Careers at Reformation
Mission
Reformation aims to be a leader in producing sustainable and energy conscious fashion.
The Business
Reformation purchases synthetic and renewable materials or excess fabric from other designers and warehouses to manufacture their clothing. Tencel, a semi-synthetic fiber made from renewable plant materials, is used as an alternative to cotton. It is produced by Lenzing, an Austrian company that uses 100% renewable energy to minimize GHG emissions. Viscose is another synthetic fiber that is used. Made from renewable plant material, it requires half the energy of cotton to produce.
The Reformation factory uses energy efficient, eco-friendly and socially conscious technologies and practices. By investing in green building infrastructure, they aim to minimize waste, water, and energy impacts. An internal measuring system titled RefScale tracks the factory’s environmental footprint by tracking the pounds of carbon dioxide emitted, gallons of water used, and pounds of waste generated.
In their offices, stores, and online, Reformation chooses business solutions that create the lowest environmental impact possible. They use recycled paper hangers, recycled-content paper and pens, non-toxic adhesives, reusable totes, 30% recycled plastic garment bags, and plastic-free packaging made from 100% recycled paper products. All cleaning products are non-toxic and biodegradable. Furniture is always restored or reused.
History
Created in 2009 by Yael Aflalo, former model and entrepreneur, Reformation designs and manufactures limited-edition collections using sustainable methods. With their factory headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, they produce fashionable clothes with the usage of recycled and renewable materials along with sustainable business practices.
With the profits made from the early years of the company, Aflalo relaunched Reformation as an e-commerce business in 2012. It has since expanded by opening two stores in New York and one in Los Angeles. In 2014, Reformation brought in $25 million in revenue.
While most fashion is designed 12 to 18 months before being released, at Reformation clothing is produced in a month. Compared to industry standards, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, over 4000 gallons of water, and 1 pound of waste is saved during the manufacturing process of each product. Sustainable materials such as Tencel and Viscose are incorporated in their designs from responsible manufacturing partners in the United States or internationally.
Clothing from flea markets, vintage shops, or fabrics that otherwise would’ve been disposed of are repurposed and given new life to be sold in a Reformation storefront or online. On their website, information about each item’s carbon and water footprints is displayed, and every delivery includes a “RefRecycling” label that allows customers to send in their own clothes for repurposing.
Reformation continues to strive for improvement in reducing waste and preventing negative impacts on the environment during the manufacturing process. By helping plant forests to capture CO2 emitted into the air, investing in clean water solutions, purchasing landfill gas, and volunteering in the community they aim to offset their impact on the environment.
The company has been certified to meet the rigorous standards of Certified Benefit Corporations (B Corps), which aims to solve any impact businesses create socially and environmentally.