Reformation?
Reformation started in 2009 and is an American brand that – duh! – makes ecologically responsible clothing.
Reformation designs for real women. The designers think about how and when women will be wearing their bikinis and swimsuits and – not unimportantly – how these garments can be recycled afterwards. Awesome!
That’s why Reformation devides its clothing into five categories, based on the materials they use to make it:
- All stars: natural, rapidly renewable and reusable fibres
- Better than most: mainly recycled or natural fibres
- Could be better: better than the most used fibres, but not innovative
- Don’t use unless certified: raw materials with a certificate as proof of animal welfare, organic origin or traceability.
- Eeww, never: less than 10% of the raw materials
The goal is to make 75% of all Reformation clothing with raw materials from the A and B category.
Eco: from needle to thread?
For its bikinis, bottoms and swimsuits, Reformation mainly uses deadstock (unused vintage, old stock and fabrics of unknown origin), Econyl® (reused nylon) and elastane. Lycra, you say? Yep. Microplastics in sustainable clothing. Reformation admits that elastane is not a durable material and that it tries to use alternatives. But sometimes elastane can’t be avoided, apparently. And that’s why the brand also gives tips to prevent these microplastics from being released during washing: use cold water and wash your swimwear in a special washing net.
Reformation communicates openly about its raw materials and closely monitors its production process.
And there is good news: Reformation wants to reduce the use of harmful substances. Way to go!
A great place to work?
Reformation’s management team consists of 75% women or people from under-represented groups. Yeah!
The brand designs and produces most of its exclusive (and often limited) collections in downtown City of Angels (Los Angeles): no less than 79% of the production takes place in the USA. The rest of their clothing is made in low-wage countries, but there Reformation strives to pay workers and merchants the minimum wage.
Overall / short
Clean, luxurious and exclusive beachwear. Designed for women who want to show off their sustainable tanlines!
