Let's Talk About Quality: A Love Letter to Our Revolving Wardrobe Community
Hey lovely humans!
We need to have a chat about something important, and we promise to keep it real, positive, and judgment-free - this comes from a place of love and excitement for what we're building together.
Here's the Thing
Our revolving wardrobe has grown into something truly special - your generosity has been amazing! But It's more than just a place to swap clothes, it's a movement, a community of people who genuinely care about each other and our planet. Every item you donate is essentially a gift to a friend you haven't met yet. How lovely is that?
But lately, we've noticed something: the quality of donations has been slipping, and we're seeing more ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein and Temu in the mix. More and more items arriving at our wardrobe are falling apart after just one wear, and quite a few still have tags from brands like these attached. We get it, these platforms are tempting, with their rock-bottom prices and endless scroll of trendy pieces. But here's the thing: when these items land in our revolving wardrobe, they're just not holding up their end of the bargain.
So we're introducing a gentle new policy, and we want to explain why it matters to all of us.
“SHEIN Sustainability rating: Avoid
Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate SHEIN “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:
It uses few lower-impact materials.
It follows an unsustainable fast fashion model with quickly changing trends and regular new styles.
There’s no evidence it’s taking meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals in manufacturing.
It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but there’s no evidence it is on track.
There’s no evidence it’s taking actions to minimise microplastic impacts.
Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate SHEIN “Very Poor”. These are a few factors influencing its score:
Most of its final production stage happens in China, an extreme risk country for labour abuse.
There’s no evidence it provides financial security to its suppliers, which can result in poor working conditions and wages.
There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it did not disclose adequate policies or safeguards to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.
Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate SHEIN “Very Poor”. These are a few factors influencing its score:
It has an animal welfare policy aligned but is not aligned with the Five Domains.
It appears to use leather, wool, down, exotic animal hair, and decorative feathers.
It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.
Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate SHEIN “We Avoid” overall.
Last updated 2025-02-13”
Why this matters (and it's bigger than you think):
When you pop something into our wardrobe, you're not just clearing out your closet, you're giving a gift to someone in our community. And every gift deserves to be something special, something that'll genuinely brighten someone's day and last for more than a few wears.
The reality check on ultra-fast fashion:
We're not here to shame anyone's shopping choices, but let's talk facts. Recent investigations have found that some ultra-fast fashion items contain concerning levels of lead and hazardous chemicals, up to 20 times the safe amount in some children's clothing. That's not just an environmental issue; it's a health one for the people wearing these clothes.
Then there's the human story. Workers making these garments often face 18-hour days with minimal pay, and there are serious concerns about forced labour in supply chains. When we buy better, we're voting with our wallets for fair treatment of the people making our clothes.
And it’s not great news for your wallet - yes the clothes are cheap, but they don’t last so you have to buy more.
And environmentally? These brands are flooding the market with such enormous volumes that even their "recyclable" pieces can't keep up with the waste they create. Mountains of discarded fast fashion, literally visible from space, are piling up in places like Chile's Atacama Desert and Ghana.
So, what's our new approach?
From now on, we're asking everyone to embrace a "Buy Less, Give Better" philosophy. This means:
✨ Quality over quantity – Choose pieces that have life left in them, things you'd be genuinely excited to give to a friend. The well made items you’ve genuinely loved. Better still if they are made of natural fibres that last & breathe.
✨ No ultra-fast fashion brands – We're excluding items from Temu, Shein, from donations – please find somewhere else to pass them on
✨ Think about the journey – Every item you donate will be someone's treasure, so let's make it a good one.
The beautiful ripple effect:
When you shift to buying better quality, even more so if it's second-hand, you're creating positive change that echoes through our whole community. Better quality means:
Items that actually revolve through multiple loving homes instead of heading to landfill after one wear
Supporting ethical brands and workers who are paid fairly
Reducing the 323 square metres of land and 12 cubic metres of water per person that textile consumption demands
Keeping harmful chemicals away from our bodies and our planet
Building a wardrobe (and a community) that truly lasts
You're part of a movement:
Being in the Revolving Wardrobe isn't just about swapping clothes, it's about being part of something bigger. It's a community of people who look out for each other, who understand that every choice we make sends a message about the world we want to create. Research shows that when just 25% of people change their behaviour, it can establish a whole new norm. You're the 25%. You're the change-makers.
Moving forward together:
We know change can feel challenging, but you've got this! Shop your own wardrobe first, explore charity shops and second-hand platforms, choose quality pieces that'll last, and when you donate, think: "Would I be thrilled to receive this?"
Every item you bring is a gift. Let's make them gifts worth giving.
With love and gratitude,
The Revolving Wardrobe Team 💚
Resources:
Good on You - sustainable fashion & beauty brand ratings. It’s well worth looking up your favourite brands. At least then you know what you are buying.
UK based alternatives (
Yes Friends a UK-based fashion brand that creates more affordable responsible clothing for everyone
OMNES says OMNES means ‘all’. It’s our name because we are all in this together. We created OMNES to help change the way you shop, wear and think about clothing and to encourage the rest of the industry to change too. We want to do fashion differently.
Plant Faced Streetwear without the sweatshops. Plant Faced is about promoting a new wave of consciousness that supports the non-harming or exploitation of any beings - humans, animals, or plants. 100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free — down to our inks, dyes, fabrics and materials.