WHY REISTOR IS MORE THAN A BRAND - IT’S A REBELLION AGAINST FAST FASHION
By: Erica Commisso
Where fashion is often fast, disposable and devastatingly unsustainable, reistor emerges as a quiet yet powerful form of resistance. It doesn’t just sell clothes—it challenges the very foundation of an industry built on overproduction, exploitation and environmental harm. Born from a deep conviction that fashion must evolve, reistor is leading a movement that places purpose above profit and impact above excess. This is not just a brand—it’s a rebellion wrapped in natural fibers, demanding a future where fashion respects both people and the planet.
The team behind reistor will be the first to admit that the brand is still a work in progress, even though it made its red carpet debut at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival in 2023. In fact, it even admits to being a work of progress on its website. But that doesn’t mean that the ethos and commitment to its core values isn’t strong. While sold at major retailers like Nordstrom, J.Crew, Madewell, Wolf&Badger and Target+, reistor remains all about community.
Source: reistor
The intention behind the brand is to create a loop in a typically wasteful industry, giving back through partnerships and collaborations and being intention with every aspect of creating clothing. A key component of that is employing women from disadvantaged and underprivileged communities, empowering them through vocational training in safe and hygienic workspaces and providing them fair wages.
In fact, half of the brand’s garments are produced at community centers run by non-profit organisations that are focused on providing sustainable livelihoods to women from underserved communities. For example, a partnership with Mumbai-based NGO Srujna has resulted in reistor purchasing sewing machines and hiring trainers to upskill women from underprivileged communities.The result of partnerships like these is a catalogue of timeless, classic pieces that are chemical-free and biodegradable as well as responsibly sourced and produced.
Dresses, skirts, loungewear and more are produced in fabrics like Bemberg crepe, organic cotton, Tencel, linen, hemp, and Modal, intended to prove that good style and good choices can go hand in hand. The Delaware-founded brand with ties to Mumbai also uses practices that reduce the amount of water and energy required to craft clothing, are UV protectant to preserve color, style and ensure breathability.
Even at that Cannes debut in 2023, where Mastercard and Fashinnovation NYC included reistor in the film festival showroom, eco-friendly fabrics and materials were the central focus of the red carpet designs.
The brother and sister duo behind reistor, Mehma and Harjas Singh, launched the brand in 2021, coming from an Indian family with decades of experience in the textile industry. Mehma, who has previous experience in marketing with brands like Disney, joined her brother - who has been in the fashion industry for over twenty years - to create a meaningful brand that would inspire change and give back to the community.
“Ultimately, my brother and I wanted to carry our family legacy forward to create something that brought all these pieces together: creativity, purpose, heritage, and impact,” she told Authority Magazine earlier this month. “That’s what led us to co-found a sustainable women’s fashion brand, one that’s rooted in where we come from, but designed with the future in mind.”
The most recent collection, unveiled this past spring, unveiled a new fabric, cotton seersucker, and contains a thoughtful selection of pieces that can be worn to layer or as standalone pieces boasting neutral tones and classic patterns to ensure that they never go out of style.
Source: reistor
The brand also goes beyond philanthropy and sustainability, making inclusivity another core tenet of the brand. Campaign imagery often includes differently abled and plus-sized models wearing the sustainable garments.
"We wanted to design a collection that celebrates the timeless appeal of eco-friendly fabrics while staying fresh and relevant for today’s conscious consumer,” says Mehma Singh, reistor’s co-founder and creative director. “Our newest addition, 100% cotton seersucker, is soft, sustainable, and incredibly versatile - just in line with our other eco-friendly fabrics, perfect for effortless spring and summer dressing."
“Our approach to sustainability goes beyond fabric choice, we look at circularity, responsible production, and the well-being of everyone in our supply chain,” Singh said. “We’re constantly asking: how can we do this better, for people and the planet? And community is everything to us, not just our internal ecosystem, but the people who support and inspire the brand every day.”