Reformation hardly needs an introduction, but we’ll give you one anyway. Reformation (or Ref, as dubbed as its official nickname) was founded in 2009 as a vintage clothing store. Now, the brand is widely known as a pioneer in the sustainable fashion space, providing original designs made from low-impact materials, rescued deadstock fabrics, and repurposed vintage clothing. Over the years, it’s built a cult following, notably including numerous celebrities like Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, and the list could go on.
Reformation is known not only for its sustainability practices but also for its chic and timeless designs, from wedding-guest attire to business-casual fashion and everything in between. If you’ve yet to enter the world that is Ref, it can feel almost like walking up and sitting at the “cool” table in school (even though this cool crowd is actually quite welcoming). That being said, no one will ever suspect you’re new to the club with these shopping tips!
You need to know these Reformation shopping tips.
Reformation Hosts Two Major Sales A Year
If you’ve had your eye on something at Reformation and were hoping to snag it on sale, you’ll likely have to wait until one of its two yearly sales (good news: as we type, its summer sale is live). Reformation traditionally only has two major sales a year, one around the end of summer and one in the winter. The sales typically begin with markdowns starting at 30%, with further markdowns as time goes on – but yes, things do sell out, so you may not want to wait.
Return Items For Free Within 30 Days
Don’t be afraid to try out different sizes or styles, as Reformation’s return policy allows for free returns within 30 days! That being said, if you want to send everything in your order back via mail, there may be a shipping charge. However, you won’t be charged if you keep at least one item from your order or return in-store.
Enjoy Free Shipping
Reformation offers free shipping on all orders across Canada and the U.S., so you can shop online as much as your heart desires without worrying about annoying shipping costs.
Sign Up For Emails
Sign up for emails to enjoy 10% off your first order and to stay up to date on sales and new products. Plus, Ref vows not to spam your inbox. No harm, no foul.
Shop Ref Items Secondhand
It’s no secret that Reformation is by no means cheap, but if you want to shop the brand on a budget, or even discover past designs, there is no shortage of secondhand Reformation items listed online on resale sites like The RealReal, Depop, and Poshmark.
Utilize Online Shopping Filters
Reformation’s online shopping filters are actually quite extensive! Save time browsing through thousands of items on the site by narrowing down your search by size, colour, print, etc. You can even filter your sustainability preferences!
There Are More Sizes In The Back
In case you’re not familiar with Reformation’s in-store layout, the shopping floor is essentially a showroom showcasing each style. The sizes shown on display are not the only sizes available! Once you find an item you might want to try on, you can add it to your dressing room using a supplied tablet – or simply ask a sales associate.
Try On Items In Its High-Tech Dressing Rooms
Commonly referred to as a “Clueless closet experience,” Reformation’s dressing rooms feature touchscreen tablets where you can request more items and sizes without even having to leave the room. They also have different lighting settings to choose from, so you can see how your outfits would look in every environment before making a purchase decision. Its dressing rooms are seriously game-changing.
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Earth Day is finally here and it’s time to prioritize giving the earth some love today—and every day. Luckily, there are so many brands that put a major focus on creating sustainable initiatives and practices in their business so that we can feel good about making purchases. The fashion industry is such a huge cause of pollution and carbon emissions, so it’s good to know that there are retailers out there who we can trust and stand behind.
Here are our fave sustainable retailers to shop for Earth Day.
MAVI
Mavi has over 30 years of experience mastering the art of jeans. The brand is constantly innovating to become as sustainable as possible, with a mission to make sustainable denim the norm, not just the premium exception. Mavi creates eco-friendly denim that uses less energy, water, and chemicals, and uses sustainable materials like Tencel. Learn more and shop sustainable denim here!
Everlane
Everlane ensures it stays committed to developing sustainable supply chains by using recycled materials, addresses water use and chemical inputs, and invests in carbon offset projects. The shop is full of organic cotton pieces, denim with low-impact dyeing, and accessories made from recycled plastic bottles.
SELV Ritual
SELV is always thinking of ways to reduce its ecological footprint. To do so, all packaging is made with recyclable glass jars to compostable paper bags! One of its hero scents, Le Rituel Nordique, is packaged in seed paper which can be planted in soil and will eventually grow to become beautiful wildflowers! SELV creates these boxes with different products and raw materials that they no longer need or work with, which makes them a minimal-waste company.
Tentree
Tentree is dedicated to finding and sourcing the most sustainable fibres and materials available. The brand takes great pride in finding better, healthier, and more eco-progressive solutions for its customers. In addition to placing such a large focus on amazing materials, Tentree plants 10 trees for every item purchased. How cool is that?
Chatters
Chatters strives to offer the most inclusive and environmentally sustainable salon and shopping experience. The company previously launched Style Consciously, an initiative about making mindful choices. It showcases a curated selection of items that positively impact health, lifestyle, and the environment. Plus, in honour of Earth Day, enjoy 25% off select Style Consciously products!
Kuwalla Tee
Kuwalla Tee prides itself on being eco-friendly and minimizing waste, without compromising quality, style, comfort, and affordability. All of the brand’s packaging is made from recyclable and biodegradable material and it’s also a proud partner of 1% for the planet! This Earth Day, shop its Endangered Species Collection where 30% of proceeds will go to Nature Canada!
Reformation
Reformation is not only known for its stylish it-girl-approved fashion, but also for its sustainability initiatives! Sustainability remains at the core of everything Reformation does, from its manufacturing factory in LA to its fabrics, packaging, and retail stores. It’s committed to pushing the industry forward and investing in future-focused solutions; it’s currently a certified climate-neutral company and commits to being climate-positive by 2025.
Allbirds
If you’re on the hunt for sustainable sneakers, check out Allbirds! It creates sneakers using natural fibres and focuses on driving its carbon emissions to zero. To address its climate impact, Allbirds takes a three-part approach: measuring emissions, reducing its footprint, and working to support the removal of carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
Raw Sugar Living
Known for its clean personal care products and “do no harm” philosophy, Raw Sugar Living is making clean and affordable green beauty accessible to all. Its products are vegan and cruelty-free, crafted with clean, organic extracts and good-for-you ingredients, and packaged with 30% post-consumer recycled plastic (with a commitment to 100% PCR by 2030).
Lover’s Tempo
Certified B Corporation, Lover’s Tempo is making waves in the jewellery industry. The Vancouver-based brand developed the innovative Full Circle Artist Program, an initiative which incites positive change and dialogue about circularity within the jewellery industry, transforming its products from waste to art.
Everist
Founded by Toronto-based Jessica Stevenson and Jayme Jenkins, Everist was named one of Time’s Best Inventions and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas. The brand is leading the waterless beauty movement with the first-ever hair and body concentrates! Made in a base of glycerin and aloe vera instead of water, its products are created with the hair, scalp, and skin in mind, and happen to have a 77% smaller carbon impact.
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It’s closet cleanout season! Once you’ve done the work of going through your existing clothing inventory and organizing what you’re keeping, the odds are, you probably have at least a bag of clothes to get rid of. Whether they’re pieces that don’t fit, aren’t your style anymore, or have some wear and tear, it’s time to say goodbye! But the last thing you should do is throw them in the trash. We do not need any more clothes ending up in the landfill if we can help it! So, where do you get rid of clothes you no longer wear? There are a ton of options, some of which require little to no effort at all.
Here’s where you should get rid of the clothes you no longer wear!
Donation Bin
This is probably the easiest way to get rid of the clothes you no longer wear. There are donation bins scattered all around the city. All you have to do is pack up your items in a bag (or multiple bags) and throw them in. It varies where the clothes will end up depending on the organization, but they will likely go to a thrift store where a portion of the profit will go to a charity.
Thrift Store
Similar to the above, it’s super easy to drop off your used clothing at the thrift store, except this way you can usually snag a coupon and do some thrift shopping yourself while you’re there!
Give To A Friend
Before you go ahead and get rid of the clothing you no longer love, ask your friends if they want to go through it first! You can even do a little clothing swap and end up with some new-to-you finds.
Donate To A Shelter
If you want your clothing to directly help those in need, the best way to do so is to directly drop your gently-used clothing at a homeless or women’s shelter. Note: It’s always a good idea to call ahead first.
Sell Online
Selling your pieces online may require a little bit of extra effort, but it’s definitely worth it if you’re getting rid of some high-ticket items! Some easy places to sell used clothing online are Poshmark, Depop, eBay, etc.
Consign
Another way to earn some extra money on clothing you were going to get rid of anyway is by consigning! Consigning is obviously more suited for those particular pieces that are on-trend or are a good name brand.
Retail Recycling Programs
More and more retailers have joined the secondhand and recycling movement with donation boxes in stores! For example, H&M has recycling boxes across the globe where you can donate textiles you don’t want anymore – even the rags! The textiles get sorted into 3 categories; Rewear: Wearable clothes are marketed as secondhand clothing, Reuse: If the clothes aren’t suitable for wear, they’re turned into other products, and Recycle: All other clothes and textiles are shredded into textile fibres and used to make other things – like insulation materials, for example.
Have A Rummage/Garage Sale
If you have enough stuff to get rid of to host a garage sale and have the space to do so, why not go for it? You can even gather some friends to join in! If you don’t want to host one yourself, contact local churches or charities and one may be happy to take in some of your unwanted items to contribute to their next rummage sale!
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Reformation’s new swim line, featuring 21 vintage-inspired silhouettes and 15 colourways, just launched!
“Skinny dipping is the #1 most sustainable option. This is #2.” – Reformation, 2024
The brand’s first dip into swimwear was in 2019, using ECONYL, a regenerated nylon fabric made from trash with the potential to be infinitely recyclable. Now, Ref is taking it up a notch, making its swimsuits even more sustainable! Its new swim uses ECONYL leftovers alongside a new, non-synthetic fabric called EVO by Fulgar, a renewable, super soft, bio-based fibre, which contains no plastic and comes from the castor plant – a plant that doesn’t require much water to grow (thus, better for the environment).
The ultra-chic collection features vintage-inspired silhouettes and prints, including high-waisted bikini bottoms, low-cut backs, contrasting bralettes, and polka dots.
Ref also offers apparel to wear with its new swimsuits, ensuring you’re fully styled both in and out of the water.
Reformation’s new swim line is available to shop online, in-store, and at shopbop.com.
Shop our picks:
All products featured in this article were independently selected by our team. By shopping through our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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Who doesn’t love the thrill of the hunt? From clothing and accessories to home decor, thrift shopping is your best friend when it comes to finding unique gems on a budget. If you’re not used to shopping in a store like Value Village, Goodwill, or Salvation Army, it can feel a tad daunting. There are endless isles of un-curated, un-merchandised items to sift through, and usually, a lot of misses before you get a hit. If you want to thrift like a pro, there are some tips, tricks, and secrets (shh) that you should know before the next time you shop!
Take a peek at these thrift-shopping secrets!
Attack The Rack
The phrase “attack the rack” is a tip shared by various thrift vloggers, meaning if you see a new rack come out – flock to it immediately. These are the newest items that have not been looked at by anyone else yet. So, if you can, before an employee puts the new items away, sift through them.
Go Early & During The Week
Weekends are usually quite busy at the thrift; therefore, it’s common for no new inventory to go out on a Saturday or Sunday. If you want to shop through the best assortment of items, going during the week, as close to open as possible, is your best bet. There’s a reason you’ll see regular thrift shoppers lined up outside before it opens, after all!
Make A Wish List
Making a wish list of the specific pieces you would like to find will make thrifting feel a lot less overwhelming. It will help you stay focused and know exactly what to keep your eye out for. Starting a Pinterest board specifically for thrifting inspiration can also be helpful!
Check All Sizes
While thrifting for clothes, ensure to browse through all sections and sizes so you don’t miss out on anything great! Things can often get moved around and end in the wrong section. It’s also worth noting that sizing can be all over the place for various reasons – including being shrunk in the wash, different stores having different size guides, and vintage often fitting smaller.
Donate
Most thrift stores will reward you for donating. You can usually get a percentage off on your next purchase after donating directly to the store during working hours (so an employee is present to give you a coupon).
Pay Attention To The Tag
At Value Village specifically, it has been said that each day, a different colour tag is used. Keep an eye out for “today’s” colour to easily shop the newest items! You can find this out by asking an employee or looking to see what colour tag is being used on the newest items being added to the floor.
Sign Up For Rewards + Emails
Just like any retail store, most thrift stores offer some kind of rewards program where you can score extra savings. There’s also usually an email newsletter to subscribe to, keeping you informed on all upcoming deals and promotions!
Know The Sale Dates
Score great thrift finds at an even better deal by shopping during sale events! As we mentioned, signing up for email newsletters is the best way to stay up to date on upcoming deals and promotions. Common sales you’ll see thrift stores participating in are putting specific categories on sale (like all jeans, for example) and having store-wide percentages off.
Inspect
Always triple-check what you’re eyeing to ensure there are no flaws and that it’s actually worth the listed price. In addition to checking for flaws, check the label, fibre contents, size, etc. If you find a flaw, a staff member may even be able to lower the price for you if you’re still interested.
Wash Everything
Here’s a secret that you should definitely know… Most thrift stores do not wash their inventory. So you’re going to want to wash whatever you buy before adding it to your closet!
Try On/ Keep Your Receipt
If you can, try on everything you want to buy at the thrift store before cashing out. All too often, people will buy something just because it’s cheap, not knowing if it will work for them and then end up just re-donating it in the end. Avoid this by trying on, or at the very least (with many thrift stores still not having change rooms post-COVID), keep your receipt so you can get store credit when possible.
Thrift Stores Are Different Than Vintage Stores
Vintage stores are great too, but not to be confused with a regular thrift store! Thrift stores are essentially full of items donated by the community, and vintage stores are carefully curated with a variety of sourcing methods (thrifting is just one of many). In short, vintage stores will be more expensive to shop at than thrift stores but have already done the work for you. Just something to keep in mind!
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When it comes to shopping from brands that are considered sustainable, it generally comes with a higher price tag. That’s primarily due to the cost of fair labour, sustainable materials, quality designs, etc. It’s only natural that sustainable fashion costs more. After all, when you buy a $10 blouse, it’s usually safe to assume some shortcuts were made somewhere down the line in creating that piece. That being said, you shouldn’t have to spend a fortune when choosing to make ethical shopping choices. So we’ve done some digging to find the most affordable sustainable fashion brands on the market!
Check out these sustainable (and affordable) brands!
Tentree
All Tentree products are created with an “Earth-First” approach, meaning that they’re made in fair, safe working conditions and only sustainably sourced and recycled materials are used in production. That’s not all though, for every purchase made from Tentree, the company plants 10 trees! While shopping, you’ll find an array of comfortable, functional basics with reasonable price tags.
Girlfriend Collective
Girlfriend Collective is an activewear apparel brand that uses ethical manufacturing and recycled materials (like old water bottles and fishing nets) to make its pieces! Girlfriend carries sizes XXS to 6XL, making its pieces even more assessable. We could barely even find any pieces over $100 while shopping *adds to cart*.
Colorful Standard
All of Colorful Standard’s pieces are made using 100% organic cotton or 100% merino wool and Oeko-Tex® certified dyes – in Portugal! If you want to stock up on some great basics without contributing to fast fashion (or breaking the bank), check this shop out!
Kotn
You’ve probably heard of Kotn at this point, as it’s based right here in Toronto! Kotn is a certified B corporation providing ethically made home and apparel products. With every order, Kotn invests in the creation of jobs, infrastructure, education, sustainable growth, and more for the communities it’s a part of. At Kotn, you can find an assortment of timeless pieces made to last in your wardrobe (or home).
Peace Collective
Peace Collective, known for its recognizable loungewear, has various sustainability initiatives in place. Including its “On Demand” practice, in which it creates the select pieces as they’re ordered to help minimize waste; its “Home Grown” practice, in which specific pieces are 100% Canadian built; and its “Recycled” practice, in which certain garments are made using recycled materials. With every Peace Collective order, the company gives back to the communities that need it most.
Boody
The Australian brand, Boody, was founded in 2011 by 2 best friends and is now available all over the world! From the start, the goal was to create an eco-clothing brand with comfort and style and its core. Mission accomplished. All of its garments use viscose made from bamboo and are produced adhering to the highest standards for workers and the planet. While browsing, you’ll find tons of base-wear pieces that every wardrobe needs.
Yes Friends
Yes Friends is a UK-Based company, but it also ships to Canada (we checked!) This shop has some of the most affordable sustainable pieces on the market that we’ve seen! Here are the brand’s simple yet effective sustainability initiatives: paying its staff/workers good wages, having a factory powered by wind and solar energy, offering pieces in classic silhouettes that will never go out of style, and using organic cotton to make its garments. It’s hard to believe a T-Shirt from Yes Friends is only $18!
ORAKI
ORAKI, based in Montreal, is a sustainable lifestyle brand making waves in the eco-conscious fashion space. The brand was founded by Cynthia Savard, who saw the effects of fast fashion causing havoc on the planet. To take matters into her own hands, she quit her corporate job to launch ORAKI in 2016 after spending 2 years of research to develop eco-fabrics. Its popular Ecomove High-Rise Legging is made from 12-15 recycled plastic bottles!
Everlane
At first glance, Everlane may not be considered super affordable; however, for the quality of its pieces and frequent sales – you really can’t go wrong! Everlane partners with the best ethical factories around the world, sources high-quality, fine materials, and shares exactly how much it costs to make every product to be radically transparent with its customers. You can read more about the brand’s sustainability initiatives here!
Value Village
Nothing will ever be more sustainable (or more affordable) than re-wearing and shopping secondhand. By thrifting you not only save money, but you also save pieces from potentially ending up in the landfill. Before doing any shopping it’s always a good idea to hit up your local Value Village, or thrift store first!
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The biggest buzzphrase in fashion right now seems to be “Quiet Luxury”. But what does it actually mean? Quiet luxury is an aesthetic that is based on looking expensive, without the flashing of designer logos head-to-toe. It’s more of the “if you know, you know” vibe. It’s all about having a refined approach to style and wearing pieces that are well-made and considered to be timeless. Pieces that look expensive. Think Sofia Richie, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Gwyneth Paltrow, and so on.
If you want to achieve “quiet luxury”, we’ve compiled a list of 11 staple pieces to get you started.
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It’s no secret that the fashion industry as a whole has a long way to go in terms of ethics and sustainability. The good news is, every year there seem to be more and more brands putting bigger sustainability initiatives into place in order to make a positive impact. When it comes to fashion, there are some key factors that make a brand (or a particular purchase) sustainable. Including how the garments are made, what fabrics they’re made out of, ethical business practices, how many resources were used, etc.
One of the key components when attempting to shop for fashion more sustainably is making more thoughtful purchasing decisions. The pieces you shop for should last in your wardrobe for as long as possible – avoiding the landfill. Another major key is shopping from brands that are doing their part to be more sustainable, and there are plenty! We’ve done some digging and found some of the best sustainable fashion brands for you to shop, to make sure your next purchase is as guilt-free as possible!
Here are 10 of the best sustainable fashion brands to shop
Kotn
If you’ve yet to shop from Kotn, you’re missing out! Kotn is a sustainable clothing and home brand that is a certified B Corporation – which means the brand is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency. With each order, Kotn invests in creating jobs, infrastructure, systems, and education to alleviate poverty and create shared sustainable growth for the communities they’re a part of.
Everlane
Everlane is a brand that definitely stands out with its sustainability practices. They partner with ethical factories around the world, source only the finest materials, and even share the true cost of the products sold – calling it Radical Transparency. When shopping from Everlane, you’ll notice only timeless pieces that are meant to last in your wardrobe for years to come. Making it so you can cherish the pieces you buy, and never want to throw them out.
Reformation
If you’re looking for a fashion-forward, sustainable brand, welcome to Reformation. Reformation started out selling vintage clothing and has since evolved to creating pieces from low-impact materials, deadstock fabrics, and repurposed vintage clothing. Another valuable sustainability practice they participate in is not over-producing. Every week Reformation releases limited edition collections, starting with small quantities so they never make too many products, which keeps the production process less wasteful.
La Leur
La Leur is a Toronto-based brand that was founded by two friends with a mutual passion for sustainability. Its clothing and handbag collection is manufactured in Toronto with materials the brand believes in, so the products can be worn over again for a long time.
Patagonia
Eileen Fisher
Believe it or not, the Eileen Fisher brand started back in 1984! As the years have gone on, the Eileen Fisher label continues to evolve adapting new sustainability practices in order to keep moving in the right direction. The brand takes into account the whole life cycle of clothes from how it’s made to what happens after you no longer need them. You can read more about the brand’s journey here.
MATE the Label
MATE is your one-stop shop for sustainably made cozy basics. The clothing is made with non-toxic, natural, and organic materials. They’ve also eliminated as much plastic as possible by removing it from all labels and packaging and never using fibres like polyester, nylon, or polyamide in their products. To make their pieces more circular they have a recycling program taking your old garments back, giving them another life as a new MATE product.
Girlfriend Collective
Girlfriend Collective is an activewear brand that has a large focus on being sustainable by manufacturing ethically and using recycled materials. Their packing is 100% recyclable, and their clothing is made from recycled materials like water bottles, fishing nets, fabric scraps, and other waste. So, they’re not only creating clothing in a sustainable way, but they’re actually cleaning the earth simultaneously! Learn more about Girlfriend Collective’s sustainability here!
Province of Canada
Province of Canada, located right here in Toronto on Queen West manufactures all of its products in Canada! The products are also made with 100% organic cotton, knit in Canada, whenever possible! We love a local, sustainable brand.
Horses Atelier
The brand known for the perfect fit of its jumpsuits and trusted pieces that are artful and enduring, Horses Atelier, believes in the local economy and in the skills and empowerment of the women who make its garments. All of the brand’s pieces are ethically and sustainably sewn in downtown Toronto. They also give back to causes that align with their ethical and sustainability values. Check out how Horses Atelier gives back, here.
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Before diving into your favourite brands to shop, ask yourself, are any of them sustainable and Canadian? It’s always great to make a conscious effort to support local brands that strive to reduce their carbon footprint. Surprisingly, even some large retailers have begun to direct manufacturing in an eco-conscious way. Showing love for companies who prioritize these efforts helps to reduce the harmful effects of the fast-fashion industry on the earth.
Here are sustainable Canadian brands to have on your radar.
Vitae
Vitae is a Canadian apparel company founded in 2016. The brand ensures high-quality and affordable clothing, without sacrificing sustainable and ethical manufacturing practices. Found in some of its swimwear, RecoTex is an eco-friendly polyester that is actually made entirely of recycled water bottles. How cool is that?
Buck Naked Soap Company
Buck Naked Soaps was born out of necessity when founders Rina and John’s son developed skin irritations from traditional baby products. Realizing they needed something different, the parents began their creation of all-natural, vegan, handcrafted skincare products that are committed to being chemical-free and only using purely natural ingredients. Enjoy lovely scents of soaps and bath products.
RW&Co.
RW&Co. has created RWResponsible to enforce its priority of reducing its footprint. You can actually shop RWResponsible collections for both men and women on its site from items of biodegradable denim, to recycled wool and polyester. The brand has also switched to using paper bags in-store to minimize impacts on the environment.
Saint Cosmetics
The awesome Canadian makeup company, Saint Cosmetics, is changing the beauty game. The brand is partnered with organic farms that use sustainable methods and packaging responsibly. The packaging is made with FS-certified paper from well-managed forests, ink-based on naturally renewable raw materials. Plus, its products are made with a ton of natural ingredients.
Call it Spring
Call It Spring has so many shoes and accessories to shop for, you’re sure to find beautiful items for every occasion. The brand is committed to its sustainability efforts and is currently a 100% vegan brand. It remains determined to make larger strides towards sustainability in 2021.
The Quarterly
This athletic-wear brand is Canadian, sustainable, and female-owned. The Quarterly connects consumers with trendy, functional looks at the press of a button. It was conceptualized to take the guesswork out of looking fashionable and bring the focus back to easy, stylish clothing.
Wuxly
Wuxly is the only Canadian-made outerwear brand to use biodegradable, recyclable, and sustainable materials. It’s committed to local manufacturing in Canada, specifically the GTA and Winnpieg, with a Design House in Downtown Toronto. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, Wuxly is doing virtual styling appointments which is a great way to online shop!
Pivot
Pivot Skincare offers products that leave skin hydrated and glowing, especially in the (Canadian) wintertime. The Plant-Based Nourishing Oil is the star of the brand and it’s made with awesome natural oils, plus, it has a soothing bath soak to exfoliate your skin. We love a good glow all year long.
LONDRE Bodywear
The Vancouver-based sustainable swim and loungewear line, LONDRE Bodywear, is excited to prove that fashion doesn’t need to be the high polluting industry it’s seen as today. So far, LONDRE has recycled 100,000 plastic bottles from our oceans by using the waste to create sustainable, ethically-made swimwear in an extended size range.
Kotn
This B Corp Certified Corporation, Kotn, has ensured sustainable methods are in place throughout the manufacturing process. The brand has begun a project to ensure that 100% of the natural fibers that are used are certified organic within the next five years to establish a more sustainable future.
Maylyn & Co.
Maylyn & Co. is a female-founded, eco-luxe lingerie and loungewear brand that places a huge focus on being environmentally conscious. Its garment construction takes longer since products are made in small batches with less excess stock, unlike a fast-fashion production line. It uses plant-based fabrics and materials, biodegradable packaging, and green solutions for all orders.
Frank and Oak
Frank and Oak support the thought that sustainable stores need sustainable foundations. The brand begins by building its stores in partnerships with Canadian artisans that use recycled materials. Not only is the apparel sustainable, Frank and Oak make a conscious effort to create as little waste as possible even when renovating stores by reusing decor to make modifications.
Pure Balanxed
Pure Balanxed chooses its fabrics specifically for its sustainability, durability, and softness. Although it may make the manufacturing process longer, it’s creating a positive impact on the world. The clothing line is designed to be timeless and carries an important message on each piece.
Encircled
Encircled understands that the transportation of clothing between countries during the production process overseas creates quite a large carbon footprint for companies. To act against this, the brand reduces its footprint by knitting and dying over 50% of its fabrics in Toronto. The entire studio also uses recycled packaging, FSC-certified paper, and eco-friendly cleaning products.
Made For The People
Made For The People sells bamboo straws to aid in the reduction of plastic pollution and waste in the environment. The straws even come with a wool cleaning brush and a cotton storage bag. Also, the masks sold on the site are manufactured from rescued fabrics to lower any harsh environmental impacts.
Olive + Splash
A Canadian brand you should keep an eye out for is Olive + Splash. Olive + Splash has a wide selection of Canadian-made eco-friendly bamboo apparel for the minimalist and sustainable shopper who doesn’t want to sacrifice style. Shopping ethically for capsule wardrobe pieces has never been easier with their everyday essentials, including joggers, face masks, t-shirts, and hoodies.
LEZÉ The Label
LEZÉ The Label focuses on creating garments that are just as comfy as pj’s but also super chic to offer a beautiful and sustainable line of workleisure. The company uses up to 25 post-consumer recycled plastic bottles in the clothing, plus for every 100 tons of nylon that it regenerates, LEZÉ saves 700 barrels of crude oil, avoids 571 tons of CO2 emission, and reduces global warming impact by up to 80% compared to virgin nylon.
Kuwalla Tee
Kuwalla Tee prides itself on being eco-friendly and minimizing waste, without compromising quality, style, comfort, and affordability. All of the brand’s packaging is made from recyclable and biodegradable material and it’s also a proud partner of 1% for the planet!
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Everyone’s fave go-to athleticwear brand is making major waves in the sustainability department. Lululemon has announced that it will be launching two new sustainable initiatives in May!
One of the initiatives is a limited-edition collection called Earth Dye that’s made with eco-friendly materials including solution-dyed nylon, recycled polyester, and certified rubber materials.
Next, the brand will launch its first-ever re-commerce program called ‘Like New’. Like New will extend the life of products and have test runs in Texas and California before expanding.
Calvin McDonald, CEO of lululemon, said in a release, “lululemon is actively working to help create a healthier future, and we are focused on meeting the goals detailed in our Impact Agenda, including making 100 percent of our products with sustainable materials and end-of-use solutions by 2030.”
Lululemon’s Impact Agenda was released in 2020 to show where it stands with sustainability and outline its own vision to minimize environmental impact.
Not only is the Agenda is a great resource for consumers interested in understanding the brand’s mission, but it can be used to keep lululemon accountable.
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