Karin Kloosterman, the author, in her first and hopefully last bathing suit (for a long time)
Then I stumbled upon Reformation and took the chance. Above is the first thing I ordered, the Tropicana One Piece. I am not being paid to write about the company or review them. I really just think that this is a company more women need to support. Especially ones like us who want to move this planet forward with basic values that every product we buy should carry. Reformation uses regenerated materials or dead stock to create a stunning line of dresses, pants, shirts, shoes and bathing suits.
In their swimwear, Reformation uses a sustainable product called Econyl, a regenerated nylon fiber made from waste such as fishing nets from the oceans and other waste from landfills. That makes me happy. But above their adorable packaging (this is a vegetable) and social media messaging (these are our new shoes what you do with them is your business), and eco-values and tips on how to clean your clothes to minimize microfibres, they make really good clothes that feel like they will last.
Not me, but a very cute model showing off the 50s era Reformation bathing suit. Fit for a pinup girl, or you.
The bathing suit has the feeling of something durable, like my grandmother’s bathing suits from the 70s (or was it the 60s?) and the lining is sturdy. Nothing flimsy there, except maybe for the tie-on part in the front that I need to adjust every once and a while. Oops.
Sizing was done with their online charts and with my husband’s tape measure I managed to figure out my figure. Order was placed online and arrived within a week via courier. Sent to Canada we did have to pay import fees and shipping but overall the pricetag (about $180 US after everything) is what I would pay for a decent bathing suit anywhere.
As I am active advocate of buying few things, but good things that you can keep forever or a long time, I am holding myself back from buying another Reformation bathing suit, but if the temptation overcomes me I will be doing it in good conscience.
Three cheers to this company that makes sustainable fashion affordable, sexy, in good quality and in good faith.
One last thing to note: I was wearing this bathing suit in the above picture at my family cottage in Northern Ontario, Canada last summer. It was a sad time and the last time we would spend up north with my father before he succumbed to cancer later in the year. I wanted the last days we had with him in the summer to seem normal, so me and my kids put on our suits, went swimming, canoeing and fishing with dad nearby. Even though I look happy in the photo above, I am also deeply sad and frightened on the inside. I am 45 years-old and have 2 kids, 6 and 8 and live in Jaffa, Israel. Am slowly recovering from losing my father.
