We observed the acceleration of AI. But some things have stayed the same. Namely, the values necessary to face the most difficult challenges in societyβand in the luxury fashion industry. Despite our rapidly changing world, I am not giving up on the concept of honest luxury. My mother lives on a ranch in Uruguay in the remote region of Queguay Chico, where her family has lived for generations. What she meant is, why has the quality of our clothing declined?
From housing to food, this trend of declining quality has proliferated chronically across our economy. It was only a matter of time before we allowed the quality of what we put on our bodies to go down as well. And I myself have found my purpose in prioritizing quality in my work.
Perhaps this shared value is because we both grew up on a ranch and in a community where things were made to last. My life in Uruguay stood in sharp contrast with my life in New York.
On the ranch, I found myself in a slower, timeless way of life. There was no central heating, just fireplaces. Shutters and doors were kept closed in the summer during the day to keep the heat at bay. Walls had to be thick to keep in the coolness. Nothing was thrown away because it could be repurposed. This experience made me take a closer look at what I was doing in New York. I was designing a contemporary clothing line with a fixed price point.
To the contrary, I was constantly being pushed to make the collection cheaper and to make more of it. I started to feel fragmented between what I believed and what I was making. Yes, the world around us is changing fast. Yet I remain focused on quality. We launched Gabriela Hearst for fall with a strong resolution of putting quality on the table , of preserving craftsmanship, and of continued commitment to thoughtful sourcing.
