Is Vans A Fast Fashion Brand? An Expert Breakdown!
Share
A footwear brand for teenagers and young adults that takes you back to the classic style and can be used for any occasion at an affordable price sound too good to be true. No such brand can surely exist. Think again, because Vans offers you this exact package with limitless trendy and unique designs that appeal to individuals of every age bracket.
This huge brand that has now taken over the world was started by two brothers, Paul and James, who were interested in manufacturing and providing shoes for Californian customers. Their main focus was skateboarding shoes for kids who wanted to imitate surfing but on land. So, they created exactly that! A collection of shoes called “Authentics” is made to assist people in skateboarding due to its vulcanized rubber bottoms that provide a great grip. The business did not immediately take off in its initial days. Instead, in 1974, a group of kids defining the “Authentics” shoes as being perfect for skateboarding, became regular customers and that was the start of the brand’s globalization.
It’s a wonder how Vans managed to retain its popularity in times of such changing trends. However, a dive into the history and the world of Vans reveals that what the brand cherishes more than anything else is creativity and purpose. It started as a company wanting to promote self-expression and keep the skateboarding culture alive, but with such rapid growth, it has branched out to selling accessories and clothing as well, while also trying to maintain the image of a global brand. However, it believes that it is important to hold on to its roots and the reason that they were able to get to where it is now. The secret behind its popularity is the durability and timelessness of its footwear.
It still has various collections of shoes similar to the ones that it started with. Moreover, in addition to collaborating with famous retailers and manufacturers, it maintains good relations with the local communities that helped it in the earlier days.
Sustainability Rating: 4/10
Category: Clothing, Accessories, Shoes
For: Women, Men, Kids
Products: Old Skool, Authentic, Platforms, Hoodies, Tops, Beanies
Style: Trendy, Classic, Vintage, Formal
Quality: High
Prices: $45.00 - $300.00 (US)
Size: 6.5 – 17.0 (International Size)
Fabrics: Polyester Blend, Viscose, Cotton Blend, Nylon, Polyester, Cotton, Acrylic, Acetate, Canvas, Suede
100% Organic: No
100% Vegan: No
Ethical and Fair: No
Recycling: No
Manufacturing Countries: China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Georgia, Serbia, Turkey, Bulgaria
Certifications: LEED Platinum, WRAP
With the increase in scrutiny of brands’ sustainability ratings, Vans does not reach the mark needed to be classified as an ethical and sustainable brand. Most of the ratings that it has received from environmental agencies are “It’s a Start” or “Not Good Enough”. It does use some eco-friendly materials in its products but the efforts are not suitable for a huge brand such as Vans. It has set many targets to reduce water and greenhouse emission waste but there is no evidence of whether it is being implemented or not. The general outlook one perceives of Vans is that it is quite careless about its carbon footprint.
It has introduced an entirely eco-friendly collection called “Eco Theory Collection” which uses ethically sourced materials and organic and recycled fibers. This was created as proof of its solidarity against global warming and its increasing efforts to save the planet. Moreover, it has implemented a policy advocating no waste production at its factories to minimize land pollution. Plus, its transportation from the factories to the stores already produces a lot of harmful gasses and substances.
Moving on to its ethical and labor practices, it received a score of 61-70% by the 2022 Fashion Transparency Index which is a great achievement for the brand. While we did find some information on some of its aspects, many of its labor practices are still largely unknown which keeps its level of fair practices unclear. It promotes diversity in its supply chain and it is often praised for its inclusivity. One can deduce that this is due to its humble beginnings collaborating with local manufacturers and retailers and that it still encourages diversity in its production processes. However, there is no proof that Vans pays a livable wage to its employees.
Its rating for animal protection is also not good enough as it does have policies regarding strict actions against animal cruelty but it continues to use leather and some other animal products in its collections. It claims to have them sourced from non-toxic and non-cruel origins but this statement is yet to be proved with actual evidence.
We can still praise them for not using angora or fur in its products, which are some other popular materials that brands love to use to make their products more appealing. But Vans has the goal of reducing greenhouse emissions by 2030 for which it has received massive support and praise.
It can be said that Vans is making intense efforts to become a sustainable brand but it still has a long way to go. To overcome this hurdle, we recommend other sustainable footwear brands for environmentally-conscious individuals who wish to spend their money on eco-friendly alternative brands instead.
Cariuma and Seavees are two such brands that consider sustainability one of their top priorities. They use renewable materials such as bamboo and organic cotton in the production process to reduce waste production and encourage recycling. SeaVees even incorporates plastic bottles in its footwear to encourage durability and recycling which is an applaud-worthy initiative. These brands represent merely a drop within an ocean and you can find many more ethically and sustainability sound brands if you wish to make a change on your end.
However, as far as fast fashion goes, Vans can be considered a fast fashion brand because while it does value the quality and durability of its products, it also tends to keep up with fashion trends and introduces new collections as soon as a new design or style is popularized in the market.
Sources:
History of Vans: How the Sneaker Brand Penetrated Pop Culture – Footwear News
How Ethical Is Vans? - Good On You
Embrace Footwear Sustainability: Discover Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Vans — Sustainable Review