Polyester, Polyester Blend, Acrylic, Cotton, Cotton Blend, Elastane, Nylon, Spandex
100% Organic: No
100% Vegan: No
Ethical and Fair: No
Recycling: No
Manufacturing Countries: Not transparent enough
Certifications: Not transparent enough
The team of Grey Bandit believes that to look beautiful on the outside is important but the inside should be able to shine as well. Many women find it difficult to gain confidence about their looks, and the brand acknowledges the arduous journey towards loving oneself but it wants to play a part in letting women know that it can be a companion to them. This simple but strong message hits a chord within every young person in this modern age who tries to find solace in things like fashion, music, and books.
Moreover, Grey Bandit being made by young girls had the advantage of knowing how young people think. The sisters were avid users of Instagram and TikTok and knew that if one sees videos about a brand at least seven times, they would be tempted to buy from it. So, they turned to Instagram influencers and sent them their favorite products to wear and promote. People loved the trendy and vintage designs offered by Grey Bandit and they saw a rise in not only the brand’s following but also its sales.
In addition to its clothing that attracts the young, the strong message behind the brand also plays a huge role in attracting a wide audience. Also, it has a collection called the “Care Collection” which offers tees, hoodies, sweatshirts, and more and has beautiful and uplifting messages printed on them like “You are gold, baby!” Plus, 30% of all purchases made in its “Ride the Wave” collection will be donated to mental health facilities which showcases the authenticity and genuineness of the brand.
Now we wonder whether Grey Bandit puts similar care and attention towards sustainability practices as well or not. Through a thorough investigation, we were able to deduce that Grey Bandit is a fast fashion brand and does not practice sustainability. This was quite a shocking and sad discovery for us as the brand seemed to be everything that Gen-Z is looking for nowadays. However, it seems like this is where the positive qualities end.
The brand does not use many organic or recycled materials except for one swimwear collection which it claims is made of 100% polyester. Other than that, it seems to use normal cotton, polyester, and similar products. This is a clear sign that the brand must be using cheap and low-quality materials to produce the items because brands using high-quality materials tend to be transparent. Plus, the fact that it offers clothing and accessories at very affordable prices is another indicator of the use of cheap materials.
They do not even specify where the items are manufactured except that they are imported, which seems to be a subtle way of saying that they exploit the laborers in third-world countries. Any Code of Conduct or certifications were not found on the website which could point towards ethical practices taking place in the factories. This means that the brand does not particularly care for its workers which casts a shadow on its entire brand ideology of caring for people’s mental and physical health.
Moreover, the brand’s owners have admitted to Grey Bandit being fast fashion themselves as they talked about gaining a lot of influence from Instagram and wanting to recreate something like that. They wanted to put forth the concept and aesthetic of being a normal girl going about her life wearing clothes from Grey Bandit. A key indicator to recognizing a fast fashion brand is that they thrive off of copying and selling market trends and discarding them once the trend dies.
Still, Grey Bandit seems very customer-oriented as it always tries to place itself in the customers’ shoes and bring collections that would be a physical manifestation of their deepest desires. The brand likes to hold contests encouraging young designers to send in their works and be selected to work on the team or have their collections featured on Grey Bandit’s website. This is a great way to inspire young talented individuals and bring more creativity into the fashion world.
Despite this, Grey Bandit remains a fast fashion brand that still seems miles away from starting its sustainability journey. With such a moving message as its foundation and dedicated owners who seem genuine in their pursuit, we hope that Grey Bandit realizes its responsibility towards the people and the planet soon.
Sources:
All About The Grey Bandit Influencer Program (netinfluencer.com)
Grey Bandit is the cute clothing brand you keep seeing on TikTok (intheknow.com)
How Grey Bandit Used Influencer Marketing To Reach $5 Million In Sales (forbes.com)