Reformation Called Out Over Racist Work Environment

As more and more individuals and groups are demanding justice and calling out for equal rights and opportunities. The fashion industry is no exemption to this. Reformation is a clothing brand known for pushing sustainable fashion popular among influencers. But recently, it’s gotten popular over something else.

Last May 31, Reformation posted on Instagram dedicated to the #blacklivematter movement. However, a former employee, Leslieann Elle Santiago, was quick to lambast the company and accused them of hypocrisy, as she had some difficult experiences as a woman of color working in Reformation. According to Santiago, the working environment of Reformation creates a racist and unsafe environment for her to work in. Moreover, promotions were handed to female white workers despite Santiago being more experienced.

 

 

Insane, right? There’s more!

Santiago also put to Instagram her detailed experiences while working in the company after the Reformation Headquarters DMed to talk to her about her experience in the company!

View this post on Instagram

Today and everyday my prayers are with the family of George Floyd and all victims of police brutality and racism. I wanted to wait until after the memorial to speak on this. I am addressing this issue as a stance again companies who play a role in the systems that fail our black and brown brothers and sisters daily. This is only one example of a very large and in charge problem. Racism and prejudice is prevalent in many areas of our world. We have been made to believe we have to play along to the rules of their game in order to survive, in order to maintain our livelihood. But this is one of the countless lies they have manipulated us into believing. We all deserve better than what we have been given and it is only up to us to refuse anything less than the respect, recognition and retribution we are owed. I stand for every one of my black and brown brothers and sisters who have been denied their right to prosperity. I am proud to be apart of this fight. *this is a response to a head at Ref HQ dming me to have a conversation on my experience – see last slide @reformation @yaya_aflalo @haliborenstein #blacklivesmatter #performativeactivism #accountability

A post shared by Leslieann/LA/Elle Santiago (@energyelle) on Jun 4, 2020 at 2:04pm PDT

 

This quickly gathered attention and people on Instagram have been quick to react and demand accountability, prompting the company’s founder, Yael Aflalo, to publicly apologize. You can check out her statement below.

 

View this post on Instagram

I’ve failed.

A post shared by Reformation (@reformation) on Jun 7, 2020 at 5:15pm PDT

 

Many think the apology is sincere, and numerous other stories have been coming out with their own horror stories as people of color working in the fashion industry.

What do you guys think about this?!