Forever 21
Flagged · AvoidFast-fashion chain built on ultra-cheap, trend-chasing clothing at high volume. It filed for bankruptcy in 2019 but kept operating, still dependent on rapid product turnover and supply chains linked to labor exploitation and environmental waste.
Last updated June 13, 2026
↓ Skip to 5 ethical alternativesReasons to avoid
Issues span:Labor
- An investigation by the Los Angeles Times found that workers in Los Angeles factories supplying Forever 21 were paid as little as $4 to $7 for 10-hour workdays, well below California's minimum wage, with some reporting 12-hour shifts without overtime pay. Contract manufacturers told the Times they were under constant pressure to cut costs to retain their Forever 21 contracts, a dynamic workers said made legal wages functionally impossible.
- Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy for the second time in six years in March 2025, closing all 354 of its remaining U.S. stores and putting more than 9,200 employees out of work. The company reported losing more than $400 million over its final three fiscal years and listed liabilities of up to $10 billion, with its chief restructuring officer saying the company had been unable to find a path forward given foreign competition and rising costs.
- The 2024 Remake Fashion Accountability Report gave Forever 21 a score of zero out of a possible 150 points, placing it among the lowest-ranked companies evaluated across the entire fashion industry. Remake found Forever 21 provided no meaningful transparency about its supply chain, disclosed no credible sustainability targets, and showed no evidence of action on climate impact, textile waste, or worker wages.
Ethical alternatives
Fashion
ThredUp
Online consignment and thrift store for second-hand fashion at affordable prices.
👗 Second Hand♻️ Sustainable
Visit →
Poshmark
Social marketplace for buying and selling new and used clothing, shoes, and accessories.
👗 Second Hand♻️ Circular Economy
Visit →
Reformation
Sustainable fashion brand using eco-friendly materials and carbon-neutral shipping.
♻️ Sustainable
Visit →
Girlfriend Collective
Activewear and basics made from recycled materials in ethical factories with transparent supply chains.
♻️ Circular Economy
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Pact
Organic cotton basics and activewear made in Fair Trade Certified factories.
🌿 Organic🤝 Fair Trade
Visit →Common Questions
- Is Forever 21 ethical?
- An LA Times investigation found Forever 21's Los Angeles factory workers were paid as little as $4 to $7 for 10-hour workdays, well below California's minimum wage, with contract manufacturers under constant pressure to cut costs. The 2024 Remake Fashion Accountability Report gave Forever 21 a score of zero out of 150 points, the lowest possible rating, with no supply chain transparency and no credible sustainability targets.
- Why are people boycotting Forever 21?
- Wage theft from factory workers and a complete lack of supply chain accountability are the most cited reasons. Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy for the second time in March 2025, closing all 354 U.S. stores and putting 9,200 employees out of work, after losing more than $400 million over its final three fiscal years.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to Forever 21?
- ThredUp and Poshmark offer secondhand fashion at comparable prices without the labor exploitation. Pact makes organic cotton basics in Fair Trade Certified factories. Girlfriend Collective produces activewear from recycled materials in factories with transparent supply chains.