A small business owner reveals that she allegedly turned down a collaboration opportunity from a brand accused of creating fast fashion
A small business owner reveals that she allegedly turned down a collaboration opportunity from a brand accused of creating fast fashion.
On June 10, Isabella Mackenzie (@mademymack_), a designer and owner of the Melbourne, Australia-based clothing brand Made By Mack, took to TikTok to share a direct message she’d allegedly received from a representative of the British online retailer Motel Rocks.
“So I got this message on my Instagram and before I did anything, I literally did a 10-second Google search, ‘Is Motel Rocks sustainable?’ because I knew, like many other brands in the same boat as them, they weren’t the best for the environment,” Mackenzie alleges of brands like Shein, who’ve come under fire for allegedly feigning ethical manufacturing practices. “They messaged me on my small handmade clothing business, so this is my reply.”
Motel Rocks was founded in 1999 by British businessmen William Giles and Peter Giles.
Your Sustainable Guide, an online “reference point for an eco-conscious, ethical, and sustainable lifestyle,” does not believe Motel Rocks to be ethical or sustainable as a fashion brand.
“Motel Rocks is not an ethical fashion brand. It is one of those fast fashion retailers selling trendy clothing all the while paying no heed to the ethical issues of the fast fashion industry,” reads their assessment. “Most of their clothing articles are made up of not-so-sustainable fabrics like polyester, elastane, viscose, conventional cotton, etc. The fabric descriptions on their products show no attempt at using eco-friendly fabrics or curbing the use of polyester.”
In the screenshot Mackenzie posted, she asks that the brand refrain from messaging an “individually-owned, small handmade clothing business in regards to collaborating with a massive material waste contributor” and “poor quality production fast fashion brand.”
The “About Us” page on the Motel Rocks website, per Mackenzie, “screams fast fashion” due to the fact they “just say how they were created” and that they’re “dedicated to bring the hottest new trends” to the site.
“Like, not only the overproduction of the clothing and the products themselves is the problem, it’s the source fabrics and materials that are being used for these products that are part of the issue,” she continues. “It’s all just cheap material, polyester being the main one, and this is just the first five products that I clicked on.”
Good On You, “the world’s leading source for fashion brand ratings” that also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 to “ensure sustainable production and consumption patterns,” has also rated Motel Rocks as a company to avoid.
“This brand provides insufficient relevant information about how it reduces its impact on people, the planet and animals. You have a right to know how the products you buy affect the issues you care about,” states Good on You. “Motel is rated ‘We avoid’ overall.”
Mackenzie goes on to question the reasoning behind influencers who choose to collaborate with brands such as Motel Rocks.
“I just don’t understand why nobody would wanna be the face of someone who’s trying to positively impact the environment or even just the fashion industry in general,” she says. “The way you could encourage people to invest in slow fashion or even giving advice into which brands to avoid.”
Mackenzie, who, in addition to having her own brand of handmade clothing, is studying design at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and advocates for increased transparency when it comes to a global company’s manufacturing practices.
‘Having a positive environmental impact is something everyone can improve on’
“I definitely think sustainability surrounding fashion/the fashion industry is so important and something that is being constantly addressed now especially towards bigger (global) brands,” Mackenzie told In The Know by Yahoo via Instagram. She also has yet to receive a reply from the company. “Having a positive environmental impact is something everyone can improve on, it’s one of those things I think that is constantly changing as we are all becoming more aware of our own actions/purchases as well as others who are promoting certain brands for their own financial benefit!”
In The Know also reached out to Motel Rocks for comment but has not heard back as of publication.
‘This is such an integrity move’
TikTok users are praising Mackenzie in the comments, specifically for the ways she’s chosen to stand up against a brand that’s been accused of creating fast fashion.
“i love your response to this situation! It’s very important to hold these brands accountable for the negative impact they have on the environment,” @abel.meelker commented.
“i completely agree with you! personally as a bigger girl i cant find second hand stylish clothing also don’t have the funds but i wish i could,” @megorchardxo wrote.
“This is such an integrity move. You would have no doubt profited from this collab but you stayed true to your morals. I’m following ur Insta,” @xylaria0 replied.
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