This month’s spotlight on sustainable fashion is on the brand Reformation, and their sole focus is on using sustainable practices within their business.
I came across this brand through an advertisement on the app TikTok utilizing the brands engaging slogan “Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. Reformation is #2.”
With sustainability becoming more of a popular practice in all aspects of life, who wouldn’t click on advertisements marketing a super cute dress and saying that “All our stuff is 100% carbon and waste neutral”?
Reformation started its journey in 2009 selling old clothing in a small store in Los Angeles. Since then, the store now has twenty-six and counting storefronts, and an impressive online website and store.
Bringing sustainable fashion to everyone is their mission, and you can read more about it here.
One unique part of Reformation that they make sure to highlight is that they put the people behind making all the clothing first and foremost. Oftentimes, fast fashion brands have their workers in terrible working conditions, but not Reformation. At their factory, located in Los Angeles, they make sure that their workers can be heard and provide them with safe and healthy working environments.
To prove Reformations commitment to sustainability, they send out a quarterly sustainability report to the public to show us their progress over each year. This includes decreasing their waste, water, and energy footprints.
Like it was mentioned before, Reformation has been 100% carbon neutral since 2015, and this is so great to see happen in the fashion industry. They work with a non-profit organization called Climate Neutral to go through a certification process to get approved for becoming net-zero for their carbon emissions.
Reformation and Other Sustainable Practices
Other sustainable practices that Reformation is dedicated to is being energy efficient by using 100% wind powered energy sources, and using LED lighting and energy star rated appliances within their stores. Recycling is another big part of the sustainability process at Reformation. Right now the brand recycles around 75% of their garbage, and they plan to increase the percentage to over 85%.
Reformation’s hangers for their clothes are made from recycled paper compared to a traditional metal or plastic hanger, and all their tote bags are reusable to limit the amount of plastic bags other retailers would typically use.
Another sustainable practice that is put in place when building new storefronts is to design innovative and eco-friendly stores. They state, “We incorporate materials like LED fixtures, rammed earth, recycled fabric insulation, and other stuff to make our stores as sustainable as possible. We also calculate the construction footprint, and offset our store builds 100%.” As of right now, six of Reforamtion’s stores are green business certified, meaning they operate using practices that limit carbon emissions, water waste, improve energy savings, and resource stewardship.
When you think about the amount of energy and resources that are used in regular retail stores, it can be scary to think about how all of that is affecting the environment, but luckily we have trailblazers like Reformation making a change. Even when it is a staff member’s birthday, they celebrate by making a donation to TreePeople, a company that plants trees in support of urban forests.
Reformation is committed to local manufacturing and making sure the dyes and finishes being used on their products are safe for the environment and the workers using the products to manufacture the clothing. To do this, they get certified by the BLUESIGN® system and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.
Not only is all this information about Reformation impressive within the sustainability of the brand, but luckily their clothing is also so fashionable. They have something for everyone, and also an inclusive size range for all body types.
It is important for brands like Reformation to be highlighted for their good work and dedication to sustainability practices.
If you liked learning about this sustainable fashion brand, check out our home page here.
Note: We reached out to Reformation about featuring images, but have not heard back from them.
