Leading with Purpose: Hali Borenstein, CEO of Reformation, on Growing a Sustainable Fashion Brand

Ken sits down with Hali Borenstein, CEO of Reformation, for this episode of The Retail Pilot - Leaders & Legends.

Bio

Hali Borenstein is the CEO of sustainable fashion brand Reformation. Hali has been with Reformation since 2014, when she joined the company as Director of Merchandising, and most recently served as President of the company prior becoming CEO.

Under Hali’s leadership, Reformation has grown to 1,000 team members, over 40 retail locations and its international business has more than tripled. She has also overseen significant category expansion and product innovation during her tenure, establishing Reformation as a day-to-day wardrobe staple. Hali has accelerated the brand’s progress toward its lofty sustainability commitments, including Climate Positive by 2025 and a new commitment to be fully Circular by 2030.

A native of Miami Beach, Florida, Hali received her BA from Duke and her MBA from the Stanford. In addition to her role at Reformation, she serves on the Board of Directors for Carter’s Inc. Hali currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two daughters.

Summary

Hali Borenstein, CEO of Reformation, shares her journey in the retail industry, the growth of Reformation, and the unique store experience. She discusses the impact of a major investor, the company's growth strategy, and the innovative technology used in Reformation stores. In this conversation, Hali discusses Reformation's commitment to sustainability, their approach to sustainable fabrics, factory partnerships, circularity, vintage products, and marketing strategies. She also shares insights on leadership, mentors, and lessons learned from past decisions.

Takeaways

• Hali's background in retail and her journey to becoming the CEO of Reformation
• The impact of a major investor on Reformation's growth and expansion
• The unique store experience and innovative technology used in Reformation stores
• Reformation's mission is to bring sustainable fashion to everyone, and sustainability is at the core of their business practices.
• The majority of Reformation's products come from sustainable materials, and they are committed to minimizing the use of non-sustainable fabrics.
• Reformation's factory partnerships, commitment to circularity, and vintage product offerings align with their broader mission of sustainability.
• The company's marketing strategy focuses on building great content, brand awareness, and collaborations with influential figures and brands.
• Hali's leadership style is influenced by various mentors and lessons learned from different leaders, emphasizing the importance of asking questions and seeking expertise when needed.

Chapters

00:00

Journey to Retail CEO

03:10

Impact of Major Investor

10:41

Innovative Store Experience and Technology

13:34

Growth Strategy and Expansion

25:52

Sustainable Fabrics and Circular Economy

32:02

Vintage Products and Circular Business Model

34:44

Innovative Marketing Strategies

40:21

Lessons in Leadership and Decision-Making

Keywords

retail, Reformation, CEO, growth strategy, technology, store experience, sustainability, investor, expansion, sustainability, sustainable fashion, supply chain, circularity, vintage, marketing, leadership, mentors, decision-making

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