Reformation and Veja are buying into the gorpcore trend with a new hiking-inspired women’s sneaker capsule.
The Paris-founded footwear label and the Los Angeles-based women’s wear brand on Thursday announced their first collaborative drop. The Venturi sneaker blends Veja’s signature design motifs and bio-based materials with Reformation’s vintage-inspired styling. Available online and at select Reformation and Veja stores, the shoe is available in EU sizes 36-41, and retails for $215.
“Ref has a longstanding wholesale relationship with Veja, which is how we initially got to know the team,” Reformation chief innovation officer Alison Melville told Sourcing Journal. “This drop is years in the making and embodies our collective ethos from both an aesthetic and a values standpoint.”
Courtesy of Ref x Veja
As they discussed partnering, the brands discovered similarities in their values—and value chains.
“Both brands share a commitment to creating products grounded in sustainability and operate similar shoe supply chains in Brazil, so it felt like a natural progression to collaborate on a deeper level,” Melville said. They’ve also independently committed to using traceable leather sourced from Leather Working Group-certified (LWG) tanneries, as well as natural rubber and bio-based foams.
The cream-colored “J-Mesh” Venturi is made with a breathable 33-percent jute and 67-percent recycled cotton mesh upper providing anti-static and thermoregulatory properties. The “Walnut” Venturi features an Alveomesh upper, a lightweight, breathable, flexible technical knit fabric made with 100-percent recycled polyester.
The ‘Walnut’ Venturi sneaker.
Courtesy of Ref x Veja
Both color ways feature LWG-certified suede sourced from farms in Rio Grande do Sul, which is tanned free of hazardous chemicals. Linings and laces are made from recycled polyester. Each pair comes with a spare set of made from organic cotton. Foam cushion inserts are made from 30-percent natural latex, while the midsoles are made with 38-percent sugarcane foam, and the outsoles with 31-percent Amazonian natural rubber.
Known for its sneaker offering, Veja makes cupsole shoes, low-top lace-ups and retro runners, some of which have been stocked on Reformation’s e-commerce site. Reformation launched its first closed-loop, recyclable sneaker last year, growing a footwear assortment which includes boots, sandals, pumps, flats and loafers.
Courtesy of Ref x Veja
Reformation said the capsule launch gives shoppers yet another touch-point to get to know the brand, which launched in 2009 with dresses and women’s separates made from deadstock fabrics. It debuted a small selection of footwear in 2019, and relaunched new shoe styles in spring of 2021. In April, the company added handbags, offering three leather styles in several color ways.
Partnering with Veja helps Reformation access new shoppers in different markets. The Ecovative partner recently opened its second warehouse and distribution center in The Netherlands to support international fulfillment.