After releasing a sustainable activewear collection less than two months ago, American fashion brand Reformation has announced the launch of yet another eco-conscious collection. This time it is the brand’s all-new footwear collection, Ref Shoes.
On average, the brand claims that each pair of Ref Shoes emits 37% less carbon dioxide, uses 58% less water, and results in 100% less waste than conventional footwear.
For example, Ref Shoes’ Sabrina Ankle Wrap Kitten Heel Mule saved 9.1 pounds of carbon dioxide, 661.4 gallons of water, and 0.7 pounds of waste, while the Adut Cutout High Heel Sandal saved 4.1 pounds of carbon dioxide, 859.6 gallons of water, and 0.9 pounds of waste.
Several of the shoes in their new collection are entirely plant-based. However, some were made with traditional leather, a choice the brand says was made because many bio-based leather alternatives still contain plastic, which they felt went against their overall mission of sustainability.
That said, they aren’t ruling out the use of vegan leather in future collections. In an effort to make plant-based leather a truly sustainable option, Reformation has teamed up with the Materials Innovation Initiative to promote plastic-free leather alternatives in the fashion industry.
However for this collection, rather than continue contributing to the world’s rapidly-growing plastic problem, Reformation shifted focus towards ethical and environmentally responsible leather tanneries. The women’s fashion brand partnered exclusively with Leather Working Group gold and silver-rated tanneries. These tanneries ensure minimal water usage and top-notch chemical management practices.
Other responsible materials used in the new Ref Shoes collection include natural rubber, natural linen, recycled blend acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, recycled styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), and organic cotton.
Yet another impressive statistic? 97% of materials in the collection are batch-level traceable. Traceability was a core component of Ref Shoes, with Reformation making a serious effort to lift the veil on their supply chain. Reformation claims they know 100% of the farms they work with. In their eyes, taking this step offers a newfound level of transparency to the consumer, better ensuring accountability.
To top it off, alongside the launch of Ref Shoes, Reformation announced an all-new take-back program, whereby the brand will recycle 100% of the shoes they make. They understand how difficult it can be to recycle shoes, so they want to take the onus off the consumer. Now, when a pair of Ref Shoes are worn out, you can return them to the brand, who will upcycle them into something new, preventing them from ending up in a landfill.
According to Reformation’s website, their ultimate goal is to create a closed-loop system where new Ref Shoes are made entirely out of old ones.
In addition to all the eco-friendly benefits outlined above, Ref Shoes latest collection also happens to be insanely trendy. Styles range from strappy high heeled sandals, lace up espadrilles, and kitten heel mules to ruched ballet flats, chunky loafers, flat slide sandals, and the classic flip flop.
Reformation’s Ref Shoes collection is currently available on the their website.
All images in this article are courtesy of Reformation.
This article contains an affiliate link(s). Learn more.
