Nasty Gal
Rated: Avoid
Price: $
Location: UK
Quick verdict
Nasty Gal represents one of fashion's starkest transformations. From Sophia Amoruso's beloved vintage eBay store to an ultra-fast fashion brand under Boohoo Group ownership. It scores at the lowest possible level across sustainability assessments, and Eco-Stylist scored it -45 points (the floor). The brand's "All Things Considered" sustainable collection of fewer than 40 items amid thousands of weekly drops is textbook greenwashing.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Manchester, United Kingdom (Boohoo Group)
- Founded
- 2006
- Product categories
- Fast Fashion, Womenswear
- Price range
- $
- Key certifications
- None. No certifications of any kind
Nasty Gal sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Overwhelmingly 100% polyester or polyester blends—a negligible sustainable collection uses small amounts of recycled fabrics and unverified organic cotton. No meaningful shift from petroleum-based materials.
As a Boohoo Group brand, directly implicated in the Leicester scandal. Labor practices are rated as inadequate across sustainability assessments. No evidence of living wages anywhere in the supply chain. Fashion Transparency Index: 21–30% (2022).
Drops up to 1,000 new styles per week. No hazardous chemical reduction evidence. Uses renewable energy in direct operations but not in the supply chain. No water use reduction efforts documented.
Boohoo Group disclosed tier 1 suppliers in 2021, but Nasty Gal-specific supply chain data is nonexistent. Sustainability claims are made at group level with vague, unmeasurable targets. "More sustainably sourced" has no legal definition.
Listed prices appear premium ($50–$286) but perpetual 50–70% sales reveal true fast-fashion pricing. The site disclaims that "original prices" don't reflect actual former selling prices. Trustpilot shows ~4 stars but Sitejabber shows 1.6/5, with pervasive refund complaints.
What they do well
- Inclusive sizing: Ranges from XS to 2XL (US 0–14), including petite options
- Vintage heritage: Originally pioneered an authentic vintage-curation model that championed secondhand fashion
- Distinctive brand identity: The brand's aesthetic and cultural identity remain distinctive within the Boohoo portfolio
- Sustainable collection acknowledgement: Small "All Things Considered" collection at least acknowledges sustainable materials exist, even if negligibly implemented
Room for improvement
- Universally condemned by sustainability platforms: The brand receives the lowest possible sustainability rating; Panaprium rates it 2/10; Eco-Stylist scores it -45 points. Condemned across every independent sustainability platform
- Deceptive pricing model: Products listed at inflated "original" prices with perpetual 50–70% discounts mask the true fast fashion economics and encourage overconsumption
About Nasty Gal
Sophia Amoruso launched Nasty Gal as a vintage eBay store in 2006, named after Betty Davis's 1975 funk album. The business grew explosively. From $223,000 in 2008 to $100+ million by 2012, earning Inc. Magazine's "Fastest Growing Retailer" title. Amoruso's 2014 autobiography #GIRLBOSS became a New York Times bestseller and inspired a Netflix series.
The decline was equally dramatic. Lawsuits alleging pregnancy-based firings, toxic culture reports, and hyper-expansion led to Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2016. Boohoo acquired the brand's IP for just $20 million in February 2017: a fraction of its former $200M+ valuation. Keeping only a small LA creative team while moving operations to Manchester.
Under Boohoo, the brand shifted from curated vintage to mass-produced fast fashion. Products are manufactured across 30+ countries including China, Bangladesh, India, Turkey, and the UK. Materials are overwhelmingly virgin polyester and conventional cotton. The sustainable collection comprises fewer than 40 items at any time out of thousands of products.
Pricing operates on a permanent discount model: a sequin dress listed at $122 sells for $48.80 at "60% off." Standard US shipping is $8.99. The brand competes directly with other Boohoo portfolio labels, sharing the same supply chain infrastructure. Including the factories implicated in the Leicester scandal.
Product highlights
Sequin Lace Trim Mini Slip Dress
Polyethylene sequin with polyester lining
~$49 (60% off from $122)
Entirely petroleum-based materials; inflated "original" price
Satin Square Neck Maxi Slip Dress
100% polyester maxi dress
~$49 (60% off from $122)
Demonstrates the brand's reliance on virgin polyester
Slinky Off Shoulder Maxi Dress
95% polyester, 5% elastane
~$67 (54% off from $147)
Typical polyester-elastane blend with deceptive pricing model
Floral Ruched Tie Front Tunic Dress
100% polyester floral print
~$62 (60% off from $154)
Listed as "premium" pricing despite standard fast fashion construction
