The Finnish kids’ wear brand Reima, operational since 1944, is a strong promotor of kids’ free movement and play. Reima believes an active childhood helps kids grow up healthy and ready to take on the world to come – our one and only home planet, which we also must protect. That’s why in spring 2023, Reima introduces new foot-friendly shoes, and enhances its offering of protective outerwear and soft wear with bio-based and recycled fibers.
Reima currently leads the global market as a kids-only producer of performance wear for all climates. Reima bases its designs on the Scandinavian way of parenting, enabling kids’ active development of physical skills and exploration of the surrounding world. To this end, the company produces high-quality, tip-to-toe gear, perfected down to the smallest detail, for kids from 0 to 12 years of age.
All the colors of the rainbow – and all green
This spring, Reima offers a collection that’s full of color and playful imagination. Kids can pick their favorites and combine like crazy – letting their own true colors brighten up the world around us. And when it’s summer, they can feel comfy in items that are as carefree as summer itself. There are colors straight out of the ice cream shop and prints that remind us of treasure maps and lush garden parties.
While a larger share of the materials is made from organic plant fibers, or from bio-based or recycled sources, this joyful feast for the eyes is in fact rather monochrome – it’s greener than ever.
More eco-conscious materials
Recent estimates of the textile industry’s environmental impacts point to the making of the materials. To reduce Reima’s impacts, Reima designers have chosen DuPont’s Sorona®. This special polyester fiber is very durable and naturally elastic. The Sorona® polymer is made from 37% plant-based ingredients, and compared to nylon 6, its manufacturing requires 30% less energy and results in 50% less greenhouse gas emissions. Like Reima, DuPont is a bluesign® system partner and have met bluesign® standards as a responsible acting party in the textile value chain committed to sustainability.
Another way to cut emissions and save crude oil is to use recycled materials for making synthetic polymers. The carbon footprint of recycled polyester material is estimated to be roughly 30% of that of virgin polyester. Reima has continuously increased the share of recycled material, so that now almost all Reima items containing synthetics are made with recycled fibers.
100% recyclable monomaterial
In spring, 2020 Reima introduced the first functional kids’ wear made of one single material only. Now the collection includes several easily recyclable monomaterial items. Consumers can register them for takeback by Reima, which allows the valuable raw material to be turned it into something new instead of just dumping or incinerating it.
When Reimatec monomaterial fabrics are made waterproof, it’s done by using a polyester membrane, to comply with the single polymer solution. The fabric surface is, just like in all technical Reima fabrics, finished to have durable water and dirt repellence without fluorocarbons*.
Plant Power from nature
Alongside durable synthetics, we need natural fibers to bring more warmth and comfort to kidswear. But no matter how natural, their production can have adverse effects on the environment. Organic farming is a better option, and Reima has the goal of only using certified organic cotton in its autumn-winter 2023 collections. In spring 2023, already 93% of Reima cotton is certified organic.
This season, Reima’s soft leisure wear selection combines organic cotton with organic hemp. Hemp is among the greenest fibers of all: it thrives on less water, yet gives more fiber than cotton, and is naturally pest and disease resistant. Made into a soft summer wear blend with organic cotton, it’s a durable choice that only gets better with each new day of use.
Tell bugs to buzz off
Insects are important for our nature, but their bites can be dangerous. Reima Anti-Bite gear helps kids avoid insect bites and stay healthier**. The finish in the apparel repels many kinds of stingers and biters: mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, wasps, even lice. The repellent IR3535 does not irritate the skin and is considered suitable even for babies over 6 months by both WHO and EPA. Nature enthusiasts will also be happy to hear the finish doesn’t kill insects; it merely confuses them to think there’s nothing for them to bite.
The SS’23 Anti-Bite collection consists of stretchy, light polyester outerwear and organic cotton jersey garments. You can combine them into protective tip-to-toe outfits with hats, caps, and socks that all repel insects. Just like all other Reima garments, the entire collection is free from harmful chemicals.
With Xylitol, heat waves are a lot easier
The Xylitol Cool technology in Reima Cooling comfort collection is based on a finish containing xylitol and erythritol. Both are safe, naturally occurring, low-calorie sweeteners that absorb heat. Body moisture will activate the finish after ca. 10 minutes of wear, cooling the temperature of the skin beneath the garment around 1-3 degrees Celsius (1.8 – 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit). The cooling effect can help make any hot day more tolerable and thus more fun for kids.
The Xylitol Cool collection consists of activewear: sweaters, tees, shorts and dresses. The fabrics are made with recycled fibers and many items also have a high UV protection factor 40+.
Play outside as long as you want
When summer vacation comes around, everything else melts away. School days turn to beach days, the sun is our clock, and kids everywhere head to the very same place – the water.
Kids need protection from the sun, but why would you use more lotion than what’s necessary? The UV protection in Reima SunProof recycled swim jersey is completely natural and non-toxic, based on the dense fabric structure only, so it will not wear off or fade in washes. On woven Reima swim shorts and hats, there’s a safe UV block surface finish to make sure the already high natural protection factor of the fabric itself will reach the promised 50+.
When Reima SunProof wear is CE marked to have an ultraviolet protection factor 50+, it has been lab tested to ensure that the fabric blocks 98% of the harmful sun rays. Sunscreen lotion is then only needed on bare skin. This can help preserve nature too, as sunscreen chemicals have been found harmful to marine life, especially coral reefs.
The polyester in Reima SunProof garments is mostly made from post-consumer PET, thus reducing their environmental impact. Reima jersey beach wear also features digital printing, which saves water and dyestuff compared to traditional printing methods.
Light steps from spring to summer
Kids just love Reima rain boots: complete protection that’s easy to dress, with delicious colors and fun prints. For changing weather, we recommend our vegan-friendly Reimatec shoe styles that come with a waterproof, breathable membrane. They will enable puddle jumps yet feel nice in sunny weather too – looking and feeling just like a regular pair of sneakers.
Reima Barefoot – Almost like having bare feet
When summer comes, it’s time to slip into lighter shoes that have airy textile uppers. The newcomer in this range is Astelu, Reima’s first barefoot shoe. Barefoot shoes let kids walk and stand naturally, and have room for the toes to splay naturally, too. The shoe upper contains recycled fibers, which is better for Mother Earth. Since the shoes can be machine-washed, they will also stay looking neat for longer.
Sandals are the safest bet for the hottest days of summer, and Reima offers several options. The renewed style Rantaan is a favorite of many families. We’ve now made it available in the same barefoot last as Astelu, with similar machine-washability. The new star of this year is Koralli, a very light, water-friendly sandal that comes in many bright colours. It has a wide last that keeps the toes airy and lets them spread and move naturally.
*Why no fluorocarbons?
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) belong to a larger group known as fluorocarbons. All fluorocarbon water & dirt repellents are made with PFCs or substances that can biodegrade to PFCs. Their performance is excellent, BUT they:
- are stable – they take a long time to degrade in nature
- accumulate in the environment and in all animals & humans
- appear to be carcinogenic
- may affect reproduction and hormone production in mammals
What does Reima use instead of PFCs?
- BIONIC-FINISH® ECO by RUDOLF group – based on hyper-branched polymers called dendrimers
- TeflonTM EcoEliteTM – a renewably sourced, bluesign® approved plant-based finish
** The treatment Reima uses is Si Repel Mosquito® by Smart Inovation. Mosquitoes and ticks can transmit serious diseases, which infect millions of people each year. Although dressing kids in Anti-Bite clothes, the areas of unprotected skin should still be treated with a repellent lotion. When traveling and spending time in nature, it is also wise to take other precautions against biting insects as advised by health officials.
Reima briefly
Reima is a globally leading kids’ activewear brand. Founded in Finland in 1944, Reima employs over 400 people. The company’s turnover was €147 million in 2021. Reima’s products and Finnish Baby Box solutions are available in over 50 countries. Reima’s mission is to gear up the next generation of happy, active kids, preparing them for the world to come. Our design principles are innovation, functionality, safety, and fresh Finnish design. The clothing is approved by the world’s toughest testers: children. Read more at www.reima.com
About Reima
Reima knows how to get kids out and about! Established in 1944, the Finnish brand offers premium active wear for children, tip-to-toe and all year round, designed for sustainability. This year, the around 7 million Reima garments produced enable kids all over the world to move and play freely, in all conditions – always safely and in comfort.
Karhumäentie 3
01530 Vantaa
Finland