As someone who aims to make ethical and eco-conscious buying choices, I was immediately intrigued when ads for Outerknown starting popping up on my Instagram feed. Cool clothes that don‘t cost the earth? Sign me up! Their sustainability focus combined with effortlessly stylish designs had me hooked. Over the last year, I‘ve purchased several Outerknown items to see if this brand walks the walk on responsible manufacturing.
My Qualifications as a Reviewer
I don‘t profess to be a fashion expert, but I do my best to carefully research brands and vote with my dollars to support good corporate citizenship. After earning my business degree in 2010, I founded a successful retail store focused on promoting fair trade designers and artisans. Simultaneously, I managed social media and marketing for an organic cotton clothing manufacturer for 5 years. Suffice to say, I know my way around apparel supply chains and what constitutes truly ethical production.
Now, I mainly share my shopping discoveries as an influencer on Instagram. I only recommend brands I have personally vetted and bought from. All opinions here reflect my actual user experience with Outerknown.
An Overview of My Outerknown Review Highlights
- Outerknown makes quality eco-conscious apparel but has some misses
- Materials, manufacturing and sustainability practices are exemplary
- Customer service and quality control need improvement
- Signature styles live up to promises while new items are less consistent
- Prices toe the line between fair and inflated values
- For maximum satisfaction, stick to classic bestselling designs
I‘ll unpack the specifics on all these summary points next as I spotlight Outerknown‘s successes while constructively calling out their shortcomings.
The Genesis of a Surfer‘s Sustainable Apparel Quest
Kelly Slater is widely considered one of the greatest professional surfers ever. But spending decades immersed in ocean swells, he grew increasingly troubled by the apparel industry‘s harmful impacts. Conventional clothing manufacturing generates staggering levels of water waste, chemical runoff and microplastic pollution.
When Slater set out to launch Outerknown in 2015, his goal was to create stylish, high-performance clothing while restoring environmental balance. He assembled a team of designers and supply chain experts to reimagine sourcing, production and distribution through a lens of social responsibility.
By harnessing organic cotton, recycled materials and fair trade rubber tapping, Outerknown has undoubtedly raised the bar for ethical brands focused on timeless style. But do their products 100% live up to the promise? I decided to find out.
Putting Outerknown‘s Principles to the Test: My Experiences Buying Eco-Chic Surf Style
As an influencer, I‘m lucky that brands sometimes send me complimentary items to review. But I insisted on purchasing everything myself to relay an authentic opinion. Across three orders over the last year, I‘ve bought and tested:
- Women‘s Blanket Shirt
- Wayward One-Piece Swimsuit
- High-Rise Skinny Jeans
- Deck Shorts
- Bridgeport Top
- Men‘s Nomadic Shorts
- Men‘s Long Sleeve Rashguard
- And more!
I chose pieces spanning wardrobe basics to outdoor adventure styles to assess performance claims. The retail cost tallied over $2000, so I expected great things. Next I‘ll break down where Outerknown delivered and where they disappointed.
Where Outerknown Gets It Right: Sustainability, Materials and Mission
As a brand born of environmental activism, Outerknown‘s commitment to lightening the apparel industry‘s footprint shows at every turn. Their materials, manufacturing approach, supply chains and recycling programs aim to mitigate or eliminate harm.
- 90% of materials are organic, recycled or regenerative like fair trade rubber
- Green manufacturing technologies drastically reduce water use
- Bluesign and Fair Trade USA certified
- Transparent supply chains and ethical labor policies
- Encourages recycling old clothes into new via Renew Fibre program
Additionally, the quality of materials shines through across most items I purchased. The soft organic cotton provides unbeatable comfort. And cool touches like coconut buttons and rescued fishing nets transformed into trim prove that ethical can also be stylish.
Their vibrant Instagram community, partnerships with environmental groups, and corporate initiatives like funding ocean cleanup also telegraph an authentic commitment to change. No one can question Outerknown‘s passion or intentions. But operational realities still miss the mission bar.
Where Outerknown Falls Short: Quality Control, Sizing, Customer Service and Value
Given the brand‘s roots and promises, I wanted silky smooth purchasing and ownership experiences to reflect corporate principles. Unfortunately, Outerknown still struggles with growing pains surrounding consistency, quality assurance and service shortcomings.
Across my 3 online orders spanning 10 items, 2 had easily fixable flaws, 3 came sized incorrectly, and 1 arrived with a permanent fabric defect. My customer service outreach encountered radio silence twice, Eventually solved only after DMing company leadership profiles on Instagram to spotlight the gaps.
Outerknown‘s unfinished dialing in of quality control and customer experience combined with lofty pricing left me questioning value across some purchases. While I love their goals, the execution is still hit or miss.
Quality & Sizing Struggles
My first package set the inconsistent tone. I loved my blanket shirt but had to exchange my jeans because of skewed sizing. Next I had stitching unravel the first time I washed a top. Then one swimsuit arrived with a visible manufacturing defect.
I understand occasional issues but for $100+ price tags, quality assurance should ensure flawless condition upon arrival. Especially given most pieces ship from within the US versus overseas where delays can impact stock integrity.
While imperfect items only represented 30% of my orders, tight size variances compounded problems. Even consulting detailed fit guides, over 25% of pieces needed returns for incorrect size – alternating between uncomfortably tight and billowing loose. This likely contributes to the 2 star rating for "sizing" seen on site reviews.
While craftsmanship and materials shine, lapses to scale manufacturing seamlessly permit too many slips through the cracks. And the next pain point frequently exacerbates matters.
Customer Service Challenges
With multiple performance issues in materials, manufacturing, and sizing, I hoped customer service would provide an efficient lifeline. Unfortunately, the support experience posed its own challenges.
On two occasions, I emailed about defects or sizing issues. Both times, I waited over 2 weeks with no reply. It was only after I leveraged social media contacts stating my intent to spotlight the lack of response that I received prompt outreach to remedy problems.
Considering Outerknown‘s position in the premium apparel segment, these delays and need to publicly call out service gaps don‘t align with brand prestige or pricing. Especially when benchmarking against competitors.
I‘m glad Outerknown eventually owned and resolved my issues. But buyers spending $200+ per item deserve white glove service from the start rather than having to chase down assistance or spotlight dissatisfaction just to be heard.
Price Versus Value Parity
In defense of Outerknown‘s elevated price points, using organic materials, eco manufacturing methods, ethical labor and fair trade sourcing drives up costs. So I‘m willing to pay higher price tags because I like what they stand for. But value perception suffers when too many items show up flawed or incorrectly sized.
Retailing t-shirts from $60 to $90 and jeans for $200+, buyers expect perfection. While Outerknown wants to signal premium quality through pricing power, the overall experience isn‘t yet matching those numbers. Issues with defects and proportional inconsistencies leave room for improvement to command current sticker prices.
Comparisons with brands targeting conscious buyers at similar price points make the value gaps clearer. Alternative apparel companies like Amour Vert and Cuyana position themselves as premium via exemplary materials and flawless quality control. I‘ve ordered dozens of items from both brands with zero defects or sizing issues and near instant customer service response times.
Until Outerknown dials in tighter supply chain oversight and customer support, costs at luxury levels feel slightly out of sync.
Outerknown Signature Items That Deliver
While smaller product run issues clearly need attention, Outerknown absolutely wins when it comes to their cornerstone designs shoppers love most. Blanket shirts, jeans, hoodies, sweat shorts and rash guards receive rave reviews for stylish comfort and durable quality.
Focusing on nailing hero items over rapid assortment expansion would do them favors. Especially as juggernauts like Levi‘s and Patagonia now offer organic collections. The more Outerknown perfects what built their foundation rather than chasing trends, the better.
I wholeheartedly recommend sticking to customer favorites you see employees and ambassadors wearing again and again in social posts when dipping your toe into the Outerknown experience. Their staples fully deliver on ethical style promises when newer drops occasionally miss marks.
Final Verdict: Room for Improvement But Still a Win for Conscious Shoppers
At the end of the day, while Outerknown hasn‘t achieved operational nirvana just yet, their commitments to restoring environmental balance through apparel can‘t be denied. They walk the walk so much more than the majority of brands that attempts at greenwashing crash as empty marketing ploys.
Yes, they need to button up quality assurance and sizing consistency issues. And customer service response times require serious improvement to match premium pricing. But in the realm of ethical fashion, we need trendsetters that might stumble while stretching for real change.
For the eco-conscious shopper focused on buying apparel aligned with their values yet unwilling to sacrifice style, Outerknown delivers a compelling option. Just brace for a few bumps amidst the magic.
Similar Sustainable Brands to Consider
If you vibe with Outerknown‘s coastal, adventure ready vibes but want to compare options, brands like Indosole, Toad&Co and Banks Journal share ethical and environmental priorities.
For those turned off by Outerknown‘s prices but still believe we vote for change with our wallets, affordable green fashion brands like Pact, Reformation and Grove Collaborative deserve a look.
No matter your budget or exactly what you buy, choosing companies consciously working to heal people and planet drives transformation. Thanks for taking the time to read my transparent Outerknown review. I‘ll be back soon to share more of my ethical fashion and shopping finds. Stay stylish and make those earth-friendly choices!
