Is Hollister Fast Fashion? An Expert Breakdown!

With the advent of fast fashion, many companies changed their policies to fit the new model and earn more. Because even normal people got the chance to wear designs that were usually only found at high-end luxury brands, they rushed to these fast fashion brands to fill their wardrobes which became a huge financial gainer for the companies. This has become a problem for eco-conscious people, though, who like to keep track of who they are buying from. Another company they are curious about is Hollister and in this article, we will determine whether it is fast fashion or not.

Hollister is based in the United States and was established in 2000 by Abercombie and Fitch Co. to make clothing and accessories for teenagers. It is aimed at helping teenagers fit in. It takes into consideration the fact that during teenage years, kids feel out of place and have to navigate to find their style. Hollister made this issue faced by teenagers the heart of its brand identity. It wanted to bring comfort to young adults and offer them a great variety to aid them in finding their style and identity.

Its collection is typically made of jeans, tops, skirts, and hoodies which is the style teenagers usually go for. They are more in need of casual wear for school and outings with friends so Hollister specializes in such clothing. It embodies the youthful aura that surrounds teenagers and the feel of summer in its items.

There is a lot of speculation surrounding the brand’s history but nothing is confirmed because some sources say it was found in the Dutch East Indies but many sources confirm that its first store was opened in Ohio. It gained popularity quickly and today it owns over 500 stores in the United States, Germany, Italy, and Canada. Its collections take you back to the 1900s with its trendy and casual clothes that were famous back in the day. It is inspired by Californian culture exuding carefreeness and fun.

Sustainability Rating: 3/10

Category: Clothing, Accessories, Fragrances, Bags

For: Women, Men

Products: Casual Wear, Swimwear, Fragrances, Purses

Style: Trendy, Classic, Chic

Quality: Low, Medium

Prices: -

Size: 2XS-2XL (International Size)

Fabrics: Polyester, Polyester Blend, Cotton, Spandex, Nylon, Linen, Elastane, Rayon

100% Organic: No

100% Vegan: No

Ethical and Fair: No

Recycling: No

Manufacturing Countries: China, India, Cambodia, Vietnam

Certifications: Not Transparent Enough

 

Hollister has a unique logo with the silhouette of a flying seagull which evokes feelings related to freedom and peace. Seagulls are usually found near the sea which the brand has related to the idea of finding peace in yourself. The logo also encourages teenagers to tread into new territories and broaden their horizons which is a very admirable idea to promote to young kids.

Over time, the world has grown more aware of including all body types, genders, and ages in every aspect. Similarly, fashion brands have been urged to widen their collections to include plus-size clothing, make-up that suits black people, and even gender-neutral clothing. Following this rising awareness, Hollister also changed things to keep up with the modern world. In 2019, it launched its first gender-neutral collection called “Unisex”. Very creative, isn’t it? It features plus-size clothing such as hoodies, t-shirts, and jeans. Its normal collections also feature sizes from XXS to XXL.

As the brand’s main target audience is teenagers, its prices are suited to them as well. It offers competitive pricing that is affordable for young kids and can help them keep up with new trends. However, its sales section is loved by all customers! It features clothing of all types starting from $25 only. Plus, it often puts its items on discounts which you can find out through its website. Moreover, it also has a reward program named “Hollister House Rewards” which provides loyal customers with rewards in the form of discounts or points that they can use during future purchases. This puts forth a very customer-oriented image of the brand to the people.

Moving on to the subject of sustainability, Hollister exhibits many qualities that fit a fast fashion model. It quickly changes its collections according to the new market trends and sells them at cheap prices. Plus, even though it brags about the high quality of its clothing, customer reviews say otherwise. Clothing made cheaply is low-quality and does not last very long.

Moreover, according to the GoodOnYou directory, the brand’s sustainability efforts are “Not Good Enough”. It uses very few environmentally friendly materials and is not concerned with reducing or controlling its chemical output or water wastage. Toxic dyes are found in its clothing which are very harmful to the environment. Moreover, polyester and elastane are the main components used in its clothing and these are known as non-biodegradable fabrics which do not decompose easily. They end up filling landfills and increasing land pollution in addition to releasing toxic fumes. It is used because it is cheap and can be easily found for manufacturing purposes. Many fast fashion brands use polyester in its original form for this purpose.

It has been urged to decrease its textile waste many times through the years but it has taken no steps to do so despite being aware of their effect on the Earth. In terms of being ethical, Hollister seems to be falling short in this aspect as well. It is not concerned about any of the companies or parties involved in its supply chain being certified and according to sources, none of them are certified. This shows that it is the least concerned about worker’s rights or the conditions in which its products are made.

The Fashion Transparency Index gave it a score of 21-30% in terms of being transparent because there is rarely any information relevant to eco-consciousness on its website. It does not have a Code of Conduct protecting the rights of the workers and ensuring a livable wage. More importantly, it manufactures its clothing in countries like China and India which are known for violating labor rights. Doubt towards the company also increased after we found out that it refused to participate in the Bangladesh Accord for workers’ safety in 2021. The most disappointing fact about them is that it has 51 violations against it for employing minors yet it has not changed its ways.

If it is not concerned with human life, we cannot expect the brand to be sympathetic towards animals either and we were proved right because it uses leather and wool. The brand claims to take action soon by partnering with BCCI Cotton to save water but these claims are yet to be proven.

We can safely assume that Hollister is a fast fashion brand that needs to be educated about the importance of being sustainable and playing its part in saving the planet. As of the present, it has not taken any actions to satisfy its eco-conscious customers.

 Sources:

Hollister - Sustainability Rating - Good On You

IS Hollister a Fast Fashion Brand? Is It Ethical? (ethicallyengineered.com)