GABRIELA HEARST DEMONSTRATES THAT DESIGNER APPAREL CAN BE SUSTAINABLE WITHOUT COMPROMISING AESTHETICS.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GABRIELA HEARST
SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2015, Gabriela Hearst has proven a dedication to key values of environmental sustainability. Using certified natural fibers and recycling cashmere and silk, the brand embraces a slower pace and process, following tradition over trends and putting purpose into every piece.
The designer’s first runway show used 30% deadstock fabrics; in New York, Hearst produced the first-ever carbon-neutral runway show featuring her spring/summer 2020 collection; and she has set a goal of eliminating the use of virgin materials altogether. To mitigate waste, the brand also uses plastic-free bio-based TIPA compostable packaging and recycled cardboard hangers.
Hearst uses wool from the six-generation merino sheep farm in Uruguay where she grew up, and most of her handknit sweaters are produced through a partnership with Manos del Uruguay, a nonprofit that empowers artisan women from rural areas. They handcraft sweaters like the Lawrence sweater (shown above), which comes in copper, oatmeal and saffron. Made from the highest-quality cashmere, called Welfat, the fibers are gently twisted giving it the look of a chunky sweater but one that feels more like wearing a cloud. Look for the sweater at Max in Denver and at Gabriela Hearst’s new pop-up in Aspen, open mid-December through March. Max, 250 Columbine St., Denver; gabrielahearst.com
Photography by:
