Is Windsor Fast Fashion? An Expert Breakdown!

Picking your favorite fashion brand today is like having to choose the best needle from a sack of similar needles. There are many of them and among them, most are doing well in the market because it’s the age of fast fashion, and it's always a competition with one brand coming out at the top sometimes and other times, it is another. It’s a constant battle. However, it is not a battle for you, rather for us, it is a tough choice to limit ourselves to one store at a time.

We are happy to make your choice even tougher this time as we delve deep into the history and practices of another fashion brand today; Windsor! Before starting with what we found, let’s analyze the name as the company itself has explained. The W stands for working hard no matter what and to keep pushing forward. I and N is for integrity and the constant need for improvement. D and S is a reminder to always smile and do more without overthinking or indulging in negative thoughts. Lastly, O and R stand for organization and respecting the team that works together day and night to put out such an amazing collection of clothes.

Seeing such a heartfelt breakdown of the name gave us chills. It highlighted that the company has given a lot of thought to keeping a friendly environment at work while being dedicated to the work. The name stands for utter devotion to fashion and being absolutely in love with it because only a true fashion lover can pull their heart out while designing clothes in such a condensed market.

Windsor focuses on the creation of women’s clothes, hoping to inspire and empower women across the world. As women's rights are being brought to the limelight regularly now, more and more fashion brands are looking to mold their identity to help the growth of women, both physically and psychologically. Windsor is no different. It believes in the power of beauty and how it has been lending confidence to the wearer through clothing for generations.

 

Sustainability Rating: 3/10

Category: Clothing, Accessories

For: Women

Products: Tops, Dresses, Skirts, Shoes, Bags

Style: Chic, Elegant, Formal, Vintage  

Quality: Medium, High

Prices: $15.00 - $200.00 (US Dollars)

Size: XS-XL (International Size)

Fabrics: Chiffon, Lace, Satin, Tulle, Sequins, Organza

100% Organic: No

100% Vegan: No

Ethical and Fair: No

Recycling: No

Manufacturing Countries: China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, Africa

Certifications: Not Transparent Enough

 

Windsor was established in 1937 to use clothing and accessories to bring out the best in women and help them shine. It refused to restrict itself to a casual wear store or a high-end luxury store, instead, it created what it wanted for women in all walks of life and for whatever occasion. So, its collection contains T-shirts and jeans but also wedding dresses and clubbing dresses!

Times have changed tremendously from the 1900s and fashion continues to change today but for Windsor, one thing remains constant; the Windsor dream. The Windsor dream of making beauty accessible to all women against all odds remains true in the face of all challenges. It calls itself an “oasis that inspires and empowers women”. The term oasis immediately makes you think of that one respite in the middle of a desert and Windsor hopes to be just that. It aims to be that store that every woman thinks of when she needs a cute top or an emergency dress for a work party.

Started by the Zekaria family, it has grown from a single store to a whopping 200 stores across the US and even a website for online shopping. The Zekaria brothers started it as a lingerie store which gained enough attention for the brothers to seriously think about expanding it. A store with high-quality clothes but affordable pricing was a dream even back in the 1930s. Soon, they slowly integrated women’s clothing and accessories into their collections as well which was a decision hugely supported by women.

Our first impression right after opening the website was that the brand cares for beauty and its representation. Its vast collection is such that it can be a part of the biggest moments of your life from your first day at college to your dream wedding. How great is that!

Moreover, the brand promises that its team of designers constantly researches and experiments, even seeking advice from experts to come up with better fabrics and unique designs to make its loyal customers happy and attract new ones.

However, it is disappointing to note that Windsor seems to be following the general trend of fast fashion like other fashion brands as well. It mass produces any new design that gains traction and abandons it once the trend dies out. This is the common practice that all fast fashion brands follow. These abandoned clothes all ultimately end up in a landfill which is no surprise to anyone because the heart of fast fashion is the immediate abandonment of a fleeting market demand.

According to customer reviews, the quality of the clothing is quite good at cheap prices which is a plus point. But once again, it makes one wonder how the brand managed to use premium quality fabrics and sell them for such low prices. It is probably because it uses easy-to-use fabrics that are toxic to the environment and are not biodegradable. Despite many eco-conscious people raising their voices against the company for adopting fast fashion, Windsor refuses to answer or change its policies to accommodate eco-friendly practices. To make it worse, it uses fur in its products which is a huge violation of animal rights. Many animal rights activists have protested against the company and asked them to stop but it has decided to remain silent in the face of such pressure as well.

On a positive note, the company seems to be ethical as it ensures that all of its workers are provided with a safe and friendly environment at work on its website. It makes sure that all the factories and vendors it works with are against human trafficking and slavery which is a big plus. However, Windsor is said to have factories in countries such as India and China which are a hub for unethical treatment of workers and unsafe environment. However, it promises that it is ethical in its supply chain and will continue to be so.

Windsor can then be concluded to be a fast fashion brand that needs a lot of improvement in terms of sustainability. It seems to be ignorant towards the urgent needs of the Earth and is showing no plans about it either. It is ultimately your choice to choose high-quality fashionable clothes or our dying Earth.

 Sources:

Windsor Fashion at Greenwood Park Mall - A Shopping Center in Greenwood, IN - A Simon Property

Windsor Dresses Review - Must Read This Before Buying (honestbrandreviews.com)

Windsor Compliance | California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (windsorstore.com)