Bershka is a fast-fashion brand launched in 1998 and owned by the Spanish multinational Inditex, which also owns Zara, and others. Targeting a younger demographic, Bershka operates more than 1,000 stores in over 70 markets worldwide. As part of Inditex, the brand is implicated in fast-fashion harms including labor exploitation, environmental degradation, and sourcing linked to forced labor in Xinjiang.
Inditex earns a High Impact rating for its role in driving fast fashion’s global harm through environmental degradation, labor exploitation, and political complicity. As the parent company of Zara and other major labels, Inditex accelerates overproduction and landfill waste on a massive scale. Its supply chains have been linked to wage theft, forced labor, and abuse in countries including Brazil, Turkey, and China—where reports indicate continued sourcing from suppliers tied to Uyghur forced labor as recently as 2022.
Politically, Inditex has drawn backlash for supporting harmful narratives during times of active violence. The company stood by a Zara campaign widely interpreted as aestheticizing the Israeli assault on Gaza, dismissing calls for accountability. This, combined with longstanding sourcing and sustainability failures, positions Inditex as a powerful driver of systemic harm in both material and cultural spheres.
Stepping away from the convenience of fast fashion works best when you slow your shopping pace, focus on versatile pieces that last, and keep a shortlist of brands with transparent sourcing and fair labour practices. If shopping at more ethical stores is out of reach, choose the least harmful fast-fashion option you can find, prioritizing higher-quality items you intend to keep for years. The goal is to buy less, choose better, and source smarter, not to eliminate new purchases altogether.
Try these brands:
Everlane
Kotn
Tentree
MATE the Label
Outerknown
Tradlands
Able
Neu Nomads
Whimsy + Row
The Common Good Company
OMNES
Dedicated
CHNGE
Yes Friends
Honest Basics
Toad&Co
Afends
Dawn Denim
Wildflo Studio