Reformation vs Aritzia: is the pricier sweater worth it?
The Aritzia Wool-Cashmere Knit Sweater runs $128; the Reformation Cashmere Crew Sweater is $178, about 1.4× the price ($50 more). Here is the side-by-side, and what that gap buys.
| Aritzia | Reformation | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $128 | $178 |
| Material | Merino, wool-cashmere or plush synthetic blend depending on style, mid gauge. | Recycled cashmere, wool or cotton depending on style, mid gauge. |
| Fit | Trend-led cut, often oversized or cropped; check the style. | Clean contemporary fit, true to size. |
| Quality | Mid-tier — soft, on-trend; wool-cashmere styles are best, plush blends pill. | High for the tier — soft and considered; recycled cashmere pills early as fine cashmere does. |
| Best for | On-trend soft knitwear, oversized and cropped cuts, and seasonal looks. | Sustainable contemporary outfits, recycled cashmere, and clean feminine cuts. |
| Care | Hand-wash or gentle wool cycle and lay flat; de-pill plush styles early. | Hand-wash or gentle wool cycle and lay flat; de-pill cashmere early with a comb. |
Aritzia's $128 Wool-Cashmere Knit Sweater against Reformation's $178 Cashmere Crew, a $50 gap in the mid-gauge knitwear tier. The catch on the Aritzia side is that its fiber varies by style — merino, wool-cashmere, or a plush synthetic blend — while Reformation is consistently recycled cashmere, wool, or cotton with quality rated high for its tier.
- The case for Aritzia
- At $128 the Aritzia sweater in its merino or wool-cashmere versions is genuinely fair value with a soft hand and on-trend oversized or cropped cuts, undercutting Reformation by $50 — just avoid the polyester-blend plush styles, which pill and are the weakest buy here.
- The case for Reformation
- The Reformation crew is the higher-quality knit for its tier, in recycled cashmere with a clean contemporary true-to-size fit, for shoppers who want real cashmere with an eco story rather than a trend cut.
VerdictWhat the extra money buys
If you can find an Aritzia style in merino or wool-cashmere, buy it — you get real animal fiber and the current cut for $50 less, and that closes most of the quality gap. Step up to Reformation if you want cashmere specifically and a clean fit that outlasts a trend cycle, but know its recycled cashmere pills early as fine cashmere does, so budget for a comb either way. Do not pay $128 for Aritzia's plush synthetic styles; that is the one clear loser in this matchup. Check the fiber content before checking out.
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