Last Updated on March 3, 2022
If you love colour and avant-garde style, then you’ll adore Uterqüe.
The Spanish brand is known for its contemporary yet timeless aesthetic, but as well as being über stylish, is it ethical and sustainable?
READ MORE: The Sustainable Drop: This Month’s Most Exciting Eco-Friendly Fashion Launches
Uterqüe was established in 2008, offering pieces ‘that take inspiration from free spirited people who love to celebrate their individuality.’
Uterqüe recently closed its website as well as 27 stores in Spain as it prepares to be combined with Massimo Dutti.
While the move has been labelled Uterqüe’s ‘fall from grace,’ we’re still expecting to see the brand’s unique style over at its sister brand.
If you feel like the brand’s clothes are a perfect fit for your personal style, but want to know its stance on sustainability before investing in their pieces, I’m here to fill you in.
Wear Next may receive a small commission if you click a link from one of our articles onto a retail website and make a purchase.
Is Uterqüe sustainable?
The most important thing you probably should know about Uterqüe is that it’s part of the Inditex group. Yes, it’s a sister brand of Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius and even more brands owned by the group.
Similarly to those mentioned, it does have a Join Life collection as outlined in Inditex’s environmental policy, which offers products that are made using water-and-energy-saving technologies.
Some of the products are also made with eco-friendly materials such as recycled cotton and Lyocell REFIBRA.
However Uterqüe still operates as a fast fashion brand, much like the other companies in the Inditex group, so many of the products they produce will still end up in landfill.
Read Inditex’s Environmental Policy.
READ MORE: Is House of Sunny Ethical and Sustainable?
Is Uterqüe ethical?
Under Inditex’s policy on transparency, modern slavery and human trafficking, Uterqüe promises to work with suppliers that meet its ‘stringent demands’ and ensure that all of the workers in these factories are offered safe working conditions.
There is, however, no proof that it is making good on this promise, according to Good on You.
Uterqüe, like its sister brands, scored 51-50% in the Fashion Transparency Index, which is OK but still leaves a lot of space for improvement.
Uterqüe’s Animal Welfare Policy
The brand follows Inditex’s blanket animal welfare policy, which promises to uphold the group’s agreement with the Fur Free Alliance.
It doesn’t sell products that contain any type of animal fur (coyote, fox, sable, mink, and more). However, it does still sell products that contain leather.
READ MORE: Swapping Clothes Has Never Been Easier, Thanks to This New Platform
Wear Next Opinion
Wear Next believes it’s important to highlight the negative and unjust practises taking place in the fashion industry. We believe ethics and sustainability are an important talking point to bring about change and we encourage you to contact fashion brands to demand this.
However we understand that sustainable fashion isn’t accessible for every body due to various factors, such as budget and the ability to find confidence-boosting clothes that fit. We will continue to offer you fashion inspiration and guidance to suit every body and budget, while also highlighting the unjust systems at play in the fashion industry.
