Ethical Brands Similar To Reformation
So you’ve heard about Reformation’s racist past amongst its corporate leadership and now 70% of your closet reminds you of injustice… and thousands of dollars down the drain. Here is a list of ethical brands and information that goes far beyond environmental and labor practices, but also its workforce, models, and stance & contributions towards the Black Lives Matter movement.
Keep in mind no brand is ever perfect because they are reflections of society, laws, and the individuals that consume from and run them. They may not be perfectly anti-racist or ethical, but hey — at least there’s no IG photo of its leadership eating fried chicken and captioning it “Happy Black History Month” (yet). I’ve divulged information scraping the internet (to a certain extent) and will let you be the judge. Please keep in mind also that accountability over “cancel culture” is key — in my opinion, unless a brand has shown time-and-time again that is has failed to change and willfully chosen the path of ignorance, let’s accept those who make mistakes but learn from them. I think down the line, if Reformation takes steps to actively change its leadership (not create loopholes for some members to have creative direction/earn profit), culture, marketing, and hire & promote more POC to help create actual systemic change, then we as consumers should accept and forgive — with the caveat that actions speak louder than words.
Disclaimer: I am one person researching these brands through the use of the internet and helpful websites/apps like Good on You. Evidently throughout history we’ve seen “scholarly” books and “reliable” sources are a reflection of their creators and the society and systems that hold the validity of those creations accountable. I encourage you to do your own research, ask questions, leave a comment, and fact-check anything on this blog so we can all work towards finding the truth around any topic.
Sizing: XXS-L (for petites)
Response to BLM: Petite Studio has posted on its Instagram that it stands with the Black community and has donated $10,000 to Black-owned charities.
Diverse Leadership: According to its LinkedIn profile, it has a small team (5-10 employees) mostly comprised of Asian-Americans.
Diverse Models: Historically models are mostly White or Asian, and there is more pressure from its followers to hire and work with more Black and other POC models.
Price Range: $$-$$$
How Is It Ethical?: It doesn’t fully disclose/trace where materials are from and most of its products are not made of sustainable fabric, but it focuses on high-quality fabrics that are crafted by workers in China (its only factory) designed to last a long time. It also states paying its factory workers fairly, offering benefits, and reasonable hours. Read more.
Country: USA
Sizing: XS - XXL
Response to BLM: Sézane has put out this Instagram post without explicitly stating support. It has posted IG stories under the “Book Club” highlight on books educating readers on slavery, racial wealth inequality, and more.
Diverse Leadership: See People here — not many POC at the leadership/board level, although some POC employees.
Diverse Models: Taking a look at its IG page, it looks like just recently Sézane has started to feature more Black models, but its site shows more Black models (unsure when this was updated, if at all).
Price Range: $$$$
How Is It Ethical?: According to its website, 85% of Sézane’s materials are eco-friendly and it has concrete goals for the next 12 months and what it has already accomplished. It has an internal team dedicated to head sustainability initiatives & goals, and 3 reputable certifications — GOTS, Oeko-Tex, and FSC. According to Good on You, it does ensure payment of a living wage in some of its supply chain and audits the final stage of production, but like most companies, it cannot trace it fully and does not publicly share its Code of Conduct.
Country: France
Sizing: XS-XL
Response to BLM: It has provided a stance on its IG along with several other posts speaking to how ABLE’s mission has always been to uplift women of color, and how it is working to do better, although no plans are on its IG or website. It has donated to the following organizations according to this highlight.
Diverse Leadership: According to its LinkedIn profile, it is lacking racial diversity.
Diverse Models: Some diversity throughout its IG page, featuring mostly White models with a few Asian and Black content creators/influencers being featured in ABLE’s clothing. Its website shows more diversity (unsure when it was updated, if at all).
Price Range: $$$-$$$$
How Is It Ethical?: It does a great job of supporting its workers — specifically women of color in disadvantaged communities. It traces most of its supply chain and visits suppliers regularly, according to the Good on You app and website. Its environmental is not as praise-worthy, but it’s a start.
Country: USA
Sizing: XS-XL
Response to BLM: It has posted an IG post before Black Out Tuesday demonstrating its stance, and posted this blog post discussing actions it will take and showing its small team members (employees). It has pledged to “allocate 15% of our wholesale shelf space to black-owned companies and have taken the @15percentpledge founded by @aurorajames”.
Diverse Leadership: A small team of three full-time employees, and 7 part-time freelancers, there is some diversity although there are no Black employees on its LinkedIn.
Diverse Models: Mostly white models are featured on its IG and website, although a few POC are featured.
Price Range: $$$
How Is It Ethical?: A lot of Whimsy + Row’s materials are eco-friendly and don’t result in a lot of water waste and chemical usage. According to Good on You, it manufactures locally reduce carboon footprint. It can trace most of its supply chain and visits suppliers regularly.
Country: USA
Sizing: XXS-3XL
Response to BLM: Tradlands has posted on its IG before Black Out Tuesday and made donations to charities supporting BLM.
Diverse Leadership: You can find a photo of its small team here and see some members on LinkedIn, predominately white but showing some POC members.
Diverse Models: It generally had/has pretty racially diverse models compared to industry standard on its IG.
Price Range: $$$-$$$$
How Is It Ethical?: It uses mostly natural materials (cotton — although not mentioned whether it is organic — tencel, and linen). It creates durable clothing meant to last for years, and recycles scrap material to reduce waste, according to Good on You. There isn’t enough evidence to suggest that it treats workers fairly across most of its supply chain.
Country: USA
Sizing: XS-+4
Response to BLM: According to this IG post, it took a bit for Hackwith to get it right. At first, it pledged to donate a % of sales to charities that support BLM. After backlash from users, it re-adjusted to make a donation to Minneapolis Freedom Fund.
Diverse Leadership: According to LinkedIn and website, it is comprised of a very small team, with leadership being comprised of no POC.
Diverse Models: Diversity comes in all sizes and colors seen both on its IG and website. On IG, Black models were featured even before the news of George Floyd hit the nation. There is a notable lack of other ethnicities, however.
Price Range: $$$-$$$$
How Is It Ethical?: According to its website, to prevent wasting materials, many items are not made until it is ordered. It mostly uses eco-friendly materials and manufactures in Minnesota to reduce carbon footprint. It traces most of its supply chain, but there isn’t evidence out there to suggest it ensures its workers are given a payment of a living wage (Good on You.)
Country: USA
Sizing: XXS-XL
Response to BLM: It has posted this IG in response to BLM as it relates to Australia’s history and its relationship with its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peers.
Diverse Leadership: According to its LinkedIn, there doesn’t seem to be any racial diversity amongst its leadership.
Diverse Models: Some diversity with its models, but not enough. Throughout its past, Country Road’s marketing consisted mostly of White models.
Price Range: $$-$$$$ (more affordable with sales)
How Is It Ethical?: It does not use a wide range of eco-friendly materials, but according to Good on You, it has made science-backed targets to lower its emission target and has a history of being able to do so in the past. It also audits all or most of its supply chain (although this was last updated in 2018).
Country: Australia
Sizing: XS-XL
Response to BLM: It has posted this IG and this one before Black Out Tuesday. There are no mentions that I can find of Outerknown donating to any BLM causes, but its employees have participated in protests according to the first IG link.
Diverse Leadership: There is barely any diversity amongst its leadership looking at its LinkedIn.
Diverse Models: Barely any diversity among its models both on its website and IG.
Price Range: $$$-$$$$
How Is It Ethical?: Looking at its clothes, it uses mostly eco-friendly materials, one of which being GOTS-certified cotton. It also limits toxic chemicals and water waste in efforts to save the ocean.
Country: USA
Sizing: XS-XXL
Diverse Leadership: A small team and no diversity according to its LinkedIn.
Diverse Models: Its website features diverse models, and its IG features mostly White models, with some Black and Asian models featured here and there before May 30th.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Response to BLM: It posted this IG on May 30th before Black Out Tuesday and donated to Reclaim the Block along with IG story highlights.
How Is It Ethical?: Its products are OEKO-Tex Standard 100 certified, uses some eco-friendly materials like Tencel, and it traces most of its supply chain.
Country: Canada
Sizing: S-L
Response to BLM: It posted a black square on Black Out Tuesday with the #BlackOutTuesday. The comments urged People Tree to list what actions it’s taking, in which it responded that there is no discrimination across its hiring/promotion process because along with its factories, it is audited by the World Fair Trade Organization (see Principle Six).
Diverse Leadership: According to its LinkedIn, there is some diversity, but not many Black employees in leadership postitions.
Diverse Models: Its IG and website both feature diverse models, but a majority of the POC are more light-skinned.
Price Range: $$-$$$
How Is It Ethical?: Its factories are audited by World Fair Trade Organization. It has adopted the Fairtrade International - Small Producers Organizations Code of Condust. It uses a decent amount of eco-friendly materials. Its production processes limit the amount of water waste and emissions.
Country: United Kingdom
Sizing: XS-XL
Response to BLM: It has posted this on IG on May 29th following the news of George Floyd’s death. On IG, it has received criticism from users who have been scrutinizing the brand over the last year, calling out its misdeeds of lack of representation amongst its models and leadership, and having a photoshoot on a plantation in 2019. Dôen has responded to these comments apologizing, and issued this Anti-Racism Accountability page on its website, listing it will take Aurora James’ 15% pledge and looking to finalize a long-term partner to make donations to support Black women.
Diverse Leadership: Lack of diversity at the leadership level according to its LinkedIn.
Diverse Models: Mostly white models featured on its website, and more Black models featured on its IG.
Price Range: $$$$
How Is It Ethical?: It uses some eco-friendly materials and state on its website it is working to create a production process that limits waste, although it is not stated how or by when. It audits its final stage of production by a third-party, but it sources from countries with a very high risk of worker exploitation.
Country: USA
Sizing: XS - XL
Response to BLM: It has posted this IG post urging users to spread awareness and be educated, but hasn’t stated in the post what it would do. It also posted an IG highlight, one of which doesn’t look like a repost, but of an actual experience at a protest.
Diverse Leadership: N/A
Diverse Models: There are only a few models featured throughout its IG and website and there is no diversity.
Price Range: $$
How Is It Ethical?: Not yet rated on Good on You as it is still a growing company, but it states on its website that it is carbon neutral and plants a tree with every purchase although no public information I could find to confirm. It states that it has an onsite agent that oversees production from start to finish, visits it factory regularly, and working to only offer 100% sustainable fabrics. Taking a look at its clothing on site, it looks like it uses some natural fabrics and some deadstock.
Country: United Kingdom
Sizing: 2-12
Response to BLM: It has posted this on its IG before Black Out Tuesday showing its stance. It hasn’t stated any donations and hasn’t responded to any comments questioning what Nobody’s Child has done to contribute to sustained change.
Diverse Leadership: According to its LinkedIn, there isn’t much diversity at the leadership level.
Diverse Models: Almost no diversity among its models on site. Some diversity on its IG.
Price Range: $$
How Is It Ethical?: It uses few eco-friendly materials, but states it uses deadstock or upcycled material. It states on its website it also donates leftover fabric to fashion colleges and makes sure workers are ensures workers are treated fairly. On Good on You, both it’s people and environment rating is “not good enough” because it doesn’t provide any evidence.
Country: United Kingdom
Sizing: XS-XL
Response to BLM: MATE has posted this on its IG before Black Out Tuesday stating its stance and how it donated profits to the George Floyd Memorial Fund. It has been posting consistently about the intersection of sustainability and racism, sustainable Black influencers to follow, as well as the importance of Juneteenth.
Diverse Leadership: Almost no/no diversity according to its LinkedIn.
Diverse Models: Little to some diversity on site (notably no Asian POC) and some diversity on its IG.
Price Range: $$$-$$$$
How Is It Ethical?: Its Good On You rating is “Great”. It uses mostly eco-friendly material made out of GOTS certified cotton. It uses non-toxic and low-impact dyes as well as limits water waste in its production. It traces all of its supply chain and ensures payment of a living wage throughout most of it.
Country: USA
Sizing: XS-XL
Response to BLM: It has posted this on it’s IG before Black Out Tuesday and this post on how it will try to do better. It has not stated whether it has made a donation.
Diverse Leadership: It is still very small and growing, and there is no LinkedIn profile or information about the team on site.
Diverse Models: It has some diversity on its site, and more diversity after the growth of the BLM movement in recent months.
Price Range: $$-$$$
How Is It Ethical?: It is a Public Benefit Corporation — one of the requirements of a Benefit Corporation is that it must produce an annual benefit report in which a third-party assesses its ethical standards. Its factory is also SA8000 and LEEDS Platinum certified. It also offers a virtual factory tour of its Vietnam factory. It uses mostly eco-friendly materials.
Country: USA
Amour Vert
Sizing: XS-XL
Response to BLM: It has posted this on its IG before Black Out Tuesday showing its stance. It has not stated where and if it has donated to any charities supporting BLM. It talks about the intersectionality of sustainability and racism in one of its IG posts.
Diverse Leadership: Almost no/no diversity amongst its leadership according to its LinkedIn.
Diverse Models: Some racial diversity on its website (better than average) and IG.
Price Range: $$$-$$$$
How Is It Ethical?: It uses mostly eco-friendly materials and plants a tree for each purchase. It has a plan to reduce waste. It uses low-impact dyes during its production and has publicly shared a complete list of its suppliers — very important as transparency is key.
Country: USA
All of this is to say that most if not all of these companies lack diversity at the leadership level. A way to truly support POC, especially the Black community in America, is to support Black-Owned Ethical Brands!
In the meantime, I’ll be selling my Reformation clothes and donating a portion to BLM charities. Stay tuned and following @clairesua for any updates!