Reformation
Rated: Great
Price: $$$
Location: USA
Quick verdict
Reformation is best for trend-conscious shoppers who want stylish, fashion-forward pieces with genuine sustainability credentials behind them. The brand stands out for its RefScale product-level impact tracking, quarterly sustainability reporting, and comprehensive circularity programs, repair, resale, and recycling all under one roof. The key caveat: only 22% of suppliers pay a verified living wage, and weekly new drops feel uncomfortably close to fast fashion's overconsumption model.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Founded
- 2009
- Product categories
- Womenswear, Dresses
- Price range
- $$$
- Key certifications
- FLA member, Bluesign, OEKO-TEX, GOTS, GRS, RWS, Climate Neutral, SBTi-approved targets
Reformation sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
91% lowest-impact fibers including TENCEL, organic cotton, and recycled materials. Maintains an A–E fiber grading system banning virgin synthetics, fur, and acrylic. Heavy reliance on viscose/rayon (their own "C" grade) and raw materials primarily sourced from China are notable gaps.
FLA member with disclosed factory audits and one of only 9 brands to disclose unionization rates. However, only 22% of suppliers meet living wage criteria, and factories in high-risk labor countries lack sufficient third-party certification (only 7 factories hold FairTrade/SA8000/WRAP).
Carbon neutral since 2015 with SBTi-approved targets. 100% renewable energy in corporate operations. RefScale tracks every product's carbon, water, and waste footprint, Partnerships with Apparel Impact Institute target 20% energy and 30% water reduction at supplier facilities.
Industry-leading: quarterly sustainability reports, 100% Tier 1 factory list on Open Supply Hub, product-level environmental data, and third-party verified emissions. Raw material-level tracing remains a gap.
Dresses $148–$398, jeans $148–$178. More accessible than luxury sustainable brands (Stella McCartney, Eileen Fisher) but 3–5x fast fashion prices. Post-Permira acquisition, critics note cheaper materials without corresponding price drops.
What they do well
- Quarterly sustainability reports: one of very few fashion brands reporting this frequently, with full Tier 1 factory disclosure and SBTi-verified emissions
- Complete circularity ecosystem spanning repair (Hemster), resale (ThredUp + Poshmark), recycling (SuperCircle), and vintage retail in select stores
- RefScale tool displays the carbon, water, and waste footprint of every individual product on its product page: rare product-level transparency
- Policy advocacy including endorsing the FABRIC Act and supporting California's SB62 garment worker protection legislation
- 91% lowest-impact fibers with a commitment to reach 100% recycled, regenerative, or renewable materials
Room for improvement
- Only 22% of global suppliers pay verified living wages, the Code of Conduct requires only minimum/prevailing wages, not living wages.
- Releases 15–20 new styles weekly with a 4–8 week concept-to-store timeline, which critics argue promotes overconsumption and undermines "buy less, buy better" messaging.
About Reformation
Yael Aflalo founded Reformation in 2009 as a vintage resale storefront in Los Angeles. After witnessing fashion manufacturing's environmental toll during a trip to China, she pivoted toward building what she called a "conscious mega brand." The company opened America's first sustainable sewing factory in LA's Boyle Heights neighbourhood in 2013, and achieved carbon neutrality by 2015. London-based private equity firm Permira acquired a majority stake in 2019, and CEO Hali Borenstein (named to TIME100 Next in 2024) took the helm after Aflalo's departure in 2020. Revenue has since exceeded $300 million with 40+ retail stores.
Reformation's materials include TENCEL Lyocell, organic and recycled cotton, recycled polyester, and deadstock fabrics, all graded on a proprietary A–E scale. The brand holds GOTS, GRS, RWS, and OEKO-TEX fiber certifications, plus Bluesign partnership for dye processes. Roughly 40–50% of production is cut and sewn at Reformation's own LA factory, with remaining production across Italy, France, Morocco, Turkey, Thailand, and China.
Shipping is standard e-commerce with recycled and compostable packaging. The brand previously held B Corp certification (2014–2017) but dropped it, citing cost. Pricing sits in the upper-moderate tier, accessible compared to Stella McCartney or Eileen Fisher, but substantially above fast fashion. Remake's 2024 report scored Reformation 34 out of 150, placing it 4th among 52 companies assessed.
Product highlights
Juliette Dress
Midi-length dress with sweetheart neckline and A-line skirt in TENCEL or Ecovero viscose
~$218–$248
Reformation's most iconic silhouette, a consistent celebrity favourite with RefScale impact data on the product page
Cary High Rise Wide Leg Jean
Relaxed '90s-inspired wide-leg in organic or recycled cotton denim
~$148–$168
Uses significantly less water than conventional denim; available in petite and extended sizes
Jadey Cashmere V-Neck Sweater
Oversized V-neck in 100% Grade-A cashmere with dropped shoulders
~$298
Worn by Taylor Swift and Kaia Gerber; brand is increasing recycled cashmere content across knitwear
Clara Cashmere Crew Cardigan
Cropped button-front cardigan in 100% cashmere
~$198
Year-round capsule wardrobe essential in 5+ colourways; among Reformation's most versatile pieces
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