Yes, Bershka is fast fashion. It’s known for trendy clothes at low prices, but that comes with some downsides. The brand releases new styles very quickly, uses cheap materials, and may rely on factories with low wages and poor conditions. While Bershka has made some small steps toward being eco-friendly, it’s still far from truly ethical. So, if you’re wondering, “Is Bershka fast fashion?”—the answer is a clear yes. It’s fun and affordable, but not the best choice if you care about the planet and people. Shop smart and balance fashion with a little more kindness.
Let’s be real—if you’ve ever walked into a Bershka store, you’ve probably thought, “Wow, this place is trendy AF.” Crop tops, ripped jeans, oversized hoodies, shiny boots, and Y2K-inspired bling are all screaming your name. But behind those stylish looks and affordable prices lies a question many of us are asking more and more these days: Is Bershka fast fashion? And more importantly, is Bershka ethical?
Grab your oat milk latte and let’s unpack the layers—fashionably, of course.
What is Fast Fashion?
Before we dive into whether Bershka is fast fashion, let’s first understand what fast fashion means. No, it’s not clothes that make you run faster. (Although, some of those sneakers might help.)
Bershka was founded in Spain in 1998. It is a part of the Spanish Inditex Group (which owns brands like Zara, Massimo Dutti and Pull&Bear).
In April 1998, the company was founded as a fast fashion store with a new concept. Its target audience is young people. Bershka will have over 852 shops in 74 different countries by January 2022. Bershka sales represent 10% of Inditex.
Bershka and Pull&Bear, as well as Stradivarius and Pull&Bear, will close their TMall and physical retail locations located in China on August 20, 2022.
Fast fashion refers to cheap, trendy clothing that gets pumped out at lightning speed from the design stage to store shelves. Think of it like fashion’s version of fast food: quick, tasty to the eyes, but not always great for your health—or the planet’s.
Big fast fashion brands often:
- Copy runway trends fast
- Use cheap materials to cut costs
- Rely on mass production
- Change collections frequently (sometimes weekly!)
- Pay workers low wages in developing countries
- Cause environmental damage (think water pollution, textile waste, and carbon emissions)
Sound familiar? If your closet has a few impulsive buys that didn’t even last the season, you’ve probably fallen for fast fashion’s charm. We’ve all been there.
So… Is Bershka Fast Fashion?
Yes, Bershka is fast fashion. There’s no beating around the fashion rack here. Bershka is part of the Inditext Group, the same company that owns Zara, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, and a few other trend-happy siblings. If there were a royal family of fast fashion, Inditex would be wearing the crown and hosting the gala.
Like Zara, Bershka releases new items constantly—sometimes even every week. This means they’re super quick to react to fashion trends, bringing you that must-have mini skirt or dopamine-colored shirt just in time for your next TikTok dance video. But that speed comes with ethical baggage.
Is Bershka Ethical?
Now here comes the tricky part. Being fast fashion is one thing, but being ethical? That’s where things start to unravel like a cheap hemline.
Let’s look at a few ethical concerns:
❌ Worker Rights
Many fast fashion brands outsource production to factories in countries with low labor costs. These factories often have poor working conditions, unfair wages, and limited labor protections. While Inditex claims to monitor their supply chain, transparency is still pretty low. There’s not enough public info about where or how Bershka’s clothes are made.
❌ Environmental Impact
Fast fashion contributes heavily to textile waste, water usage, and pollution. Bershka isn’t exactly a poster child for sustainability. Though they’ve started pushing a “Join Life” label for “eco-friendly” items, critics say it’s just greenwashing (a fancy way of pretending to care about the environment for marketing points).
❓ Animal Welfare
Bershka doesn’t use real fur (yay!), but it still uses animal-derived materials like leather and wool. There’s limited information on whether these are sourced responsibly.
So, is Bershka ethical? The answer is: Not really. It’s trying to look better, but at the moment, it’s still more style over substance.
But Wait… What About the Cute Outfits?
Okay, let’s take a breather and acknowledge the elephant in the dressing room. Bershka’s clothes are fun, fresh, and easy on the wallet. If you’re 18, broke, and need an outfit for that party tonight—Bershka gets the job done. It’s like fashion comfort food.
The real challenge lies in balancing your love for fashion with a growing sense of responsibility. And hey, no judgment—we all love a good deal. But understanding that Bershka is fast fashion helps us make more informed choices.
Is There Hope for Bershka?
Let’s give credit where it’s due. Bershka (via Inditex) has made some efforts:
- A “Join Life” collection made with better materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester
- A recycling program in select stores
- A goal to make all cotton, linen, and polyester sustainable by 2025
Sounds promising, right? Kind of. These steps are like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg. It’s a start, but it’s not a cure.
How to Shop Smarter at Bershka (Or Not at All)
Here are a few fun tips if you’re feeling torn between your wardrobe dreams and your ethical values:
- 👚 Buy less, love more – Choose pieces you’ll actually wear and rewear.
- 🔄 Swap or thrift – Give pre-loved fashion a second life.
- 🧵 DIY it – Turn that boring tee into a crop top. It’s therapeutic.
- ♻️ Support sustainable brands – They may be pricier, but they’re usually more ethical.
More About Bershka
Bershka is a fashion reference for a public that is becoming more demanding. In just two years, it has established its brand in 100 stores. Today, 18 years later, the chain boasts over 1000 shops in 70 countries, and sales of 9% for the entire group.
Bershka’s flexible business model allows it to respond quickly to seasonal changes by bringing in new products. Their creative teams develop the models for every season, taking as inspiration the current fashion trends in the market and the feedback they receive from their shops as well as customers. Bershka’s design team is composed of 60 professionals, who constantly assess the needs, wants and demands of customers. They offer more than 4,000 products each year in their stores.
Bershka Product Lines
Bershka caters to younger people and their needs. It has separate areas for each of its product lines. The products are arranged in each section of Bershka BSK & Man according to the style. This creates a broad spectrum ranging between casual wear, sportswear, and more fashionable items.
This section is the most important. The section is divided into two product lines, Bershka & BSK. The first line focuses on fashion trends and the latest styles. The brand offers a variety of clothing, including jeans, casual, eveningwear and the latest fashion. BSK is a brand that caters to younger people. Its collection is based on the music they like, their rock stars, etc. Men’s clothing is more than just trendy jeans for teenagers. The product line includes casual, sportswear and fashion clothing. Bershka offers not only a large range of clothing but also a variety of accessories and shoes.
Final Verdict: Bershka is Fast Fashion (But You Can Be Smart Fashion)
So yes, let’s make it official—Bershka is fast fashion, and it’s not the most ethical brand out there. It serves up trendy pieces at lightning speed, but at a cost to the environment and possibly the people behind the scenes.
That said, this isn’t about shaming anyone for buying a blazer at 50% off. It’s about awareness. Once you know how the fashion system works, you can decide how you want to show up in it—stylishly and consciously.
Wear what you love, but also love the planet and the people who make your clothes. Now that’s fashion-forward.