Is Halara a Scam? 

If you’re thinking of buying from Halara, you need to know: Is Halara a scam? 

Below, we explain whether Halara is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when buying from this fast fashion brand. 

What Is Halara?

Halara is a fast-fashion brand best known for its comfy athleisure pieces. 

Launched in 2020, it’s a direct-to-consumer brand based in Southeast Asia that sells women’s activewear and everyday clothing. 

Halara is heavily marketed on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. 

Is Halara a Scam?

No, Halara is not a scam. It’s a legitimate fast-fashion company. 

Reviews from third-party publications and review sites are mostly positive:

• Business Insider said: “The shipping is quick, the quality is shockingly good, and I plan to keep ordering from the brand.”
• Cosmopolitan concluded: “Despite some slight fit issues, overall, we would highly recommend Halara for any of your wardrobe needs.” 
• CNN Underscored noted: “If you’re looking for comfy clothes that can pass for your everyday wardrobe, Halara is worth a shot.”
• Good Housekeeping reported: “Overall, I was very impressed with Halara — especially given the price point and the frequency of sales.” 
• Penny Pincher Fashion Blog said: “Would I purchase from Halara again? Depends on the item. The pants and leggings did not meet my expectations but I do love the shorts and joggers! The fit of the pants were a big miss for me, especially for the price! […] Shipping is another hesitation for me. Over a month on the first order. Ten days on my second order.” 

User reviews of Halara are more mixed. The brand receives 4.1 out of 5.0 stars (based on 281,659 reviews) on Trustpilot and 2.7 out of 5.0 stars on Sitejabber. 

On online forums like Reddit and Mumsnet, people also report very mixed experiences. 

For example, one person said: “I have 2 dresses from them (same dress in 2 different colors) and I really like them.“ 

On the other hand, another person said: “Not good quality. Their clothes are terrible compared to Athleta/Lululemon. Even Target is significantly better.”

Several people complain about shipping and transparency issues, with some stating that they were unaware that Halara ships from China. In its FAQs section, Halara says that it ships from East and Southeast Asia and that taxes and customs duties are not included in its prices. 

Other common complaints include poor fabric quality and sizing issues. 

Return Policy 

Some customers have reported that returning items is difficult, slow, and not free. 

In its Return Policy, Halara says that all return shipping costs are covered by the customer. It also notes that certain things, like raw edges, loose threads, touch thickness, and differences in color due to the differences in monitor display, are not considered “defective” by Halara.

One person said they had to upload a photo of themselves wearing the items before their return was approved.  

Security 

In its privacy policy, Halara states that it has implemented “industry-standard physical, technical, and administrative measures” to protect customers’ personal information. 

It also restricts access to your data strictly to employees and third parties that need it to provide products or services. 

In January 2024, hackers claimed to have leaked the sensitive information of almost a million Halara customers. The information included first names, last names, phone numbers, home addresses, zip codes, provinces, countries, and more. 

Privacy

Halara describes the kind of data it collects, why, and with whom it shares it in its privacy policy.

It collects the following information:

• Account registration, e.g., email address and phone number. 
• Order placement, e.g., first and last name, email address, postal code, mailing address, and payment information. In some regions, Halara may also need passport information and tax numbers for customer clearance.
• Customer support, e.g., copies of your correspondence with customer support and social media handles.
• Newsletter sign-ups, e.g., email address and phone number.
• Fitting recommendations, e.g., age, height, weight, and other measurements (voluntary).
• Public forum, i.e., the information you post in public areas of the site, including in reviews.
• Promotional events, e.g., survey answers.
• Brand ambassador, e.g., name, email address, social media handles, region, and school attended (if you apply to become a Halara ambassador).
• Affiliate program, e.g., name, username, and company name and address (if you apply to join one of Halara’s affiliate programs).
• Usage data, e.g., IP address, domain names, and pages viewed. 
• Device information, e.g., unique device identifier and operating system.
• Location information, e.g., inferred location from your WiFi and other device settings, 
• Aggregate and analytic data, i.e., Halara may combine the information it collects among its services and across your devices. 
• Data from third parties as required or permitted by law. 

Halara may use your information for account management, product delivery, support, legal compliance, fraud prevention, marketing (with opt-in/opt-out options available), analytics, personalization, service improvement, promotions, and brand programs, as well as for business transfers or mergers.

It may share your data with internal teams and service providers (e.g., shipping and payment processors), third-party advertisers (with your prior notice), co-branded partners (only if you opt in), and during legal proceedings or corporate transactions.

The company will retain your personal information “only for as long as is necessary.” 

Depending on where you live, you may be able to exercise privacy rights, like the right to access and delete your information. 

In its terms of service, Halara states that any content you post (e.g., comments, images, and reviews) is automatically owned by Halara, which can use it as it sees fit.

So, Should You Use Halara?

Depends on what you’re looking for.

Halara is a legitimate business and receives (some) good reviews from third-party publications and customers. 

However, there have been complaints about inconsistent product quality, slow shipping, and potentially costly returns (customers bear the cost of customs fees, duties, and returns). 

Additionally, refunds are not guaranteed for issues Halara considers “non-defective” (e.g., loose threads, thin fabric).

How to Use Halara Safely and Privately 

• Create a strong password. And make sure you don’t reuse it elsewhere. 
• Use a masked email. Create a separate email account specifically for shopping, or use an email alias to keep your primary email inbox free from spam and avoid linking your data to your primary email address. 
• Start small. Make your first Halara order small to test shipping speed, sizing, and quality. Avoid buying final-sale or non-returnable items initially.
• Double-check sizing. Check sizing charts carefully and read user reviews with photos to determine the best fit. 
• Use a secure payment method. PayPal, Apple Pay, and virtual credit cards offer better buyer protection and limit exposure to your real financial details.
• Know about Halara’s shipping and customs. Halara ships from Asia. Expect delays and possible customs duties. You’re responsible for import taxes in your country.
• Limit what personal information you share. Don’t share unnecessary data, such as social media handles, and, if possible, avoid using their fit tools to keep your measurements private.
• Avoid the SMS program. Don’t sign up for Halara texts to avoid marketing spam. 
• Document your order. Take screenshots of your order confirmation, product pages, and shipping details. Take pictures of the package and its contents upon arrival in case you need to return or dispute the order.
• Understand the Return Policy and process. Making a Halara return is not free and, according to some customers, can be difficult (for example, you may need to take photos of yourself wearing the item). Use a tracked shipping method when returning a Halara order. Keep in mind that some Halara items can’t be returned.
• Don’t post reviews with photos. Any content you post on the Halara site becomes Halara’s permanent property.
• Exercise your privacy rights. Depending on where you reside, you may be able to exercise privacy rights like the right to access, correct, or delete your personal information.