They are NOT an ethical company. I applied to one of their job posting for a designer. They had me do projects for them. I sent many sketches and mood boards, fabric ideas. Thought it was strange that they quickly made a decision before a chance to actually interview. Months later I saw that they used my work! Spoke to a colleague who had the same happen to her applying to the same job posting. Looks like they were just collecting people’s ideas and work!!
@@ritaevergreen7234 yes, but who’s going to enforce it? These shady companies know that people aren’t going to take them to court. The industry is constantly knocking each other off. Except huge difference in capitalizing off those in search of employment versus brands who’ve already profited from their designs. This has happened with other companies too. They’re not the only ones. But it bothers me more because they claim to be an ethical brand.
The most sustainable fashion move is stop shopping for the sake of it, take good care of your own clothes (regardless of the brand) so that they last as much as possible. I've had fast-fashion items that have lasted as much as 8 years or more just based on good care alone. Realizing that you don't have to follow every new trend or treat shopping something new with every new release like a to-do list would help too.
@@ElizabethUkeh most us ain't got a choice. I go to estate sales to get all my clothes unless my wife gets me something as a gift. I got 150 dollar keen boots and 90 dollar sketcher boots for 10 each and brand new overalls for 2 and I got 3 pair. Garage sales are hit and miss around here though cause folks think everything they own is worth the same as new and estate sales tend to be dead folk and their family's just want rid of it quick.
@@ElizabethUkeh Put the effort you focus on style trends, into understanding what makes a classic, quality product… you’ll build the algorithm for a cost effective, long lasting, classy wardrobe. And you’ll be helping stop the consumerist world of low end fashion. (The same principle applies for household goods, cars etc)
If you want to start an eco-friendly fast fashion company and you really do have good intentions. The best thing to do is don’t start that company. The truth is that the industry is so over crowded with competition that the best and sustainable thing to do is to never start it in the first place
I think that's an empiric question. Does creating another company increase demand Or does it shift demand from the lower quality, less sustainable brands? my hunch is it is the second
@@TateVanPatten I second the latter. If I had the option, I'd rather shop more at places similar to Reformation than Primark. I believe a company trying to do better will drive the demand for other companies to do better. Hurt the bottom line of other outlets and they'll have nowhere to go but improve. It's like eggs in the UK. People don't like buying battery eggs and thus free range are the most common and popular types of eggs you will find. Fast food places like McDonalds use free range eggs in the UK because there would be an outcry if they didn't. Free Range might not be the best possible conditions for hens, but its better than the fast-fashion equivalent. We just need to make our clothing outlet options as good as our egg purchase options are. And part of the way to go is to create competition, otherwise we'll be paying into the status quo and nothing will ever change. The other part is government intervention, but we need to drum up interest and demand first otherwise the bloody government won't do shit.
@@Fireberries there’s only so much “better” that can be done within the same business model though. If the business model is still new clothes monthly, sustainable-ish fabrics and occasional decent labor practices won’t undo all that damage.
@@TateVanPattenas a consumer, if someone offers it at a lower price I will buy it cheaper. The thing is they probably crossed some moral and illegal line for them to offer it to me to a lower price. But they don’t tell me and it keeps the fantasy playing, I buy and they sell.
@@inlovewithJLT You misunderstand. I never said it was to be the ideal, only that it is an improvement on what we currently have. We rarely progress in leaps and bounds, we reply on baby steps.
I hate when brands look ethical/sustainable, price their products as such, but then actually aren't. It sucks that I have to verify a brands claims every time I try to shop sustainably
must suck,i just watch these for fun. I'll be honest, the whole sustainable thing, not my concern, this worlds done little for me, im not long left for this life,and il be leaving little if anyone behind, no partner or children, so really, not my problem, im not a altruist or good Samaritan, im just me.
@@bloodlove93 I look at it like our way of paying "tax" for living on this earth. We are granted all this beauty and all these resources and the least we can do is use them at least somewhat wisely. So it doesn't take being an altruist, just someone who is grateful for the basics.
@@bloodlove93 Why does everything have to be about yourself? I'm not planning to have children either but I segregate trash, limit plane travel, commute, buy only basics and necessities , buy second hand if I really really need something. Some people act like the world owes them. Care for the world and nature because it's the right thing to do, not because you expect something in return. Can't stand the "me, me, me" types.
A “fast fashion” company can never be eco-friendly and sustainable. The problem is that consumers buy so much clothes they barely wear when you can stick to creating a wardrobe that doesnt follow fashion trends and quality that lasts at least 5-10 years.
Which sounds really boring on paper, but there is a huge range of pieces that will stand the test of time. "Classic" used to just mean a neutral Chanel suit or little black dress with pearls. "Classic" today can be anything from said Chanel suit to a studded biker jacket with ripped fishnets. They're both looks with extreme longevity. (Punk hasn't really gone anywhere in FIFTY YEARS now.) All trends age poorly. Personal style is timeless and ageless. Timeless doesn't have to mean "boring" anymore.
Then people should also tell society to not bully and pressure people to just be trendy when they don't want to. That goes for any area, like tech and phones too. Also, warn people of neuromarketing. Encourage diy. Watch NHK Japan Zero Waste on fashion. A man only uses biodegradable fabric and dye so he can compost old clothes and woman makes clothes out of old things. I do think people should be mindful and care about the environment but some people are interested in fashion. Why is collecting other things, like video games, ok but not being interested in fashion? Businesses of videos games and other hobbies produce too much waste or are corrupt too.
@@Bunny-ch2ul The problem with building a wardrobe like that, however, is the immense trial and error process of figuring out what is actually made with quality, and what even fits you. And for that to happen, especially when ordering from ethical stores that have no physical locations near you, well, that'll require a lot of delivery and returns. And most companies never sell returned items, they're going straight to either the shredder, the landfill, or some 3rd world country where locals sell as many of them as they can on the markets, effectively destroying local textile and fashion industries because why keep an expensive textile industry alive when everybody's buying some rich country's fashion rejects on the super cheap. And one of the most popular fashion searches on any platform is "how to develop personal style." Keeping in mind, by the way, that personal style too changes. I no longer wear spiky leather coats and tight-tight pants with bullet belts now do I, even though I did for five years. Because my personal style has changed along with myself and my interests, body and needs. You cannot really reconcile fashion with extensive longevity, if for nothing else, then for the fact that gone are the days where most people stayed the same weight their entire life. Bodies change. Often drastically. Often -often-.
My personal experience has been that everything Reformation looks incredible on their website but has been super underwhelming when trying it on in store. I wish they lived up to the image they project on any front.
Agreed. I never felt like the clothing quality made any sense for the price - felt very H&M in real life. Patagonia and other expensive but conscience brands don't have the same issues.
It's almost as if their designs are made with skinny tall bony models in mind. Honestly there's few brands that require such a 90s ideal bodytype to pull off succesfully. Edit: typos
I had the same experience years ago. As a designer myself, I could tell that the clothes were made by inexperienced people. The fabric was cheap and the fit was terrible. Armholes were wonky and fabric wasn’t cut properly. I do hope they’ve gotten better since then, because I’d rather eco-friendly, transparent companies succeed to drive other companies to do the same.
Honestly, the celebrity endorsements make me more skeptical, not less. "OH-EM-GEE this dress is so sustainable" rings hollow from people who fly between mansion on private jets.
I don’t think any company can both support disposable fashion and green sustainability. They seem better than Shein and Zara, but that is a really, really low bar.
Watch NHK Japan Zero Waste on fashion. A man only uses biodegradable fabric and dye so he can compost old clothes and woman makes clothes out of old things.
I've purchased a couple Reformation dresses secondhand and I've been very pleased with the fit and quality (I do pick natural fabrics only though). An unexpected sustainability bonus is that it's super easy to resell Reformation clothes if they no longer fit because they hold value really well. I think this is due to Reformation's unique style and fits. I love being able to sell old pieces online because I know it's going to someone who wants it (vs. potentially ending up in the landfill if I donate it to my local Goodwill)
That's also been my experience with their dresses. I've almost been suckered in to buy one of the nice silk ones, but now that I know the company is suspect, I will hold off. I have a few ref crop tops that are not great quality though, unfortunately.
Have you been paying attention? To our world or THIS VIDEO YOU COMMENTED ON... they currently don't exist, and most likely will never exist because they don't WANT sustainability, they want profit.
@@Clay_j_Bray I agree to some extent but a lot of the videos are focused on mainstream fashion brands that are falsely perceived as sustainable due to their marketing tactics. I do think there are smaller brands out there that are transparent and focused on slow/intentional fashion (albeit much rarer and typically with steeper price tags as a result).
There are just "less unsustainable". Cause everything uses resources which we don't have cause some people buy 10 things everyday and throw them away. The best thing for nature is to buy nothing
I learned to sew from UA-cam and Reddit on a 1951 Singer Featherweight I inherited from my grandma. It's not really all that hard and it makes it easier to know how to fix your clothes. I recently made my daughter a pair of pajama shorts out of a dress she grew out of and I'm turning old t-shirts into a quilt.
Awesome! I have a 1975 Kenmore I also inherited from my grandmother, and it's solid! They don't make machines out of metal like that anymore. I made my mom a reusable tote bag from an old sheet that had a rip on one side, and I've turned so many old clothes, sheets, and curtains, into new things. I've seen quilts from shirts, but I could never get into it. I don't think I have the patience. But I am making my own wedding outfit, and when I was designing my pattern, I used an old stained sheet to test the pattern and get it tailored right before buying the good fabric. I didn't want to use old fabric for my wedding, but for the test version, who cares, it saves me a lot of money too. I'm estimating a budget of around $300, compared to a dress my mom liked for me at $1500. I'll probably also try and turn the trial version into something else. The sheets were from a hotel, and by the looks of it, easy enough to dye over with beet juice.
Wonderful, I love old sewing machines! I have a 1926 Singer 99 and a 1947 Singer 301 (which sews like a dream, evidently it cost as much as a car back in the day…). I moved to Switzerland last year and picked up an Elna Lotus from the 60s-70s. It’s so cute and reminds me of the featherweight
For the last 5 or so years I have only bought 2nd hand clothes. I shop at Vapor, and take advantage of what the rich folks in my area discard. Ralph Lauren polo shirts for $9, that look like they just came from a store. They're too expensive for me to buy new ones any longer, but I do have some in my closet that are 20+ years old, and they still look great! I'm sure LR is probably not the greenest company out there, but at least they make clothes that, if taken care of, will last a long long time. Keep cranking these out Levi & co. They are some of the most informative videos on the web. Well done!
I think it IS tricky to find truly sustainable brands. This is why I use Poshmark to find the closet thing to what I want secondhand. It goes to the person's income rather than a huge thrift conglomerate.
resale value definitely plays into fast fashion tho as a seller. like if fast fashion is going to sell for more or faster, I would consider flipping it because it would help support my financial stability. Not saying that it’s the right thing to do
@@closuitm I agree but I just depends on the brand, the type of item and current trends. Like fast fashion, trends move way too fast nowadays, and subcultures have been reduced to "aesthetics" 🫤 so buying cheap fast fashion to resell is still kind of a gamble.
I will tell you why I love Everlane: they have options to fit a curvy body and by curvy I mean with a tiny waist, hips and a round butt. Too often when fashion brands say ‘curvy’, they really mean fat and the waist is huge and needs massive tailoring for someone with my body type.
I love Everlane. I think their prices are fair for the quality of their products. Their jeans are incredible and the materials they use are perfect. People want it all for $25 or less. That is impossible.
For me, being from Latin America, it's crazy to think about the way USA people and Europeans consume anything: wasted food, clothes, cars... ANYTHING. In my culture we try to care for and preserve everything we already have. For us, if something doesn't work right or is broken, we try to fix it (most of time it works) before throw it away. I know it's because they are rich countries and everything, but the world can no longer afford these rates of consumption. It's just a striking contrast to see that. We must all become aware of what we really need.
The USA is larger than a football stadium, and a significant minority think fast fashion and consumerism are mistakes. That still is millions of people. But items sold here often can't be fixed. My husband just paid off a mobile, and the battery isn't holding a charge like it used to. It is designed, it turns out, so it cannot be replaced, other than to buy an entire new mobile.
So happy to find this channel!! I am *always* saying “is it sustainable or is it profit margin?” I don’t mind paying more but then I need the company to show their work and actually be sustainable.
I've been tempted so often to purchase something from Reformation, but online reviews always dissuaded me. Apparently, the quality is poor, and almost all of their clothes need dry cleaning, which isn't sustainable either. Plus, any garment that includes even a small percentage of synthetic fibers cannot be recycled, so it doesn't matter if a sweater is 98% organic wool and 2% acrylic. There is no easy way to separate those 2% from the 98%, so the whole thing will also land in a landfill. Pretty disappointing once you investigate into the brand
8:05 My wife was a sewing machine operator in a Korean factory in the 1960s and 1970s. Because of the high cost of electricity the factory used treadle sewing machines. (foot powered)
Also probably price of machine vs quality. I prefer to use my almost 100 years old machine than my modern one. Quality and reliability, only maintenance is oiling and cleaning at home. It is just more reiable. And was 3 times cheaper. And hand crank operated (However I will probably buy electric motor for this old one on some point or treadle - it can be powered in several ways) And that almost 100 years old machine will last several more centuries - or longer. It was in damp garage for half century - and making it work as new without expetiance in fixing seving machines took me one evening. It was just cleaning and oiling it - with modern better oil so it might work better than in past. My modern machine required service after month in those conditions. It uses moder cl15 bobbins, needles, and feet - it was just first machine used those and it was so popular it is still standard - and it is just good standard. It was bulid to last forever and it is (first) modern machine. This is real sustainability. This hunk of casted and machined metal is almost impossible to break. I can recommend getting singer 15k for everybody. And I am almost sure that your wife used them or clones. Or slightly newer ones but 15k are most likely case.
Another way to be green and sustainable is to learn how to hand-sew for repairs. I taught myself how to repair sew, and it's saved a lot of pieces of clothing. I believe repair sewing is a skill everyone should learn. You don't have to learn how to use a sewing machine or how to make clothing, but the skill definitely saves a lot of money and eases that carbon footprint.
It was actually obligatory for all students to learn how to hand-sew and mend clothes when we were in elementary school. We had classes and all. Girls even were taught to sew entire clothes (kind of sexist, some of us wanted to do carpentry, while some boys would've really love to crochet, sew and cook). I'm frankly kind of dismayed when I see people complaining about a button coming loose. You bought it, don't return it and pollute even more, just get a needle and some thread and sew the damned button back on! Sewing a button is literally two minutes of work depending on the fabric and the type of button, if you're not terribly nimble.
Reformations slogan about being the most sustainable option besides being naked really rubs me the wrong way. Because it’s all marketing. Wearing what you already own, and buying second hand is obviously more sustainable than purchasing anything new. Also I’ve been to one of their stores. The clothes are not good quality. They look flimsy and about the same quality as H&M for very high prices. Just buy second hand.
Yup. Oh, reformation. The most sustainable option is actually wearing the clothes you already own and not buying new. But that wouldn't make for a good marketing line, now would it.
This is completely unrelated but could you make a video commenting on whether getting eco friendly detergenent / clean products is actually better for the environment? Thank you! Love the videos!!
You can find out by looking up the Safety Data Sheet and ingredients online. Products used in workplace in many countries are required to disclose the SDS - and toxicology data. This includes if the ingredients are known to be toxic, carcinogens or harmful to the environment. In general the 'bad list' include all fabric softeners ( these are 100% pointless and can be replaced with white vinegar) unnecessary antibacterials (increases risk of antibiotic resistance and poisoning), fragrance ( not required to disclose ingredients and can include up to 300 chemicals, poisons and mixes are entirely untested/undisclosed), essential oils - often poisonous and shares the same issues as fragrance. Many 'eco' products are not needed so it helps to think 'do i really need a separate chemical product for this job? Or can bicarb/vinegar/basic soap and water do the job? If you start to learn how to read ingredient lists you will discover that you can often make your own using food safe ingredients and save a lot of money in the process.
I bought from Pact recently (another eco fast fashion type brand), hoping to find quality. Aaaaand nope. Organic cotton and "fair trade" doesn't mean that the clothes are put together well. Three of the four things I bought had defects.
I have another option: wear what you have, buy it used, or make it yourself. I have some fabric stores in my bookmarks that get the ends of bolts of fabric - what the manufacturer would normally discard. They get it, I buy the ones I want, I make use of it. I admit, that's not my only source of fabric. I do buy fabric made for the home sewist market. The advantage making my own stuff has, is that if it needs lining, it will be lined. It will hang correctly off my shoulders and my hips. And I will use it until it wears out, because it will fit me and I will love it. (I will also make it with a generous seam allowance, so it can change as my body does.)
Know what I do with my old clothes? I patch them up, and wear them some more. When they're completely embarrassing to wear, they graduate to pajamas, or gardening clothes, or they get chopped up and used as patches for other clothes, or made into reusable bags, or wallets, or shoes, or stuffed animals, or dog/cat toys for the local shelter, or whatever else I might need.
I'm still wearing a $4 T-shirt I bought at the original Zellers from back in the 90's. Was it produced sustainably, with ecologically friendly materials, in a factory that pays their workers a fair salary while treating them with respect? No, probably not, but damned if I'm letting this thread-barren shirt go.
Zellers was pretty good. I was a kid then, so the only things I still have from there are a few video games. But Sears was also top notch (I miss their bargain store in Canada). I have a faux leather jacket from there and it's super well made. In fact, even my bathtub faucet was made by Sears 50 years ago. My sewing machine says "Sears Best" and I have yet to find a better machine. That one's from 1975 when my dad was a kid, and his mom got the top of the line machine to make quilts and such. She made me clothes using it, and now I'm using it to make my own clothes out of old sheets, or upgrading old clothes. My dad gave me a stack of ripped jeans to hem into shorts so he could keep wearing them. His jeans certainly weren't made ethically, but they're going to be worn until they can't anymore, that's for sure.
Are there ANY clothing companies that are legitimately an ethical choice? Not ridiculously damaging to the climate and environment, or ethical labor practices…
I mean 100%, no... But humans will never be able to completely reduce our impact to zero so it's inefficient to aim for zero. But if even half the population shopped second hand or brands that are "imperfect but pretty close to it", then it would have a massive impact on the world
We, especially women, were inculturated (lovely hippie word, I'm a boomer) into recreational shopping here in the west. All the well crafted muckraking about shopping fails to find a replacement because we liked getting out of the house, buying family presents, having a sandwich, and looking at clothes. Showing my age!! I simply don't grasp why people blow plastic online...it satisfies no human need.
Can you do a deep dive into Girlfriend Collective? I love their sports bras and swimwear and they tout themselves as a super sustainable brand (their clothing are made with recycled water bottles) but how much of that is true?
IIRC using recycled water bottles (or recycled plastic to create polyester) isn't super great, as we're taking something that is easier to recycle (plastic) and turning it into something that can't be recycled as easily (polyester). Polyester also still has the issue that it releases microplastics into waterways when washed. So it's not THE solution to our sustainability problem, especially as it seems that marketing recycled polyester seems to be a greenwashing tool to allow companies to continue to use polyester over more expensive natural fibres. Although, I've also heard good things about Girlfriend Collective, and the recycled polyester issue is a much bigger problem when larger companies like nike or adidas use it.
I have a suitcase made of recycled water bottles. I'm not sure how much of it was, but it's lasted me 12 years and still is good. I've heard good reviews of Girlfriend Collective, but I've always been too scared of how much customs would be. I've ordered from TomboyX before and that shipping was bad enough even with their points. I gotta say with TomboyX, they market their Tencel Modal fabric as more eco friendly, but it falls apart way sooner than the cotton. Cotton stuff from them seems to last about 4 years, and modal at maybe 2. Still better than VS underwear that would start falling apart within one year...
@@littleblue15 I didn't know we had Nordstrom in Canada. I guess it didn't get East yet. But there is a Hudson's Bay store near me, so it might be worth checking out.
I just found your channel tonight, and I'm only a few episodes in now, but I love it! I only wish the vids were longer, because they're informative AND entertaining, and that's always a win-win. Thanks for being here! :)
I purchased four Reformation jeans in the same sizes and only ONE fit. Sizing is so inconsistent. I measured two of the jeans and the waist dimensions didn’t even match the websites. Luckily they owned up to the inconsistency and gave me a refund. But it’s ridiculous, I’m literally the same size in other denim jean brands yet for Ref I can fit several sizes.
Size inconsistency is a sympton of rushed manufacturing which happens with these fast fashion brands. The factory workers literary don't have enough time to follow the patterns properly and are just doing everything as fast as possible to meet theri deadlines.
Watched this video right as I've been thinking about a Reformation shirt that I tried on recently. I liked some of their tops, but the dresses felt worse than I expected. In the end, with my goal to be a more conscious consumer, I decided to hold off buying anything. Maybe one day I'll buy something, but only if I feel that I know it has a long place in my wardrobe. With your points here though, I think it would be interesting to revisit Everlane because I do remember you had a complimentary video about them a little while ago, but I feel like they've also fallen into a similar trap as Reformation (+ union busting). It's a shame though, because as an Australian Reformation seems to be one of the only clothing brands that have stockists local to me (besides the outerwear companies). I'm done buying clothes online, having them not look right on me, and then having clothes in my wardrobe that I don't like and don't wear. But it's also hard finding sustainable brands local to me, that are also well made, that I can try and really determine whether they're worth my money buying. So in the end I don't buy anything and have worn the same rotation of outfits every week, which I suppose is best for sustainability, but has left me feeling dissatisfied. However, it feels like nothing is made well anymore. I think learning to sew has helped in my ability to determine if a garment is of better quality, but it still feels like a losing game. I think Reformations biggest mistake is believing that they can substitute fast fashion and still be sustainable. But in reality, it's the culture of fast fashion that isn't sustainable. "Green" and "fast-fashion" is the biggest oxymoron there is. To be sustainable you have to have a completely different business model, and that business model isn't going to be profitable. In the end, we can't buy ourselves out of climate change. We need to consume less, repair more, and when we do consume; consume better. Looking forward to your video on carbon offsets, they're one of the biggest ways that corporations try to claim that they're being sustainable, through no actual meaningful change themselves. Probably biggest scam there is.
Great video!! I would love to see a video about sustainable/eco-friendly cleaning products. I feel like it is such a beast to do research on and often these cleaning products are vinegar or baking soda with essential oils. Or the complete opposite of well-known brands greenwashing their products.
Just wanted to comment and say thanks for all the great sleuthing and researching about brands like these. I always wonder about greenwashing when looking for sustainable brands, but never know where to start for my own research other than a basic google! Its a good reminder to keep thinking critically and to look after the wardrobe I already have really.
I’m so happy I found this video! I’m currently a college student who tries very hard to be as sustainable as possible with my fashion. I do a lot of research before buying things, and try to buy something only if it’s on my list of things that I need. One of the biggest challenges for me is that sustainable fashion is so fucking expensive. Also, a lot of sustainable brands just sell basic plain clothing, it’s boring and it’s not cute. I was so happy (and then not happy) to discover reformation. They have really cute clothes, and occasional sales, so if I save up, I can buy from them. The issue as other people have commented here, is simply that their clothes are not good quality. Not even, not worth it for the price. It’s just objectively poor quality that I don’t see lasting for a long time. I hope I’m proved wrong of course, but I think that’s unacceptable. It’s not fair to the environment or to my wallet. At the end of the day, the average consumer can’t afford that, and I’ll end up purchasing something I need from a less sustainable brand that at least will hold up…Unfortunately I don’t have great thrift stores where I live, so now it’s back to square one.
Hey I highly recommend 2hand thrift stores online like depop, poshmark, or even thredup. You’re right about the ridiculousness of all that, but you can still find some great vintage pieces that have both great quality and sustainability, and they would generally cost less than something new labelled sustainable. A tip I’ve found helpful is to check the material of the garment, and usually good materials (cotton, silk, wool, cashmere, etc) come with good craftsmanship too. Best of luck :)
If you can afford reformation pieces, you can try Etsy! There are lots of small businesses who will make clothes tailored to your size (so they fit well) out of good quality fabrics (so they last a long time), using ecologically friendly dye practices! If you have to buy new, Instagram accounts with shops like wildharvest studio, Serpent and bow, future nomad. Etsy shops like xusah, Anuttara crafts, and lots of this stuff can be found on poshmark, mercari, Vinted etc for very little money ❤️❤️ Hope you find some things you like!!
Agree that the most sustainable companies tend to go boxy and generic in their designs. I’ve found Amour Vert to be the best compromise, but it took some digging to solidify which fabrics were natural fibers. I always check the final sale section first or shop on holidays for ~50% off
Maybe consider diy and gving clothes a makeover if people spend so much time and the same amount of time researching eco businesses and shopping anyways. Yt has many sewing and diy videos. Watch NHK Japan Zero Waste on fashion. A man only uses biodegradable fabric and dye so he can compost old clothes and woman makes clothes out of old things.
11:42 it sounds like their product schedule is to release a few new styles monthly rather than to release 2 large collections twice a year (which is a really outdated fashion cycle anyway). I always got the impression that Reformation was buying deadstock and mill end fabrics from jobbers and releasing the same silhouettes in different fabrications. Did any of the Future proof team look into this? Essentially, Reformation is buying the leftover textiles from the fashion industry and using the same garment patterns over and over. This dramatically decreases how much time it takes to develop a new style. A lot of indie brands use this method. It's very efficient. Using mill end fabrics also gives a subtle marketing boost because once the fabric is gone, it's unlikely that Reformation will be able to use it again. This is because in order to create a custom fabric, a huge order must be placed with the textile manufacturer. Typically only really huge retailers are able to place orders that large. Smaller brands are really limited with which textiles they can access.
The quality of their garments is also terrible. I walked into one of their stores a couple days ago and the fabric felt so cheap and the more delicate garments had so many of the seams already pulling. My friend and I were shocked at the quality for the price point.
Well, if you sell your product at insane prices, it's not hard to be eco friendly. But really, the best thing to do is to buy something that last for a long time, and one that you are happy with for a long time. Even if the product itself isn't the most eco friendly, if buying it means you buy less overall, it could be an win. And reformation really seems to be quite substandard.
I was willing to give them more leeway under the impression that if you are buying new clothes, even if a company has serious green issues, it's still better to shop a brand that doesn't use sweatshops and has worker protections... then you got to their misrepresentation of their factory system...
Levi, you brought up carbon offsets, but I feel there's a good amount of controversy and criticism regarding that industry. Could be a good topic for the future
The best fast fashion shop imo that is also Eco friendly would probably be *a clothing rental store* where you can exchange and rent clothes so you can have the coolest new things and then give them back so someone else can wear them
Wrong. The dry cleaning of their clothes, the transport of them... the best way to transport cargo is by fitting as much cargo into the truck as possible. That, however, is not really possible with a rented item unless you show up in person, which means that a truck making rounds will make it half-empty. Therefore, the environmental cost of you getting your rented item delivered goes up because the deliverer has to make more rounds. Basically, you don't have to be perfect at sustainability, sustainability is a spectrum, but it is always important to know just how sustainable (or not sustainable) your chosen method of acquiring clothes is.
Please do a video on the clothing brand CHRISTY DAWN. It is around the same price point as Reformation, but are as close to perfect for a sustainable fashion brand as you can get.
This is super informative and interesting! Thank you for making these types of videos. Would you guys ever consider making tier list videos where you rank companies in different industries by how ethical/ sustainable they are? I think it would be really helpful to have videos like that to help ppl vet certain brand options. That way, they can make informed decisions when trying to support brands that are truly trying to make a difference.
I got a 3D printer for my birthday, and I am _so_ excited to spend most of my money on art direct from artists (models) and then print my own inch-tall miniatures at home with no shipping. :D (I also got my first set of nice headphones, which are made in Romania, and fully repairable and I'm SO EXCITED about moving to making more intentional decisions.)
I make clothes from vintage sheets and tablecloths, use only natural fibers like organic cotton, silk and wool. I don't use any plastic packaging in shipping and make everything myself so no sweatshops. The truth is when you run a business that's 100% sustainable the amount you would need to charge per piece to break even on all the work you do is not a realistic way of making money. Luckily I have a few sources of income and can dedicate to making fashion I love and am proud of. Honestly most people who are "into fashion" have never checked a fiber content tag a day in their life and the amount of girls I see wearing the same identical outfits is beyond. Bravo to those who are expressing themselves and finding their own style and watching video's like this one to do their own critical thinking.
In my opinion, the most sustainable clothing is arguably the natural fiber clothing you already have that is of high quality and not green-washed which you'll use for decades and years to come...it is best to buy quality clothing with good construction (that typically also doesn't cost $400) and have it be re-worn and passed down to coming generations until it biodegrades. You'll find better stuff shopping at antique clothing stores (such as 100% Virgin Wool coats) because the quality and materials of clothing today are so much worse than back then. As someone who worked in the fashion industry before, I find that we also tend to buy less clothing if we learn how to identify and buy only quality-made pieces with classic/timeless silhouettes. Fast fashion and the current hot fashion trend are just a way for the fashion businesses and industry to line their pockets whilst keeping money in the economy's circulation... well- it's just my opinion :)
Currently I work in a sustainability role at a mass-market retailer, I was skeptical that this was just going to be pointing out all the flaws brands are doing. But I appreciate the effort trying to show the good and the bad. Changing major brands (and an industry) built on depleting resources and over working people can't happen overnight. But as more customer educate themselves (like this), ask companies to change, and vote for politicians that are looking to fix these issues (Fashion act) ... HOPEFULLY we will have more circular solutions soon!
It's hard to find clothing brands that are truly eco-conscious. This is why our clothing brand has been sustainable since 1987, we make new colorful patchwork sweaters from the cutaway fabric to close the loop! 🌈😃
Their clothes is not the quality they portray it to be. I have a few pieces of theirs and they’re lovely, definitely better quality than say Zara, but not near the quality of their price point. More on par with the more recent Abercrombie and Fitch pieces I have.
Some clothing products should be viewed as ‘perishables’ as they can be exposed to personal and environmental factors, that kinda prevents it’s safe use. Even second hand still only has a certain lifespan. I’ll also add in the fact that our bodies can fluctuate a lot throughout the course of a year, a month or even a day depending on the activities we engage in, so I understand the need for needing new items....I think our problem is less about the purchase of items, but more the fact we literally have no idea how to safely break down the old fabrics and threads in a way that doesn’t hurt communities or the environment. Less consumption is definitely the goal, but even at lower volumes, and knowing some clothing cannot be safely re-worn repeatedly, there is still no real plan in place, that I know of, to deal with the growing pollution
Something I don't hear mentioned much when talking about shopping sustainably is to pay attention to FABRIC. Knowing what pieces and fabrics will have the longest life and be the easiest (or even possible) to repair is KEY to consuming sustainably. This applies to buying new OR thrifting. A good rule of thumb is to find pieces that are as close to 100% a natural fiber as possible, and AVOID POLYESTER. On top of significantly reducing the quality of an item, all polyester is plastic, which is incredibly harmful for the planet, and releases microplastics into our water systems when washed. If buying something with polyester, try not to go above 20%. Otherwise the garment will fade, pill, and lost its shape within months. The best materials to look for are cotton, linen, silk, leather, and wool, and rayon (made from bamboo) and viscose (made from wood pulp) are good too. Any items made with any of these blended together are also great. Most garments you buy that are 100% of any of those materials can last a lifetime, especially when purchased thoughtfully in an attempt to buy an item you can see yourself loving for 5 or even ten years or longer. It's all well and good to reduce consumption, but if you're buying poor-quality or poorly-made items, they're not going to last anyway. I was lucky enough to have a mom who worked in the garment industry and passed a lot of this knowledge onto me, but I find that many people don't know about checking for fiber content! Most clothes will have a little tag either behind the size tag or along the seam (usually the left) that will tell you what it's made of. The first time I went in Zara I couldn't believe the prices they were charging for 100% polyester garments! I think they're relying on their consumers not knowing that their products are often not very good quality.
Love the videos. Has made me think about my approach to multiple ways I live my life and encouraged me to look into the brands I support and the lifestyle choices I make.
7:30 you can't make a garment completely out of spandex. Spandex is a synthetic fiber that is woven or interlocked with other fibers (nylon, cotton, etc) to create a textile with superior stretch and recovery. Typically the most you will see a particular textile include spandex is no more than 10% of the fiber content.
There goes my free time spent looking (yeah, just looking, the prices are not what I would pay for a tee) at Ref clothing down the drain. I already like this channel.
Now that you mentioned Rihanna, maybe you could also do research and video about Fenty? Although it might be controversial or a lot of people angry 😅 Love your Future Proof videos and excited for Future Health :)
More like, stop trends. Plenty of companies make things that last, but people don't want it because it's not trendy, with the exception of Levi's, which BTW, makes their men's jeans out of a longer lasting fabric than their women's jeans, and I'd bet that's because men's fashion doesn't change as much as quickly. I do like how their stuff says not to wash it after every wear, and has instructions for how to make it last. Outdoor companies like Patagonia, Fjallraven, L.L. Bean, etc are usually pretty good for stuff that lasts, but isn't really fashionable. I put practicality over style, but most people don't.
@@joylox I really like Deluth because they are very utilitarian yet still cute but I have noticed that they are delving into jegging materials, which is a big pet peeve of mine. Super stretchy denim will never be true denim in my eyes and it pisses me off that their overalls are all super stretchy now, especially when they already run 2 sizes bigger than the typical store. Their xs fits like a medium with all the unnecessary stretch and it gets worse the longer you wear it. Many people say they prioritize practicality over style but in all honesty people prioritize comfort more than practicality.
Honestly, some concepts are just not compatible. For example, smoking and cancer free, dictatorship and freedom of information, fast fashion and sustainable. Not buying that “thing” when you already have a working “thing” is 100% better than any claims of sustainability from a manufacturer.
LMAO - " ..."we don't know what constitute moderate issues, we only hope that means the lunchtime donuts are a little state." Your wit is always on par, like Oscar [Wilde]. Good work!
In terms of the clothing brands this has been my experience. Reformation sounds a lot like American Apparel when it first started out. Although neither are really that eco-friendly. I typically prefer brands like Pendleton or Patagonia. At least in terms of quality. There‘s a newish clothing brand that seems okay. Their model is a circular economy. Such as getting credit for sending them clothing from any brand. I’d have to look more into them. Or maybe Levi or you guys could. Brand is called For Days
American Apparel made good clothes when they first started. Same with H & M when they first hit NYC. Then rather quickly the quality went down after a few years.
I love my 4 or 5 items from Reformation. I travel with them and wear them all the time. The cut and quality is great. But I also tried on and put back an equal amount of items.
I buy cheap but good, and make it long lasting, I normally buy clothes every 4 years (basic t-shirts and leggings mostly from H&M, Primark or c&a) and I spend on good clothes that matter (coats, some good sweaters and pants, good shoes and a good purse/bag) that’s how I keep my waste controlled. I also know how to sew and make my own clothing, so I can fix old clothes that might be throwable, I make them live probably about 1-2 years more. Also most of my clothing is cotton, and cotton with some mix like linen or elastane. I literally cannot do anything more.
I mean, how many people still repair clothes at least once before throwing it away? I have been wearing a pair of jeans regularly for almost 5 years, and had it repaired 3 times. And as a jeans lover, knowing how much resources are needed to produce the fabric, I would say stone washing or any treatment to make them look used/worn is just stupid. A company would spend more resources to produce them. Customers would end up paying more for a less durable product. And TBH, stonewashed jeans never look as good as a pair you yourself wear in.
Just a couple days ago I saw a short where someone bought something from this company. The offhandedly mentioned the “carbon offsetting” and I rolled my eyes hard
Hey Levi, absolutely love the content and the work you do. But we need a little more positivity. Would love to see a video about which companies are actually doing good work in terms of sustainability and environmental awareness
The thing about fabrics, as a sewist who makes my own clothes, is that it's always more complex and it's a process. For example, where fabric comes from, is often unknown, or from China, India, or other place that don't have as strict of standards, and looking at what dyes are used for making patterns and if they're just tossed in a river after (which is a real thing). There's also the places where the materials used to make fabrics are grown, and if it was grown in a sustainable way, or if they exploit people to get it. Also, there are reasons that even "problematic" fabrics exist. For example, before spandex, most swimwear was made of knit wool, and that sounds itchy and difficult to swim in, and also takes longer to dry. Spandex, while being essentially stretchy plastic, is made to fit tightly to stay on and reduce drag when swimming, dancing, skating, or doing other sports, and also keep you comfortable. If anything, chlorine should be taken out of most water so that spandex and elastic lasts longer. I also get rashes from chlorinated water, and after I started going to the only salt water pool in my area to avoid chlorine, I noticed I wasn't having to buy a new swimsuit every year anymore, they last much longer. How we wash and dry things helps too, so using fabrics that dry quicker, like a lot of polyesters do, means you may not have to use a dryer, which also really wears stuff out. There are also fabrics that are not biodegradable or plant based, but made to last forever. The biggest example is Fjallraven's nylon blend. That stuff is strong, and the idea is that instead of it having to be broken down and essentially composted (as is the case with things like hemp and flax fabrics commonly used in canvas and feed bags), it lasts so long that you don't need to buy replacements. I know they're a really big brand in outdoor fields of work due to the fact you buy a couple pairs and can wear them to work as long as they fit you. I'm personally interested in Tencel because there's a fine line between plant fabrics that will fall apart on you (think, old cotton thread that breaks with just a light tug, or old potato sacks that are turning into dust) and materials that are plasticy, and a pain to work with. I'm ordering some for my wedding outfit since polyester makes me sweat too much (and that's what most dresses are made of), and both cotton and linen (flax) wrinkle too easily. Tencel seems to be like rayon or viscose, taking cellulose from trees and modifying it (technically one of the first man-made fabrics, though still seen as semi-synthetic as it's not plastic based), but as a brand, seems to focus more on making that processing done less harmful. I know it's super soft, and has the qualities I like in a natural fibre as well as with a synthetic. I just don't like the chemicals used in regular rayon, so I'm hoping Tencel is doing what they say they are.
As someone who was diagnosed as allergic to wool, and later worked with a lot of it, I can assure you that wool is not itchy. Also that I wasn't allergic to it. Chemicals used to process woolens, especially recycled wool, are what make you itch. Okay, recycled wool, which is the origin of the word shoddy, can have stiffish bits in it that rough up your skin. For the most part, it's the acids used to burn off excess hairiness that sets off my skin. The pure fleeces I spun and wove never bothered me in the least. And I never got them burnt off, either. Lovely things to wear. The woolen knits used for bathing suits were very smoothly spun. One always has to remember how different fibres and fabrics could be before 1970 or so.
Aay I suggested this one! I had no idea they were fast fashion until I went to their Linkedin where they said they were making fast fashion sustainable which was a big ???. I actually use Reformation (I mostly get jeans) and have never had an issue with them. I kinda get why the credits exist too, but that only works if you wear your clothes then maybe realize you have that one item you don’t use (Depending on the item you might be cutting down your wardrobe by giving 3 items to threadup to afford one from Reformation). I tend to wear my clothes until they break, and honestly, Ref has been the only place where the jeans are comfortable for me. I think that if you have the mentality that you will wear an item a lot, Reformation isn’t that bad. The issue is when your mentality as a consumer is “wear once, throw out”
sustentability is just one of the problems with fast-fashion. slavery is the other one and is way less adressed. are we sure those factories are etic? that their workers are being paid enough? that their conditions of work are safe? do we know if their "natural fibers" are organic? no toxines to acelerate the cotton grouth? the idea of fast fashion was, originally, to produce cheaper clothes, since the population got bigger and people have less money and time, the brands found out that the fastest and cheapest way to produce clothes was to use bad materials and pay nothing for the work. there is no solution for that problem.
Does Aritzia even claim to be sustainable? Like I know they have a eco/sustainable line, but I think it’s only a small portion of their clothing. They just seem like a high end H&M, but I guess people associate certain cuts and materials w Reformation, and that’s how they’re getting that association
It's the only brand that designs clothes that you can actually wear to a boat party, a nice restaurant and places that require you to look nice. If anyone has any other suggestions, PLEASE let me know, I'll thank you for it x PS I can't afford Stella McCartney or Eileen Fisher. Hiring is my go to now.
Love the vids dude. Is there any resource you have made or that you recommend that rates these smaller companies claiming to be sustainable? I bought a shirt from this company called Outerknown and I’d love to hear your verdict on them as well. Keep it up!
Fashion CAN be sustainable if you take time to research trends and styles, fabrics and cuts and if you make a motivated effort to buy only items that convince you fully. Clothes you will mix and match until they fall into pieces, which will happen in the far future because you have selected good quality in the first place. Saying that fast fashion can be sustainable is simply ludicrous. How is it possible to buy twenty/thirty outfits per year in a sustainable way? Do you have twelve sisters and a system in place by which every year every sister passes all her clothes to her younger sister, with the eldest getting to buy new clothes and the youngest getting to finally throw them away?
I take a small amount of pride from the fact that especially when it comes to cloths and brands, i almost never have any idea what they are before watching your video on why thy kinda suck.
I refuse to buy anything from reformation unless it’s second hand and at a deep discount… I bought a dress for a wedding and was shocked at how cheap it felt. It would have been $300+ full price.
Im a Reformation junkie 🤣 i dont care about their claims i just really like their style. They have really good sales like 2x a year (which I didn’t know about 🤦🏻♀️). I refuse to pay full price now.
I washed 2 pairs of reformation pants, ONE time, and they were both damaged. One lost a button and the other the side seam ripped... awful, awful quality.
I don't know what fast fashion is. I have never heard of Reformation as a company. I didn't understand anything about this video. I just needed something new to be mad about.
middle aged indulgence system pretty much sums things up. How about learn how to sew and take care of the clothing you already have so it lasts longer. if you air dry your clothes rather than put them in the dryer, not only do you save on power but your clothes will last longer
A lot of that is image marketing. Choose the image of Your liking, pay up and be happy feeling a bit less guilty or even environmentally aware. As long as the profit mentality is the driver then there is marketing fluff and spin. The actual product is short lived and replaced with something else next week.
You also need to bring up that many materials may sound natural and organic, like bamboo, but the production process to prepare it as a silky fabric creates toxic byproducts anyway
What do you think about Thredup? I sold my unwanted clothes. The company sells for only 3(?) months. They recycle after that unsold closing. I thought that is not good for the environment.
@idraote I agree. I was disappointed Thredup. It took a very long time to post my clothes on the page (5 months) and just sells ONLY 3(?) months. The company took a lot of % of money too. It is green washed company.
They are NOT an ethical company. I applied to one of their job posting for a designer. They had me do projects for them. I sent many sketches and mood boards, fabric ideas. Thought it was strange that they quickly made a decision before a chance to actually interview. Months later I saw that they used my work! Spoke to a colleague who had the same happen to her applying to the same job posting. Looks like they were just collecting people’s ideas and work!!
Isn’t that illegal?
@@ritaevergreen7234 yes, but who’s going to enforce it? These shady companies know that people aren’t going to take them to court. The industry is constantly knocking each other off. Except huge difference in capitalizing off those in search of employment versus brands who’ve already profited from their designs. This has happened with other companies too. They’re not the only ones. But it bothers me more because they claim to be an ethical brand.
@@pennPi yeah that sounds so hypercritical given the way the bean presents themselves.
That‘s a really shitty practice of the company. Absolutly unacceptable.
That’s awful. They used you for free!
The most sustainable fashion move is stop shopping for the sake of it, take good care of your own clothes (regardless of the brand) so that they last as much as possible. I've had fast-fashion items that have lasted as much as 8 years or more just based on good care alone.
Realizing that you don't have to follow every new trend or treat shopping something new with every new release like a to-do list would help too.
We poor people do this on default lol
@@ElizabethUkeh most us ain't got a choice. I go to estate sales to get all my clothes unless my wife gets me something as a gift. I got 150 dollar keen boots and 90 dollar sketcher boots for 10 each and brand new overalls for 2 and I got 3 pair. Garage sales are hit and miss around here though cause folks think everything they own is worth the same as new and estate sales tend to be dead folk and their family's just want rid of it quick.
Buying basics and following what *you* think is pretty is the way to go 100%
and buy second hand
@@ElizabethUkeh Put the effort you focus on style trends, into understanding what makes a classic, quality product… you’ll build the algorithm for a cost effective, long lasting, classy wardrobe.
And you’ll be helping stop the consumerist world of low end fashion. (The same principle applies for household goods, cars etc)
If you want to start an eco-friendly fast fashion company and you really do have good intentions. The best thing to do is don’t start that company. The truth is that the industry is so over crowded with competition that the best and sustainable thing to do is to never start it in the first place
I think that's an empiric question. Does creating another company increase demand Or does it shift demand from the lower quality, less sustainable brands? my hunch is it is the second
@@TateVanPatten I second the latter. If I had the option, I'd rather shop more at places similar to Reformation than Primark. I believe a company trying to do better will drive the demand for other companies to do better. Hurt the bottom line of other outlets and they'll have nowhere to go but improve.
It's like eggs in the UK. People don't like buying battery eggs and thus free range are the most common and popular types of eggs you will find. Fast food places like McDonalds use free range eggs in the UK because there would be an outcry if they didn't. Free Range might not be the best possible conditions for hens, but its better than the fast-fashion equivalent.
We just need to make our clothing outlet options as good as our egg purchase options are.
And part of the way to go is to create competition, otherwise we'll be paying into the status quo and nothing will ever change. The other part is government intervention, but we need to drum up interest and demand first otherwise the bloody government won't do shit.
@@Fireberries there’s only so much “better” that can be done within the same business model though. If the business model is still new clothes monthly, sustainable-ish fabrics and occasional decent labor practices won’t undo all that damage.
@@TateVanPattenas a consumer, if someone offers it at a lower price I will buy it cheaper.
The thing is they probably crossed some moral and illegal line for them to offer it to me to a lower price. But they don’t tell me and it keeps the fantasy playing, I buy and they sell.
@@inlovewithJLT You misunderstand. I never said it was to be the ideal, only that it is an improvement on what we currently have. We rarely progress in leaps and bounds, we reply on baby steps.
I hate when brands look ethical/sustainable, price their products as such, but then actually aren't. It sucks that I have to verify a brands claims every time I try to shop sustainably
must suck,i just watch these for fun.
I'll be honest, the whole sustainable thing, not my concern, this worlds done little for me, im not long left for this life,and il be leaving little if anyone behind, no partner or children, so really, not my problem, im not a altruist or good Samaritan, im just me.
@@bloodlove93 I look at it like our way of paying "tax" for living on this earth. We are granted all this beauty and all these resources and the least we can do is use them at least somewhat wisely. So it doesn't take being an altruist, just someone who is grateful for the basics.
Shopping being easy and enjoyable is also a lie made up by clothing brands💞
@@bloodlove93 weird that u said all that hnder someone elses comment like its barely related... make ur own comment tf
@@bloodlove93 Why does everything have to be about yourself? I'm not planning to have children either but I segregate trash, limit plane travel, commute, buy only basics and necessities , buy second hand if I really really need something. Some people act like the world owes them. Care for the world and nature because it's the right thing to do, not because you expect something in return. Can't stand the "me, me, me" types.
A “fast fashion” company can never be eco-friendly and sustainable. The problem is that consumers buy so much clothes they barely wear when you can stick to creating a wardrobe that doesnt follow fashion trends and quality that lasts at least 5-10 years.
Which sounds really boring on paper, but there is a huge range of pieces that will stand the test of time. "Classic" used to just mean a neutral Chanel suit or little black dress with pearls. "Classic" today can be anything from said Chanel suit to a studded biker jacket with ripped fishnets. They're both looks with extreme longevity. (Punk hasn't really gone anywhere in FIFTY YEARS now.)
All trends age poorly. Personal style is timeless and ageless. Timeless doesn't have to mean "boring" anymore.
Then people should also tell society to not bully and pressure people to just be trendy when they don't want to. That goes for any area, like tech and phones too. Also, warn people of neuromarketing. Encourage diy. Watch NHK Japan Zero Waste on fashion. A man only uses biodegradable fabric and dye so he can compost old clothes and woman makes clothes out of old things.
I do think people should be mindful and care about the environment but some people are interested in fashion. Why is collecting other things, like video games, ok but not being interested in fashion? Businesses of videos games and other hobbies produce too much waste or are corrupt too.
@@Bunny-ch2ul The problem with building a wardrobe like that, however, is the immense trial and error process of figuring out what is actually made with quality, and what even fits you. And for that to happen, especially when ordering from ethical stores that have no physical locations near you, well, that'll require a lot of delivery and returns. And most companies never sell returned items, they're going straight to either the shredder, the landfill, or some 3rd world country where locals sell as many of them as they can on the markets, effectively destroying local textile and fashion industries because why keep an expensive textile industry alive when everybody's buying some rich country's fashion rejects on the super cheap.
And one of the most popular fashion searches on any platform is "how to develop personal style." Keeping in mind, by the way, that personal style too changes. I no longer wear spiky leather coats and tight-tight pants with bullet belts now do I, even though I did for five years. Because my personal style has changed along with myself and my interests, body and needs.
You cannot really reconcile fashion with extensive longevity, if for nothing else, then for the fact that gone are the days where most people stayed the same weight their entire life. Bodies change. Often drastically. Often -often-.
My personal experience has been that everything Reformation looks incredible on their website but has been super underwhelming when trying it on in store. I wish they lived up to the image they project on any front.
That's interesting and unfortunates that the clothes never live up to what they project 😬 good to know !
Agreed. I never felt like the clothing quality made any sense for the price - felt very H&M in real life. Patagonia and other expensive but conscience brands don't have the same issues.
It's almost as if their designs are made with skinny tall bony models in mind. Honestly there's few brands that require such a 90s ideal bodytype to pull off succesfully.
Edit: typos
I had the same experience years ago. As a designer myself, I could tell that the clothes were made by inexperienced people. The fabric was cheap and the fit was terrible. Armholes were wonky and fabric wasn’t cut properly. I do hope they’ve gotten better since then, because I’d rather eco-friendly, transparent companies succeed to drive other companies to do the same.
agreed. the pieces in white, regardless of material, are all see-through.
Honestly, the celebrity endorsements make me more skeptical, not less. "OH-EM-GEE this dress is so sustainable" rings hollow from people who fly between mansion on private jets.
I don’t think any company can both support disposable fashion and green sustainability. They seem better than Shein and Zara, but that is a really, really low bar.
Watch NHK Japan Zero Waste on fashion. A man only uses biodegradable fabric and dye so he can compost old clothes and woman makes clothes out of old things.
their quality is worse than Zara and just a shade better than Shein... Reformation is a JOKE.. An expensive, overhyped JOKE
I've purchased a couple Reformation dresses secondhand and I've been very pleased with the fit and quality (I do pick natural fabrics only though). An unexpected sustainability bonus is that it's super easy to resell Reformation clothes if they no longer fit because they hold value really well. I think this is due to Reformation's unique style and fits. I love being able to sell old pieces online because I know it's going to someone who wants it (vs. potentially ending up in the landfill if I donate it to my local Goodwill)
That's also been my experience with their dresses. I've almost been suckered in to buy one of the nice silk ones, but now that I know the company is suspect, I will hold off. I have a few ref crop tops that are not great quality though, unfortunately.
Would be interested in seeing a video about the flip side: highlighting fashion brands that are truly sustainable and not just greenwashing
If there's any exist!
Have you been paying attention? To our world or THIS VIDEO YOU COMMENTED ON... they currently don't exist, and most likely will never exist because they don't WANT sustainability, they want profit.
@@Clay_j_Bray I agree to some extent but a lot of the videos are focused on mainstream fashion brands that are falsely perceived as sustainable due to their marketing tactics. I do think there are smaller brands out there that are transparent and focused on slow/intentional fashion (albeit much rarer and typically with steeper price tags as a result).
@@oldsoulmermaid1543 i've heard of them too, and they actually produce as much material as they have, AFAIK.
There are just "less unsustainable". Cause everything uses resources which we don't have cause some people buy 10 things everyday and throw them away. The best thing for nature is to buy nothing
I learned to sew from UA-cam and Reddit on a 1951 Singer Featherweight I inherited from my grandma. It's not really all that hard and it makes it easier to know how to fix your clothes. I recently made my daughter a pair of pajama shorts out of a dress she grew out of and I'm turning old t-shirts into a quilt.
Queen shit 🙏🏻 you’re amazing!!!
Awesome! I have a 1975 Kenmore I also inherited from my grandmother, and it's solid! They don't make machines out of metal like that anymore. I made my mom a reusable tote bag from an old sheet that had a rip on one side, and I've turned so many old clothes, sheets, and curtains, into new things. I've seen quilts from shirts, but I could never get into it. I don't think I have the patience. But I am making my own wedding outfit, and when I was designing my pattern, I used an old stained sheet to test the pattern and get it tailored right before buying the good fabric. I didn't want to use old fabric for my wedding, but for the test version, who cares, it saves me a lot of money too. I'm estimating a budget of around $300, compared to a dress my mom liked for me at $1500. I'll probably also try and turn the trial version into something else. The sheets were from a hotel, and by the looks of it, easy enough to dye over with beet juice.
Wonderful, I love old sewing machines! I have a 1926 Singer 99 and a 1947 Singer 301 (which sews like a dream, evidently it cost as much as a car back in the day…). I moved to Switzerland last year and picked up an Elna Lotus from the 60s-70s. It’s so cute and reminds me of the featherweight
For the last 5 or so years I have only bought 2nd hand clothes. I shop at Vapor, and take advantage of what the rich folks in my area discard. Ralph Lauren polo shirts for $9, that look like they just came from a store. They're too expensive for me to buy new ones any longer, but I do have some in my closet that are 20+ years old, and they still look great! I'm sure LR is probably not the greenest company out there, but at least they make clothes that, if taken care of, will last a long long time.
Keep cranking these out Levi & co. They are some of the most informative videos on the web. Well done!
I think it IS tricky to find truly sustainable brands. This is why I use Poshmark to find the closet thing to what I want secondhand. It goes to the person's income rather than a huge thrift conglomerate.
resale value definitely plays into fast fashion tho as a seller. like if fast fashion is going to sell for more or faster, I would consider flipping it because it would help support my financial stability. Not saying that it’s the right thing to do
@@closuitm I agree but I just depends on the brand, the type of item and current trends. Like fast fashion, trends move way too fast nowadays, and subcultures have been reduced to "aesthetics" 🫤 so buying cheap fast fashion to resell is still kind of a gamble.
I use both Poshmark and also ThredUp, which does returns!
Would be curious to see a similar deep dive into Everlane. They seem like they are in a similar niche. Thanks for the video!
I will tell you why I love Everlane: they have options to fit a curvy body and by curvy I mean with a tiny waist, hips and a round butt. Too often when fashion brands say ‘curvy’, they really mean fat and the waist is huge and needs massive tailoring for someone with my body type.
Please don’t ruin everlane for me but it would be an interesting watch
I believe they do have an older video on Everlane
I love Everlane. I think their prices are fair for the quality of their products. Their jeans are incredible and the materials they use are perfect. People want it all for $25 or less. That is impossible.
Just buy secondhand. I got an Everlane dress on Poshmark for like $30 and I'm wearing it right now haha.
For me, being from Latin America, it's crazy to think about the way USA people and Europeans consume anything: wasted food, clothes, cars... ANYTHING. In my culture we try to care for and preserve everything we already have. For us, if something doesn't work right or is broken, we try to fix it (most of time it works) before throw it away. I know it's because they are rich countries and everything, but the world can no longer afford these rates of consumption. It's just a striking contrast to see that. We must all become aware of what we really need.
Europe is a big continent and many of our cultures are against a consumer driven economy. Not everyone in the west is bad
The USA is larger than a football stadium, and a significant minority think fast fashion and consumerism are mistakes. That still is millions of people.
But items sold here often can't be fixed. My husband just paid off a mobile, and the battery isn't holding a charge like it used to. It is designed, it turns out, so it cannot be replaced, other than to buy an entire new mobile.
yeah i doubt that hun
Yeah.
So happy to find this channel!! I am *always* saying “is it sustainable or is it profit margin?” I don’t mind paying more but then I need the company to show their work and actually be sustainable.
I've been tempted so often to purchase something from Reformation, but online reviews always dissuaded me. Apparently, the quality is poor, and almost all of their clothes need dry cleaning, which isn't sustainable either. Plus, any garment that includes even a small percentage of synthetic fibers cannot be recycled, so it doesn't matter if a sweater is 98% organic wool and 2% acrylic. There is no easy way to separate those 2% from the 98%, so the whole thing will also land in a landfill. Pretty disappointing once you investigate into the brand
8:05 My wife was a sewing machine operator in a Korean factory in the 1960s and 1970s. Because of the high cost of electricity the factory used treadle sewing machines. (foot powered)
Also probably price of machine vs quality. I prefer to use my almost 100 years old machine than my modern one. Quality and reliability, only maintenance is oiling and cleaning at home. It is just more reiable. And was 3 times cheaper. And hand crank operated (However I will probably buy electric motor for this old one on some point or treadle - it can be powered in several ways)
And that almost 100 years old machine will last several more centuries - or longer. It was in damp garage for half century - and making it work as new without expetiance in fixing seving machines took me one evening. It was just cleaning and oiling it - with modern better oil so it might work better than in past. My modern machine required service after month in those conditions. It uses moder cl15 bobbins, needles, and feet - it was just first machine used those and it was so popular it is still standard - and it is just good standard.
It was bulid to last forever and it is (first) modern machine. This is real sustainability. This hunk of casted and machined metal is almost impossible to break.
I can recommend getting singer 15k for everybody. And I am almost sure that your wife used them or clones. Or slightly newer ones but 15k are most likely case.
Another way to be green and sustainable is to learn how to hand-sew for repairs. I taught myself how to repair sew, and it's saved a lot of pieces of clothing. I believe repair sewing is a skill everyone should learn. You don't have to learn how to use a sewing machine or how to make clothing, but the skill definitely saves a lot of money and eases that carbon footprint.
It was actually obligatory for all students to learn how to hand-sew and mend clothes when we were in elementary school. We had classes and all. Girls even were taught to sew entire clothes (kind of sexist, some of us wanted to do carpentry, while some boys would've really love to crochet, sew and cook). I'm frankly kind of dismayed when I see people complaining about a button coming loose. You bought it, don't return it and pollute even more, just get a needle and some thread and sew the damned button back on! Sewing a button is literally two minutes of work depending on the fabric and the type of button, if you're not terribly nimble.
Reformations slogan about being the most sustainable option besides being naked really rubs me the wrong way. Because it’s all marketing. Wearing what you already own, and buying second hand is obviously more sustainable than purchasing anything new. Also I’ve been to one of their stores. The clothes are not good quality. They look flimsy and about the same quality as H&M for very high prices. Just buy second hand.
Yup. Oh, reformation. The most sustainable option is actually wearing the clothes you already own and not buying new. But that wouldn't make for a good marketing line, now would it.
This is completely unrelated but could you make a video commenting on whether getting eco friendly detergenent / clean products is actually better for the environment? Thank you! Love the videos!!
Gray water friendly soaps are better for the environment, but that’s more like level 100 and you’re asking about level 2.
You can find out by looking up the Safety Data Sheet and ingredients online. Products used in workplace in many countries are required to disclose the SDS - and toxicology data. This includes if the ingredients are known to be toxic, carcinogens or harmful to the environment. In general the 'bad list' include all fabric softeners ( these are 100% pointless and can be replaced with white vinegar) unnecessary antibacterials (increases risk of antibiotic resistance and poisoning), fragrance ( not required to disclose ingredients and can include up to 300 chemicals, poisons and mixes are entirely untested/undisclosed), essential oils - often poisonous and shares the same issues as fragrance. Many 'eco' products are not needed so it helps to think 'do i really need a separate chemical product for this job? Or can bicarb/vinegar/basic soap and water do the job? If you start to learn how to read ingredient lists you will discover that you can often make your own using food safe ingredients and save a lot of money in the process.
I bought from Pact recently (another eco fast fashion type brand), hoping to find quality. Aaaaand nope. Organic cotton and "fair trade" doesn't mean that the clothes are put together well. Three of the four things I bought had defects.
So glad i found this UA-cam channel :D cant wait for more content!
We love making these so it makes us so happy to know so many people enjoy them. Thanks for being here!!!
I have another option: wear what you have, buy it used, or make it yourself. I have some fabric stores in my bookmarks that get the ends of bolts of fabric - what the manufacturer would normally discard. They get it, I buy the ones I want, I make use of it. I admit, that's not my only source of fabric. I do buy fabric made for the home sewist market.
The advantage making my own stuff has, is that if it needs lining, it will be lined. It will hang correctly off my shoulders and my hips. And I will use it until it wears out, because it will fit me and I will love it. (I will also make it with a generous seam allowance, so it can change as my body does.)
Know what I do with my old clothes? I patch them up, and wear them some more. When they're completely embarrassing to wear, they graduate to pajamas, or gardening clothes, or they get chopped up and used as patches for other clothes, or made into reusable bags, or wallets, or shoes, or stuffed animals, or dog/cat toys for the local shelter, or whatever else I might need.
My fast fashion from Primark (coats esp) are still going strong...12- 14 years old. Look after what you own, and you'll need less.
I'm still wearing a $4 T-shirt I bought at the original Zellers from back in the 90's. Was it produced sustainably, with ecologically friendly materials, in a factory that pays their workers a fair salary while treating them with respect? No, probably not, but damned if I'm letting this thread-barren shirt go.
Side note... "Shein" is pronounced "chien"? I've always thought it was "sheen"! Well then.
@@ChristianBehnke i called it she in
Zellers was pretty good. I was a kid then, so the only things I still have from there are a few video games. But Sears was also top notch (I miss their bargain store in Canada). I have a faux leather jacket from there and it's super well made. In fact, even my bathtub faucet was made by Sears 50 years ago. My sewing machine says "Sears Best" and I have yet to find a better machine. That one's from 1975 when my dad was a kid, and his mom got the top of the line machine to make quilts and such. She made me clothes using it, and now I'm using it to make my own clothes out of old sheets, or upgrading old clothes. My dad gave me a stack of ripped jeans to hem into shorts so he could keep wearing them. His jeans certainly weren't made ethically, but they're going to be worn until they can't anymore, that's for sure.
Are there ANY clothing companies that are legitimately an ethical choice? Not ridiculously damaging to the climate and environment, or ethical labor practices…
I've heard Armed angels and organic basics good. I thrift everything apart from underwear.
I mean 100%, no... But humans will never be able to completely reduce our impact to zero so it's inefficient to aim for zero. But if even half the population shopped second hand or brands that are "imperfect but pretty close to it", then it would have a massive impact on the world
I’m a fan of Lucy and Yaks. I hope they live up to their eco rep. Their Dungas share super comfy.
I recommend swedish brand "Houdini"👍🏻
There is no ethical consumption in a capitalist society.
We, especially women, were inculturated (lovely hippie word, I'm a boomer) into recreational shopping here in the west. All the well crafted muckraking about shopping fails to find a replacement
because we liked getting out of the house, buying family presents, having a sandwich, and looking at clothes. Showing my age!! I simply don't grasp why people blow plastic online...it satisfies no human need.
Can you do a deep dive into Girlfriend Collective? I love their sports bras and swimwear and they tout themselves as a super sustainable brand (their clothing are made with recycled water bottles) but how much of that is true?
IIRC using recycled water bottles (or recycled plastic to create polyester) isn't super great, as we're taking something that is easier to recycle (plastic) and turning it into something that can't be recycled as easily (polyester). Polyester also still has the issue that it releases microplastics into waterways when washed. So it's not THE solution to our sustainability problem, especially as it seems that marketing recycled polyester seems to be a greenwashing tool to allow companies to continue to use polyester over more expensive natural fibres. Although, I've also heard good things about Girlfriend Collective, and the recycled polyester issue is a much bigger problem when larger companies like nike or adidas use it.
I have a suitcase made of recycled water bottles. I'm not sure how much of it was, but it's lasted me 12 years and still is good. I've heard good reviews of Girlfriend Collective, but I've always been too scared of how much customs would be. I've ordered from TomboyX before and that shipping was bad enough even with their points. I gotta say with TomboyX, they market their Tencel Modal fabric as more eco friendly, but it falls apart way sooner than the cotton. Cotton stuff from them seems to last about 4 years, and modal at maybe 2. Still better than VS underwear that would start falling apart within one year...
@@joylox if you live in Canada, Nordstrom and They Bay and other athletic wear stores sell GC!!
@@littleblue15 I didn't know we had Nordstrom in Canada. I guess it didn't get East yet. But there is a Hudson's Bay store near me, so it might be worth checking out.
@@littleblue15 I thought Nordstrom was closing all of their Canada locations?
I just found your channel tonight, and I'm only a few episodes in now, but I love it! I only wish the vids were longer, because they're informative AND entertaining, and that's always a win-win.
Thanks for being here! :)
I purchased four Reformation jeans in the same sizes and only ONE fit. Sizing is so inconsistent. I measured two of the jeans and the waist dimensions didn’t even match the websites. Luckily they owned up to the inconsistency and gave me a refund. But it’s ridiculous, I’m literally the same size in other denim jean brands yet for Ref I can fit several sizes.
Size inconsistency is a sympton of rushed manufacturing which happens with these fast fashion brands. The factory workers literary don't have enough time to follow the patterns properly and are just doing everything as fast as possible to meet theri deadlines.
Watched this video right as I've been thinking about a Reformation shirt that I tried on recently. I liked some of their tops, but the dresses felt worse than I expected. In the end, with my goal to be a more conscious consumer, I decided to hold off buying anything. Maybe one day I'll buy something, but only if I feel that I know it has a long place in my wardrobe.
With your points here though, I think it would be interesting to revisit Everlane because I do remember you had a complimentary video about them a little while ago, but I feel like they've also fallen into a similar trap as Reformation (+ union busting).
It's a shame though, because as an Australian Reformation seems to be one of the only clothing brands that have stockists local to me (besides the outerwear companies). I'm done buying clothes online, having them not look right on me, and then having clothes in my wardrobe that I don't like and don't wear. But it's also hard finding sustainable brands local to me, that are also well made, that I can try and really determine whether they're worth my money buying. So in the end I don't buy anything and have worn the same rotation of outfits every week, which I suppose is best for sustainability, but has left me feeling dissatisfied.
However, it feels like nothing is made well anymore. I think learning to sew has helped in my ability to determine if a garment is of better quality, but it still feels like a losing game.
I think Reformations biggest mistake is believing that they can substitute fast fashion and still be sustainable. But in reality, it's the culture of fast fashion that isn't sustainable. "Green" and "fast-fashion" is the biggest oxymoron there is. To be sustainable you have to have a completely different business model, and that business model isn't going to be profitable.
In the end, we can't buy ourselves out of climate change. We need to consume less, repair more, and when we do consume; consume better. Looking forward to your video on carbon offsets, they're one of the biggest ways that corporations try to claim that they're being sustainable, through no actual meaningful change themselves. Probably biggest scam there is.
Great video!!
I would love to see a video about sustainable/eco-friendly cleaning products. I feel like it is such a beast to do research on and often these cleaning products are vinegar or baking soda with essential oils. Or the complete opposite of well-known brands greenwashing their products.
Just use vinegar and baking soda! And Castile soap. I just did all this research and you're right -- just stick to the basics.
Just wanted to comment and say thanks for all the great sleuthing and researching about brands like these. I always wonder about greenwashing when looking for sustainable brands, but never know where to start for my own research other than a basic google! Its a good reminder to keep thinking critically and to look after the wardrobe I already have really.
I’m so happy I found this video! I’m currently a college student who tries very hard to be as sustainable as possible with my fashion. I do a lot of research before buying things, and try to buy something only if it’s on my list of things that I need. One of the biggest challenges for me is that sustainable fashion is so fucking expensive. Also, a lot of sustainable brands just sell basic plain clothing, it’s boring and it’s not cute. I was so happy (and then not happy) to discover reformation. They have really cute clothes, and occasional sales, so if I save up, I can buy from them. The issue as other people have commented here, is simply that their clothes are not good quality. Not even, not worth it for the price. It’s just objectively poor quality that I don’t see lasting for a long time. I hope I’m proved wrong of course, but I think that’s unacceptable. It’s not fair to the environment or to my wallet. At the end of the day, the average consumer can’t afford that, and I’ll end up purchasing something I need from a less sustainable brand that at least will hold up…Unfortunately I don’t have great thrift stores where I live, so now it’s back to square one.
Hey I highly recommend 2hand thrift stores online like depop, poshmark, or even thredup. You’re right about the ridiculousness of all that, but you can still find some great vintage pieces that have both great quality and sustainability, and they would generally cost less than something new labelled sustainable. A tip I’ve found helpful is to check the material of the garment, and usually good materials (cotton, silk, wool, cashmere, etc) come with good craftsmanship too. Best of luck :)
If you can afford reformation pieces, you can try Etsy! There are lots of small businesses who will make clothes tailored to your size (so they fit well) out of good quality fabrics (so they last a long time), using ecologically friendly dye practices! If you have to buy new, Instagram accounts with shops like wildharvest studio, Serpent and bow, future nomad. Etsy shops like xusah, Anuttara crafts, and lots of this stuff can be found on poshmark, mercari, Vinted etc for very little money ❤️❤️ Hope you find some things you like!!
ebay, depop and vinted!!
Agree that the most sustainable companies tend to go boxy and generic in their designs. I’ve found Amour Vert to be the best compromise, but it took some digging to solidify which fabrics were natural fibers. I always check the final sale section first or shop on holidays for ~50% off
Maybe consider diy and gving clothes a makeover if people spend so much time and the same amount of time researching eco businesses and shopping anyways. Yt has many sewing and diy videos. Watch NHK Japan Zero Waste on fashion. A man only uses biodegradable fabric and dye so he can compost old clothes and woman makes clothes out of old things.
11:42 it sounds like their product schedule is to release a few new styles monthly rather than to release 2 large collections twice a year (which is a really outdated fashion cycle anyway). I always got the impression that Reformation was buying deadstock and mill end fabrics from jobbers and releasing the same silhouettes in different fabrications. Did any of the Future proof team look into this?
Essentially, Reformation is buying the leftover textiles from the fashion industry and using the same garment patterns over and over. This dramatically decreases how much time it takes to develop a new style. A lot of indie brands use this method. It's very efficient.
Using mill end fabrics also gives a subtle marketing boost because once the fabric is gone, it's unlikely that Reformation will be able to use it again. This is because in order to create a custom fabric, a huge order must be placed with the textile manufacturer. Typically only really huge retailers are able to place orders that large. Smaller brands are really limited with which textiles they can access.
The quality of their garments is also terrible. I walked into one of their stores a couple days ago and the fabric felt so cheap and the more delicate garments had so many of the seams already pulling. My friend and I were shocked at the quality for the price point.
That’s the sad thing, you can’t even get good quality when you spend the money nowadays. Yay capitalism
Well, if you sell your product at insane prices, it's not hard to be eco friendly. But really, the best thing to do is to buy something that last for a long time, and one that you are happy with for a long time. Even if the product itself isn't the most eco friendly, if buying it means you buy less overall, it could be an win.
And reformation really seems to be quite substandard.
I was willing to give them more leeway under the impression that if you are buying new clothes, even if a company has serious green issues, it's still better to shop a brand that doesn't use sweatshops and has worker protections... then you got to their misrepresentation of their factory system...
Levi, you brought up carbon offsets, but I feel there's a good amount of controversy and criticism regarding that industry. Could be a good topic for the future
The best fast fashion shop imo that is also Eco friendly would probably be *a clothing rental store* where you can exchange and rent clothes so you can have the coolest new things and then give them back so someone else can wear them
Wrong. The dry cleaning of their clothes, the transport of them... the best way to transport cargo is by fitting as much cargo into the truck as possible. That, however, is not really possible with a rented item unless you show up in person, which means that a truck making rounds will make it half-empty. Therefore, the environmental cost of you getting your rented item delivered goes up because the deliverer has to make more rounds. Basically, you don't have to be perfect at sustainability, sustainability is a spectrum, but it is always important to know just how sustainable (or not sustainable) your chosen method of acquiring clothes is.
Please do a video on the clothing brand CHRISTY DAWN. It is around the same price point as Reformation, but are as close to perfect for a sustainable fashion brand as you can get.
This is super informative and interesting! Thank you for making these types of videos.
Would you guys ever consider making tier list videos where you rank companies in different industries by how ethical/ sustainable they are? I think it would be really helpful to have videos like that to help ppl vet certain brand options. That way, they can make informed decisions when trying to support brands that are truly trying to make a difference.
I got a 3D printer for my birthday, and I am _so_ excited to spend most of my money on art direct from artists (models) and then print my own inch-tall miniatures at home with no shipping. :D (I also got my first set of nice headphones, which are made in Romania, and fully repairable and I'm SO EXCITED about moving to making more intentional decisions.)
I make clothes from vintage sheets and tablecloths, use only natural fibers like organic cotton, silk and wool. I don't use any plastic packaging in shipping and make everything myself so no sweatshops. The truth is when you run a business that's 100% sustainable the amount you would need to charge per piece to break even on all the work you do is not a realistic way of making money. Luckily I have a few sources of income and can dedicate to making fashion I love and am proud of. Honestly most people who are "into fashion" have never checked a fiber content tag a day in their life and the amount of girls I see wearing the same identical outfits is beyond. Bravo to those who are expressing themselves and finding their own style and watching video's like this one to do their own critical thinking.
I was literally considering buying secondhand a reformation piece, but… after googling about their quality… never mind
Can you make a video about sustainable home decor? I feel like people just run to Wayfair or Amazon for furniture and decor.
In my opinion, the most sustainable clothing is arguably the natural fiber clothing you already have that is of high quality and not green-washed which you'll use for decades and years to come...it is best to buy quality clothing with good construction (that typically also doesn't cost $400) and have it be re-worn and passed down to coming generations until it biodegrades. You'll find better stuff shopping at antique clothing stores (such as 100% Virgin Wool coats) because the quality and materials of clothing today are so much worse than back then. As someone who worked in the fashion industry before, I find that we also tend to buy less clothing if we learn how to identify and buy only quality-made pieces with classic/timeless silhouettes. Fast fashion and the current hot fashion trend are just a way for the fashion businesses and industry to line their pockets whilst keeping money in the economy's circulation... well- it's just my opinion :)
Currently I work in a sustainability role at a mass-market retailer, I was skeptical that this was just going to be pointing out all the flaws brands are doing. But I appreciate the effort trying to show the good and the bad. Changing major brands (and an industry) built on depleting resources and over working people can't happen overnight. But as more customer educate themselves (like this), ask companies to change, and vote for politicians that are looking to fix these issues (Fashion act) ... HOPEFULLY we will have more circular solutions soon!
It's hard to find clothing brands that are truly eco-conscious. This is why our clothing brand has been sustainable since 1987, we make new colorful patchwork sweaters from the cutaway fabric to close the loop! 🌈😃
Where can I find it?
Interesting! I’ve never really heard of this before but your videos are really informational and entertaining!
Thanks for the support here, we love making these so we really appreciate it !
Their clothes is not the quality they portray it to be. I have a few pieces of theirs and they’re lovely, definitely better quality than say Zara, but not near the quality of their price point. More on par with the more recent Abercrombie and Fitch pieces I have.
Some clothing products should be viewed as ‘perishables’ as they can be exposed to personal and environmental factors, that kinda prevents it’s safe use. Even second hand still only has a certain lifespan. I’ll also add in the fact that our bodies can fluctuate a lot throughout the course of a year, a month or even a day depending on the activities we engage in, so I understand the need for needing new items....I think our problem is less about the purchase of items, but more the fact we literally have no idea how to safely break down the old fabrics and threads in a way that doesn’t hurt communities or the environment. Less consumption is definitely the goal, but even at lower volumes, and knowing some clothing cannot be safely re-worn repeatedly, there is still no real plan in place, that I know of, to deal with the growing pollution
Something I don't hear mentioned much when talking about shopping sustainably is to pay attention to FABRIC. Knowing what pieces and fabrics will have the longest life and be the easiest (or even possible) to repair is KEY to consuming sustainably. This applies to buying new OR thrifting. A good rule of thumb is to find pieces that are as close to 100% a natural fiber as possible, and AVOID POLYESTER. On top of significantly reducing the quality of an item, all polyester is plastic, which is incredibly harmful for the planet, and releases microplastics into our water systems when washed. If buying something with polyester, try not to go above 20%. Otherwise the garment will fade, pill, and lost its shape within months.
The best materials to look for are cotton, linen, silk, leather, and wool, and rayon (made from bamboo) and viscose (made from wood pulp) are good too. Any items made with any of these blended together are also great.
Most garments you buy that are 100% of any of those materials can last a lifetime, especially when purchased thoughtfully in an attempt to buy an item you can see yourself loving for 5 or even ten years or longer.
It's all well and good to reduce consumption, but if you're buying poor-quality or poorly-made items, they're not going to last anyway. I was lucky enough to have a mom who worked in the garment industry and passed a lot of this knowledge onto me, but I find that many people don't know about checking for fiber content! Most clothes will have a little tag either behind the size tag or along the seam (usually the left) that will tell you what it's made of. The first time I went in Zara I couldn't believe the prices they were charging for 100% polyester garments! I think they're relying on their consumers not knowing that their products are often not very good quality.
Love the videos. Has made me think about my approach to multiple ways I live my life and encouraged me to look into the brands I support and the lifestyle choices I make.
7:30 you can't make a garment completely out of spandex. Spandex is a synthetic fiber that is woven or interlocked with other fibers (nylon, cotton, etc) to create a textile with superior stretch and recovery. Typically the most you will see a particular textile include spandex is no more than 10% of the fiber content.
As soon as employers loosen up dresscodes to where I can just wear burlap sacks, I'm in.
There goes my free time spent looking (yeah, just looking, the prices are not what I would pay for a tee) at Ref clothing down the drain.
I already like this channel.
Now that you mentioned Rihanna, maybe you could also do research and video about Fenty? Although it might be controversial or a lot of people angry 😅
Love your Future Proof videos and excited for Future Health :)
The only way to make an eco-friendly clothing line is to make clothing that lasts!
More like, stop trends. Plenty of companies make things that last, but people don't want it because it's not trendy, with the exception of Levi's, which BTW, makes their men's jeans out of a longer lasting fabric than their women's jeans, and I'd bet that's because men's fashion doesn't change as much as quickly. I do like how their stuff says not to wash it after every wear, and has instructions for how to make it last. Outdoor companies like Patagonia, Fjallraven, L.L. Bean, etc are usually pretty good for stuff that lasts, but isn't really fashionable. I put practicality over style, but most people don't.
@@joylox I really like Deluth because they are very utilitarian yet still cute but I have noticed that they are delving into jegging materials, which is a big pet peeve of mine. Super stretchy denim will never be true denim in my eyes and it pisses me off that their overalls are all super stretchy now, especially when they already run 2 sizes bigger than the typical store. Their xs fits like a medium with all the unnecessary stretch and it gets worse the longer you wear it. Many people say they prioritize practicality over style but in all honesty people prioritize comfort more than practicality.
Honestly, some concepts are just not compatible. For example, smoking and cancer free, dictatorship and freedom of information, fast fashion and sustainable.
Not buying that “thing” when you already have a working “thing” is 100% better than any claims of sustainability from a manufacturer.
LMAO - " ..."we don't know what constitute moderate issues, we only hope that means the lunchtime donuts are a little state." Your wit is always on par, like Oscar [Wilde]. Good work!
In terms of the clothing brands this has been my experience. Reformation sounds a lot like American Apparel when it first started out. Although neither are really that eco-friendly. I typically prefer brands like Pendleton or Patagonia. At least in terms of quality. There‘s a newish clothing brand that seems okay. Their model is a circular economy. Such as getting credit for sending them clothing from any brand. I’d have to look more into them. Or maybe Levi or you guys could. Brand is called For Days
American Apparel made good clothes when they first started. Same with H & M when they first hit NYC. Then rather quickly the quality went down after a few years.
It's surprising to see how many women fall for that image the company created...
I love my 4 or 5 items from Reformation. I travel with them and wear them all the time. The cut and quality is great. But I also tried on and put back an equal amount of items.
I buy cheap but good, and make it long lasting, I normally buy clothes every 4 years (basic t-shirts and leggings mostly from H&M, Primark or c&a) and I spend on good clothes that matter (coats, some good sweaters and pants, good shoes and a good purse/bag) that’s how I keep my waste controlled.
I also know how to sew and make my own clothing, so I can fix old clothes that might be throwable, I make them live probably about 1-2 years more. Also most of my clothing is cotton, and cotton with some mix like linen or elastane. I literally cannot do anything more.
I mean, how many people still repair clothes at least once before throwing it away? I have been wearing a pair of jeans regularly for almost 5 years, and had it repaired 3 times. And as a jeans lover, knowing how much resources are needed to produce the fabric, I would say stone washing or any treatment to make them look used/worn is just stupid. A company would spend more resources to produce them. Customers would end up paying more for a less durable product. And TBH, stonewashed jeans never look as good as a pair you yourself wear in.
Just a couple days ago I saw a short where someone bought something from this company. The offhandedly mentioned the “carbon offsetting” and I rolled my eyes hard
Green fast fashion is like healthy fast food. It doesn't exist. I'm wearing the same stuff since highschool for like 20 years.
Hey Levi, absolutely love the content and the work you do. But we need a little more positivity. Would love to see a video about which companies are actually doing good work in terms of sustainability and environmental awareness
The thing about fabrics, as a sewist who makes my own clothes, is that it's always more complex and it's a process. For example, where fabric comes from, is often unknown, or from China, India, or other place that don't have as strict of standards, and looking at what dyes are used for making patterns and if they're just tossed in a river after (which is a real thing). There's also the places where the materials used to make fabrics are grown, and if it was grown in a sustainable way, or if they exploit people to get it. Also, there are reasons that even "problematic" fabrics exist. For example, before spandex, most swimwear was made of knit wool, and that sounds itchy and difficult to swim in, and also takes longer to dry. Spandex, while being essentially stretchy plastic, is made to fit tightly to stay on and reduce drag when swimming, dancing, skating, or doing other sports, and also keep you comfortable. If anything, chlorine should be taken out of most water so that spandex and elastic lasts longer. I also get rashes from chlorinated water, and after I started going to the only salt water pool in my area to avoid chlorine, I noticed I wasn't having to buy a new swimsuit every year anymore, they last much longer. How we wash and dry things helps too, so using fabrics that dry quicker, like a lot of polyesters do, means you may not have to use a dryer, which also really wears stuff out.
There are also fabrics that are not biodegradable or plant based, but made to last forever. The biggest example is Fjallraven's nylon blend. That stuff is strong, and the idea is that instead of it having to be broken down and essentially composted (as is the case with things like hemp and flax fabrics commonly used in canvas and feed bags), it lasts so long that you don't need to buy replacements. I know they're a really big brand in outdoor fields of work due to the fact you buy a couple pairs and can wear them to work as long as they fit you.
I'm personally interested in Tencel because there's a fine line between plant fabrics that will fall apart on you (think, old cotton thread that breaks with just a light tug, or old potato sacks that are turning into dust) and materials that are plasticy, and a pain to work with. I'm ordering some for my wedding outfit since polyester makes me sweat too much (and that's what most dresses are made of), and both cotton and linen (flax) wrinkle too easily. Tencel seems to be like rayon or viscose, taking cellulose from trees and modifying it (technically one of the first man-made fabrics, though still seen as semi-synthetic as it's not plastic based), but as a brand, seems to focus more on making that processing done less harmful. I know it's super soft, and has the qualities I like in a natural fibre as well as with a synthetic. I just don't like the chemicals used in regular rayon, so I'm hoping Tencel is doing what they say they are.
As someone who was diagnosed as allergic to wool, and later worked with a lot of it, I can assure you that wool is not itchy. Also that I wasn't allergic to it.
Chemicals used to process woolens, especially recycled wool, are what make you itch. Okay, recycled wool, which is the origin of the word shoddy, can have stiffish bits in it that rough up your skin. For the most part, it's the acids used to burn off excess hairiness that sets off my skin. The pure fleeces I spun and wove never bothered me in the least. And I never got them burnt off, either. Lovely things to wear. The woolen knits used for bathing suits were very smoothly spun.
One always has to remember how different fibres and fabrics could be before 1970 or so.
Aay I suggested this one! I had no idea they were fast fashion until I went to their Linkedin where they said they were making fast fashion sustainable which was a big ???.
I actually use Reformation (I mostly get jeans) and have never had an issue with them. I kinda get why the credits exist too, but that only works if you wear your clothes then maybe realize you have that one item you don’t use (Depending on the item you might be cutting down your wardrobe by giving 3 items to threadup to afford one from Reformation).
I tend to wear my clothes until they break, and honestly, Ref has been the only place where the jeans are comfortable for me. I think that if you have the mentality that you will wear an item a lot, Reformation isn’t that bad. The issue is when your mentality as a consumer is “wear once, throw out”
I stopped donating to thrift stores years ago. I try my best to buy high quality clothes, and when I'm done with them, i donate them to shelters.
im a fan of the quality, all of my reformation pieces have lasted years
sustentability is just one of the problems with fast-fashion. slavery is the other one and is way less adressed. are we sure those factories are etic? that their workers are being paid enough? that their conditions of work are safe? do we know if their "natural fibers" are organic? no toxines to acelerate the cotton grouth?
the idea of fast fashion was, originally, to produce cheaper clothes, since the population got bigger and people have less money and time, the brands found out that the fastest and cheapest way to produce clothes was to use bad materials and pay nothing for the work. there is no solution for that problem.
I’m excited to watch!😅
Can you talk about Aritzia? I hate when people associate high prices with sustainability. I love Aritzia tho so I cant help myself 😔
Does Aritzia even claim to be sustainable? Like I know they have a eco/sustainable line, but I think it’s only a small portion of their clothing. They just seem like a high end H&M, but I guess people associate certain cuts and materials w Reformation, and that’s how they’re getting that association
Their fashion models would make great drawing references. The poses are great.
It's the only brand that designs clothes that you can actually wear to a boat party, a nice restaurant and places that require you to look nice. If anyone has any other suggestions, PLEASE let me know, I'll thank you for it x PS I can't afford Stella McCartney or Eileen Fisher. Hiring is my go to now.
Figured lol. Great vid. Price points are out of control for the “quality.” Haha
Love the vids dude. Is there any resource you have made or that you recommend that rates these smaller companies claiming to be sustainable? I bought a shirt from this company called Outerknown and I’d love to hear your verdict on them as well. Keep it up!
That little short reference to Cody and Noel 🤌🏼🤌🏼
Fashion CAN be sustainable if you take time to research trends and styles, fabrics and cuts and if you make a motivated effort to buy only items that convince you fully. Clothes you will mix and match until they fall into pieces, which will happen in the far future because you have selected good quality in the first place.
Saying that fast fashion can be sustainable is simply ludicrous.
How is it possible to buy twenty/thirty outfits per year in a sustainable way? Do you have twelve sisters and a system in place by which every year every sister passes all her clothes to her younger sister, with the eldest getting to buy new clothes and the youngest getting to finally throw them away?
I take a small amount of pride from the fact that especially when it comes to cloths and brands, i almost never have any idea what they are before watching your video on why thy kinda suck.
I refuse to buy anything from reformation unless it’s second hand and at a deep discount… I bought a dress for a wedding and was shocked at how cheap it felt. It would have been $300+ full price.
Never trust what any company says. Got it. So glad I watched.
Lol the heavy sarcasm.
We have sustainable fast fashion its called thrift stores
ok. ok. ok. I actually had to rewind the video to see Aflalo as a pickle again lmao, that was genius. Informative and entertaining A+
Im a Reformation junkie 🤣 i dont care about their claims i just really like their style. They have really good sales like 2x a year (which I didn’t know about 🤦🏻♀️). I refuse to pay full price now.
reformation is a brand i won’t pay full price for, i’ll buy if off someone who has only worn it once at a much lower price
Second this! Feel this way about pretty much every brand though
I washed 2 pairs of reformation pants, ONE time, and they were both damaged. One lost a button and the other the side seam ripped... awful, awful quality.
We don’t all have to be perfect, but with 8 billion people we need to collectively do our part 🌍
Uniqlo for me has been the best value clothing. I've had some of my clothes for years now and its still fine.
I don't know what fast fashion is. I have never heard of Reformation as a company. I didn't understand anything about this video. I just needed something new to be mad about.
middle aged indulgence system pretty much sums things up. How about learn how to sew and take care of the clothing you already have so it lasts longer. if you air dry your clothes rather than put them in the dryer, not only do you save on power but your clothes will last longer
A lot of that is image marketing. Choose the image of Your liking, pay up and be happy feeling a bit less guilty or even environmentally aware. As long as the profit mentality is the driver then there is marketing fluff and spin. The actual product is short lived and replaced with something else next week.
You also need to bring up that many materials may sound natural and organic, like bamboo, but the production process to prepare it as a silky fabric creates toxic byproducts anyway
What do you think about Thredup? I sold my unwanted clothes. The company sells for only 3(?) months. They recycle after that unsold closing. I thought that is not good for the environment.
It isn't. The best way remains to think a lot before buying and never getting an item on the spur of the moment.
@idraote I agree. I was disappointed Thredup. It took a very long time to post my clothes on the page (5 months) and just sells ONLY 3(?) months. The company took a lot of % of money too. It is green washed company.
I thought thred up was just some second hand online shopping app from individual sellers like depop or poshmark? 👁👄👁
Cody & Noel @4:28 as substitute for Short is hilarious