No, Reitmans is not a fast fashion brand. It operates on a more traditional retail schedule with seasonal collections rather than the rapid, trend-driven weekly drops characteristic of fast fashion giants.
While the brand has moderate ethical standards and avoids the worst industry practices, it falls short on supply chain transparency and a commitment to living wages. From a sustainability standpoint, Reitmans has made some commitments but lags significantly, with minimal use of eco-friendly materials and weak environmental reporting. Here’s what you need to know about Reitmans's practices:
Reitmans avoids the core fast fashion model by prioritizing seasonal staples over mass-producing fleeting trends. Its business structure is more aligned with traditional retail than with the high-turnover model of brands like Zara or SHEIN.
Reitmans has foundational ethical commitments but is held back by a significant lack of transparency in its global supply chain, making it difficult to verify its claims.
Reitmans sources primarily from Asia (China, Bangladesh, Vietnam) and Canada, stating a commitment to ethical labor standards. Some of its factories reportedly undergo third-party audits (like BSCI or SA8000), but the company does not publish a full supplier list or detailed audit results. Reports from NGOs have highlighted that factory workers in a key manufacturing country like Bangladesh are paid approximately $180-200 per month, falling well short of the estimated living wage of $350 per month.
This is Reitmans's most significant ethical weakness. The brand does not publish a comprehensive list of its suppliers, which makes independent verification of its labor claims nearly impossible. While it states that annual audits and corrective actions are performed, the lack of public reporting and transparency keeps its supply chain largely opaque.
Reitmans primarily uses conventional fabrics like cotton and polyester and avoids most animal-derived materials. The brand does not use fur, exotic skins, wool, or down in its collections and does not hold any specific animal welfare certifications like PETA-approved status.
Reitmans's sustainability efforts are in the early stages and currently insufficient to be considered a sustainable brand. Its progress is slow, and its reliance on conventional materials remains high.
Reitmans overwhelmingly uses conventional materials like polyester, viscose, and non-organic cotton. According to its own reports, just 10-15% of its collection incorporates more sustainable materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester. This limited use is often confined to smaller capsule collections rather than integrated across all product lines.
The company does not publish comprehensive data on its environmental footprint, including water usage, chemical management, or wastewater treatment. Reitmans has not committed to carbon neutrality and does not report its Scope 3 emissions, which represent the vast majority of its carbon footprint from manufacturing and shipping.
Reitmans has no significant end-of-life programs in place. The brand does not operate any take-back schemes, repair services, or textile recycling initiatives for its garments. Packaging is primarily conventional plastic, and there are no clear strategies reported for reducing textile waste or utilizing deadstock fabric.
Reitmans has set future targets, including using 50% sustainable materials and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. However, with its current progress at only 10-15% sustainable materials, these goals appear more aspirational than achievable at the current pace, raising concerns of potential greenwashing.
Reitmans occupies a middle ground - it isn't an ultra-fast fashion villain, but it falls far short of being an ethical or sustainable leader. Its traditional retail model makes it a better choice than brands like SHEIN, but it requires significant improvements in transparency and environmental action.
Reitmans earns a B- for meeting basic legal labor standards and avoiding controversial practices like using fur. However, the grade is held back by a severe lack of supply chain transparency, the absence of a public factory list, and no clear commitment to paying living wages, making it impossible to verify its ethical claims.
The brand receives a C+ for its sustainability efforts. While Reitmans has set future environmental goals and incorporates a small percentage (10-15%) of sustainable materials, its overall progress is slow. The lack of circularity programs and poor environmental data reporting demonstrate that sustainability is not yet a core part of its business strategy.
If Reitmans's lack of transparency and slow progress on sustainability are dealbreakers, here are better alternatives with stronger commitments to people and the planet:
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is B Corp and Fair Trade certified, using materials like organic cotton and TENCEL™. With prices from $30-$80, they offer transparent supply chains and a proven record of paying living wages to artisans.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Operating at a similar price point to Reitmans ($20-$60), this B Corp is Climate Neutral Certified and plants ten trees for every item sold. Tentree uses 95%+ sustainable materials, including organic cotton, recycled polyester, and hemp, while ensuring fair labor in its transparent supply chain.
Shop now at tentree.com
Known for its radical transparency, Everlane discloses its factories and cost breakdowns for its minimalist staples. The brand is focused on recycled materials, reducing its carbon footprint, and offers higher-quality timeless pieces at accessible prices.
Shop now at everlane.com
This brand focuses on natural, sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp to create stylish and eco-friendly everyday wear. Thought is committed to ethical manufacturing, ensuring fair wages and safe conditions throughout its transparent supply chain, with prices generally ranging from $40-$80.
Shop now at wearethought.com
While an outdoor brand, Patagonia offers durable everyday apparel made from recycled materials in Fair Trade Certified factories. As a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, its commitment to environmental activism and lifetime repairs makes it a leader in fighting overconsumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Yes, from a business model perspective, Reitmans is better. Its slower, seasonal production cycle encourages more thoughtful consumption compared to the high-volume, trend-driven models of Zara and SHEIN, which are designed to fuel overconsumption. However, leading sustainable brands still far outperform Reitmans on transparency and environmental action.
Yes, Reitmans (Canada) Limited is a Canadian public company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. It was founded in 1926 and operates primarily within the Canadian market with several banners including Reitmans, Penningtons, and RW&CO.
Progress appears to be very slow. While Reitmans aims for 50% sustainable materials by 2030, its current level of 10-15% indicates a significant gap between ambition and reality. Without transparent, year-over-year reporting, it's difficult to track whether these targets are on track or simply marketing claims.
