Eileen Fisher: the quiet pioneer of sustainable fashion
Discover more about the revolutionary US brand and its classic, timeless pieces
Sustainability is a hot topic in the fashion industry now. Brands are scrambling to prove their credentials in order to win over ethically conscious consumers, but one name has been doing it long before it was on everyone’s agenda.
Eileen Fisher founded her eponymous brand in New York 35 years ago. Self-taught when it came to fashion, she was inspired by the simplicity of the Japanese kimono and created a capsule of simple, fluid designs that worked effortlessly together. This approach garnered a devoted following of women who wanted comfortable and timeless pieces.
As the brand snowballed through word of mouth, Eileen (above) realised that her company was part of a problem. She set about addressing the toxicity of the production industry, dyeing clothes without using hazardous chemicals and converting her supply chain to organic cotton and linen. The company also has an arm devoted to human rights, ensuring ethical labour standards across its factories. Such measures may not sound drastic now, but this was at a time when no one was questioning the provenance of their clothes.
Then, 10 years ago, she started an initiative to prevent her clothing being sent to landfill – the Renew project in the US reconditions and resells garments in special boutiques, with unwearable pieces transformed into works of art.
It’s this groundbreaking mindset, coupled with intelligent design, that appealed to John Lewis & Partners’ buying team. Victoria Barnes, Partner & Junior Buyer, says: ‘The John Lewis customer understands the quiet luxury of quality and timeless design. Eileen’s clothes feel great, and you feel great about buying them because you know they are made responsibly.’
The edit includes plain tops made from Tencel Lyocell – a fibre revered for its eco-credentials – pure silk ankle-grazing trousers and a cosy poncho made from organic cotton. Victoria’s tip is to look out for pieces made from washable stretch crepe fabric. ‘It’s the perfect weight and can travel anywhere you go,’ she explains.
With quality and longevity at the core of Eileen Fisher’s collections, each garment promises to be a hard-working foundation piece in your wardrobe. Victoria concludes: ‘Eileen’s clothes are beautiful and directional, but they’re also real and make people feel good about themselves.’
Shop Eileen Fisher online and at Peter Jones & Partners in Chelsea and John Lewis & Partners Cribbs Causeway, Bristol.
