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Founded in the 20th century, Dior is an iconic luxury fashion house that has revolutionised womenswear in its own way. Sadly, the brand isn’t doing enough to reduce its impact on people, the planet, and animals. Keep reading to learn more about why we rate Dior “Not Good Enough”.This article is based on the Dior rating published in January 2022.
Is Dior ethical or sustainable?
Founded in the 20th century by Christian Dior, Dior has revolutionised womenswear in its own way. The designer is most well known for being the creator of the “New Look”, a modern silhouette at the time, which broke with tradition by emphasising women’s hips and busts.
The maison, which is owned by LVMH, has been dabbling in sustainable fashion: inspired by Dior’s love of gardening, Maria Grazia Chiuri recreated a forest for the Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020 runway, promising to replant the trees in the Parisian region after the show.
But is this enough? How ethical is Dior?
Environmental impact
When it comes to the environment, Dior uses few responsible materials and has set an intensity target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its supply chain. However, there’s no evidence it’s on track to meet its target. Dior has eliminated some hazardous chemicals from its supply chain but has not set a time-bound target to eliminate all hazardous chemicals. We also found no evidence Dior minimises textile waste. Using some lower-impact materials alone is not enough and the brand no doubt has the resources available to do better for the planet. For all these reasons, we rated Dior’s environmental impact “Not Good Enough”.
Labour conditions
Unfortunately, Dior’s labour rating is also “Not Good Enough”. Although its final stage of production is undertaken in medium risk countries for labour abuse, the brand received a score of 21-30% in the Fashion Transparency Index. We also couldn’t find evidence Dior implements practices to support diversity and inclusion in its supply chain. More importantly, we found no evidence it ensures payment of a living wage. Plus, Dior does not disclose policies or safeguards to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19. The “iconic” brand has a long way to go for workers.
Animal welfare
Dior’s animal rating is “Very Poor”, our lowest rating. Dior is one of these luxury brands that are still harming animals for profit. The brand has a basic formal policy to protect animal welfare. The brand still uses fur, down, leather, wool, and exotic animal skin and hair. It traces some animal products to the first stage of production, but again, that’s simply not enough. What’s more, despite a petition demanding the brand go fur-free, Dior hasn’t made any obvious moves to remove the cruel fabric from its line. As material innovations hit the shelves, we hope to see these luxury fashion houses—who can certainly afford it—investing in animal-free options.
Overall rating: Not Good Enough
Overall, we rate Dior “Not Good Enough”. The brand has made small improvements since we last reviewed it, such as setting a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emission in all of its supply chain instead of just its own operations. It’s also using some lower-impact materials. However, the luxury fashion house still needs to reduce its use of harmful chemicals, ensure it pays its workers a living wage, and consider our animal friends. In any case, there’s still a very long road ahead.
Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see ourHow We Ratepage and ourFAQs.
Luckily, there are some “Good” and “Great” alternatives to Dior. We recommend these responsible luxury brands that offer high quality and beautiful pieces.
Good swaps
More ethical alternatives to Dior
Stella McCartney
Rated: Good
A member of the Ethical Trading Initiative and Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Stella McCartney has set some excellent environmental standards across the luxury fashion industry. Stella uses some lower-impact materials, including recycled polyester and organic cotton, and has a strategy in place to reduce waste across its entire supply chain. It has also adopted the ETI Code of Conduct that includes a living wage definition.
Find most items in sizes 34-52.
Shop Stella McCartney @ LVRSustainable.
Opera Campi
Rated: Good
Founded in 2017, Italian brand Opera Campi creates premium quality garments from locally-sourced raw materials. By using a balanced approach to sustainability, the brand makes conscious choices throughout its supply chain and donates 4% of its profits to social causes.
The brand is inclusively sized from 3XS-3XL.
HYER GOODS
Rated: Good
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HYER GOODS is an NY-based, leather goods label that curates handmade products including handbags, wallets, and accessories. By upcycling "trash" it eliminates the massive energy footprint needed to cultivate land, livestock, crops, and fertilisers, while simultaneously reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfill. Less energy and less pollution mean fewer greenhouse gases.
Aiayu
Rated: Good
Danish sustainable luxury brand Aiayu offers building blocks to a conscious home and wardrobe, with an emphasis on quality and time enduring designs. Established in 2015, Aiayu products are created with care for the environment, its workers, and the wearer. The brand embodies its belief that the combination of a product’s origins, more sustainable production, and environmental impact are equally as vital as its aesthetics.
Find most items in sizes XS-L.
Bianca Spender
Rated: Good
Bianca Spender is Australian fashion royalty, who has taken sustainability into the heart of her label. From smart workwear to statement gowns, this is a label that employs the highest standards of design and quality. Bianca Spender uses deadstock fabric and natural fibres, making all her garments in Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited factories. Find the range in S-L.
Mashu
Rated: Good
Mashu is a British more sustainable vegan accessories label specialising in handbags. Mashu’s environmental rating is "Good", crafting its exterior with vegan leather alternatives while its interiors feature vegan suede made from recycled polyester, ensuring you never have to sacrifice your morals for style again.
Bario Neal
Rated: Good
Bario Neal is a custom jewellery designer that creates handmade rings and fine jewellery with conflict-free diamonds and other gemstones. The brand uses responsibly-sourced materials, including reclaimed precious metals, Fairmined gold, and more ethically-sourced stones to bring to life each of its uniquely designed pieces.
Vintage shops
Next time you’re in your favourite second hand shop, why not have a look for vintage (or more recent) Dior items or Dior alternatives? You never know what amazing treasures you might find. If you prefer shopping for vintage items online we recommend having a look at Vestiaire Collective.
When in doubt, rent it out
Nowadays, many websites allow you to rent dresses, items, and bags for an event, so think about this option next time you want to dazzle the crowd with a Dior saddle bag.
Editor's note
Feature image via Unsplash, additional images via the brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world's most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use the directory to search thousands of rated brands.
As a seasoned expert in the field of sustainable and ethical fashion, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience to shed light on the environmental and ethical practices within the luxury fashion industry. My expertise is rooted in a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding sustainable fashion, ranging from material choices and labor conditions to animal welfare concerns.
The article in question scrutinizes the renowned luxury fashion house Dior, emphasizing its environmental impact, labor conditions, and animal welfare practices. Let's delve into each concept discussed in the article:
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Dior's Environmental Impact:
- The article mentions that Dior uses few responsible materials and has set an intensity target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is a lack of evidence that the brand is on track to meet its targets. Dior has eliminated some hazardous chemicals but lacks a time-bound target for eliminating all hazardous chemicals. Additionally, there's no evidence of minimizing textile waste.
- The overall assessment is "Not Good Enough," suggesting that despite some efforts, Dior needs to do more to address its environmental impact.
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Labor Conditions at Dior:
- Dior's labor rating is deemed "Not Good Enough," with the final stage of production taking place in medium-risk countries for labor abuse. The Fashion Transparency Index scored Dior in the range of 21-30%, indicating a lack of transparency in its supply chain. The article notes the absence of evidence regarding diversity and inclusion practices, payment of a living wage, and policies safeguarding workers from COVID-19 impacts.
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Animal Welfare Practices:
- Dior's animal rating is classified as "Very Poor," the lowest rating. The brand is criticized for still using fur, down, leather, wool, and exotic animal skin and hair. Despite a petition advocating for a fur-free stance, Dior has not made significant moves to eliminate these materials from its production. The article emphasizes the need for luxury fashion houses to invest in animal-free options.
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Overall Rating and Alternatives:
- The article concludes with an overall rating of "Not Good Enough" for Dior. While acknowledging small improvements, such as a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the brand is urged to further address harmful chemical usage, fair wages, and animal-friendly practices.
- Alternative brands with better ethical and sustainable practices are recommended, such as Stella McCartney, Opera Campi, HYER GOODS, Aiayu, Bianca Spender, Mashu, and Bario Neal.
In conclusion, this comprehensive analysis underscores the importance of scrutinizing luxury fashion brands for their ethical and sustainable practices, providing readers with valuable insights into Dior's performance and offering ethical alternatives for conscious consumers.
