Trends seem to evolve faster than the blink of an eye, welcoming new styles and designs every season. If you've seen a popular activewear brand describe stretchy workout outfits on Instagram and TikTok, that brand is undoubtedly Halara. Besides its popularity on TikTok and Instagram, Halara has drawn attention for its stylish designs and affordable prices. But here is the question: Is Halara fast fashion?
Yes, Halara can indeed be categorized as a fast fashion brand. Halara is a brand that doesn't only follow trends; it also has the potential to completely change how people talk about fashion's lightning-paced evolution.
This post aims to unveil the brand's core identity and understand the broader implications of Halara's position in the fast fashion industry.
Read on!
What is the Halara Fashion Brand?
Halara is a direct-to-consumer clothing brand with a factory in Hong Kong and headquarters in New York City. It was founded in 2020 by Joyce Zhang during COVID-19 and has been successful in fashion ever since. Halara sells activewear, athleisure, loungewear, and basic everyday clothes. Their clothes are made from comfortable, stretchy material, including their proprietary material, Patitoff, a sweat-wicking, quick-drying fabric that's also pet-hair resistant.
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Further, Halara's clothes are designed in classic prints and colors. The brand offers a wide range of sizes, from XS to XXL, and they're committed to providing inclusive sizing for all body types. Although they have a slightly higher price tag than some more dynamic fashion eCommerce platforms like Shein, they are worth the price. Most of the clothes usually come within the range of $35.
Here are the pros and cons of Halara clothing:
Pros
- The cloth collection is designed with comfort in mind.
- Halara's designs are on-trend and modern, so you can stay fashionable.
- The clothing is designed to be functional as well as stylish.
- The clothing comes at reasonable prices.
- The brand includes a free standard shipping offer on orders over $49
- Inclusive sizing
- Halara has a 30-day return policy.
Cons
- Some customers have complained about the fit and sizing, especially with plus-size clothes.
- Customer service can sometimes delay in responding.
- Shipping times may take longer than expected.
Is Halara Fast Fashion?
Yes, Halara is considered a fast-fashion brand. It fits all of the fast fashion brands' criteria. Some of these include:
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1. Quick Turnaround Times
Halara usually releases new collections regularly, meaning they constantly produce new garments. This causes overproduction and waste.
2. Trendy Designs
Halara's designs often draw inspiration from the latest trends, another characteristic of fast fashion brands. This may cause customers to purchase clothing they will only wear for a short period before it becomes outdated.
3. Reasonable Prices
Halara's clothing is reasonably priced, a characteristic of fast fashion brands. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that low prices often come at the sacrifice of sustainability and quality.
Is Halara an Ethical Company?
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1. Labor Practices
Most fast-fashion brands do not manufacture their goods. Instead, they contract with third-party manufacturers. Third-world countries with cheap labor, such as India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, mean that costs may be reduced even more. Since the living standard of these countries is much lower, the brands can easily unfairly pay them, cutting more costs. This allows these brands to disregard ethical practices.
Halara isn't transparent about its labor practices. They don't have a clear policy on ethical or sustainable sourcing. This usually makes it hard to evaluate their ethical impact. However, there have been claims that Halara's clothing is manufactured in sweatshops.
Although Halara claims to monitor its production units' supply chain, it does not provide any transparency for its supply chains or its labor policy monitoring reports on its site.
2. Environmental Impact
Untreated chemicals and other hazardous materials released by textile mills and factories into rivers or oceans are the main causes of water pollution.
Halara's being a fast fashion brand means they manufacture clothing quickly, often at the expense of sustainability. Fast fashion brands mainly contribute to the fashion industry's environmental impact. They usually release a lot of waste and harmful chemicals, contributing to climate change.
Halara doesn't have a recycling policy for its clothing. This lack of policy means that Halara's clothing is largely not sustainable since it's quite difficult to recycle, even after undergoing harmful chemical processing. Besides, they're non-biodegradable and terrible for the environment. A lot of water is wasted in the production of synthetic materials.
3. Animal Welfare Policies
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For consumers who avoid buying from brands that use animal products or that source their raw materials from suppliers that engage in unethical or cruel animal treatment, Halara doesn't use animal-based materials such as animal skin, fur, or other materials. Instead, it uses synthetic fabrics such as nylon, polyester, spandex, cotton, elastane, etc., since it's an athleisure brand. So, animal welfare does not apply as a criterion for this fast-fashion company.
4. Legal Battles
Halara has often been accused of replicating designs from other fashion companies. For instance, in 2023, they were sued by Blogilates for allegedly stealing their Pirouette Skort design.
Blogilates filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Halara, alleging they copied the design of their Pirouette Skort, a high-waisted skort with a built-in pocket. Blogilates claimed Halara's skort was similar to their own, and Halara had copied their design without permission.
Halara denied the allegations, and the lawsuit is still underway. The brand has also been accused of stealing designs from Outdoor Voices, Girlfriend Collective, and clothing companies.
Halara is not the only fast fashion brand accused of copying the designs of high-end and independent fashion houses. Other brands accused of design copying include Forever 21, Shein, Fashion Nova, etc.
Honest Halara Review
1. Drawstring Contrast Mesh Shorts (2-in-1)
The Halara Drawstring Contrast Mesh Shorts are great if you're looking for a stylish, lightweight, cozy alternative to regular shorts. The bike shorts under the mesh fabric offer support while keeping the shorts from riding up. However, the waistband can run tight, so check the size charts before buying.
Image Source: thehalara.com
Another thing to note is that these particular shorts don't have pockets, even bike shorts. However, other Halara clothing has pockets, so you should look into those if you like having pockets.
2. Everyday Crossover Side Pocket Tennis Skirt-Lucid (2-in-1)
This tennis skirt is impressively stylish and comfortable. The white Baltic Sea and baby blue houndstooth pattern is classic, and the crossover design makes it feel light as a feather.
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The waistband looks great, and the built-in shorts offer excellent coverage. Besides, the skirt is relatively short, but the shorts underneath usually keep it from riding up.
Furthermore, this tennis skirt is perfect for a day at the beach. It is ideal for individuals looking for a stylish and comfortable tennis skirt that can also be worn to the beach.
3. Crisscross Backless Plain Ballet Dance Flared Dress (2-Piece)
This Halara dress is a great option if you are looking for a stylish and versatile ballet dance dress. It is designed from a lightweight, breathable fabric, ideal for summer, while the open back provides relief during hot weather. Besides, the shorts are separate from the dress, so wearing them is easy.
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The only issue is that the design can make the front of the dress sag unflatteringly at the waist.
4. Patitoff Pet Hair-Resistant High-Waisted Crossover Plain Leggings
These leggings include a flattering and comfortable crossover waistband. The stylish side pockets elevate them above the status of plain leggings. Besides, you can choose a pair in one of four colors to complement your wardrobe.
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These leggings perform adequately, if not fantastically, in terms of resistance to pet hair. Most fur can be removed by brushing it with your hands, but some may remain. However, they're quite smooth enough that you can keep them fur-free.
5. Cut Out Twisted Side Pocket Barre Ballet Dance Dress (2-in-1)
The dress is designed from thick, stretchy material with built-in shorts and removable bra cups. The pads typically offer good support and fit like a sports bra.
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Wearing the dress might be challenging since it cannot be pulled over the head but must be stepped into. Another issue with the dress is that it might take time and effort to remove it if it's stained.
6. Cloudful® Air High-Waisted Drawstring Side Pocket Plain Full-Length Joggers
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The material of these joggers doesn't look like the photos online. Also, the size of the joggers may be small. You expect them to be loose-fitting, particularly around the ankle cuffs. However, they fit almost as snugly as leggings from top to bottom. In addition, as they're form-fitting, the deep pockets can show lumpily on the thighs.
Frequently Asked Questions on Is Halara Fast Fashion
1. Where do Halara's clothes come from?
Halara has its factory in Hong Kong, while its headquarters are in New York City. According to the shipping number tracking, orders originate at a warehouse in an unknown location and arrive at the first sorting facility in Shenzhen.
2. Does Halara use child labor?
Halara's main production units are unapproved and set up in third-world countries where children often go with their parents to work to earn extra pennies. And factories usually take advantage of hiring underage workers since this helps cut manufacturing process costs.
3. What are Halara dresses made of?
Halara dresses are usually made from high-quality fabrics that are comfortable to wear and that will last for many washes. The exercise dress is an all-in-one garment crafted from stretchy fabric (usually a nylon-spandex blend) with built-in spandex shorts and a slightly flared skirt.
4. Do Halara dresses have padding?
Yes, Halara's dresses have a "low-support" built-in bra. Although it doesn't cling to you like a sports bra, it does give some lift and compression for daily activities. The bra usually comes with removable pads, so you can mold it to your liking.
Featured Image Source: thehalara.com
