“We don’t want sustainability to be our edge, we want it to be universal,” says fashion designer Eileen Fisher. There are currently over 60 Eileen Fisher stores in Canada, the United States, and the UK. The women’s luxury clothing company, founded in 1984, owes much of its success to its passionate and dedicated employees who work together to make every client’s shopping experience memorable. Unbeknownst to many, Eileen Fisher’s journey to success started with humble beginnings. As a woman who struggled to find clothing she felt good in, Fisher had a unique drive to create simple styles that everyday women would enjoy. With less than $400 to her name, she believed in her vision and was determined to bring her ideas to life one way or another. She wanted her pieces to be elegant, comfortable and easy to wear. The brand is based on chic minimalism and making women feel confident and empowered.
Eileen Fisher is also a company that shows awareness of the world’s finite resources. Unfortunately, many large corporations don’t prioritize the environment, which is why Fisher’s dream is for all businesses to do their part to reduce waste and pollution. Her company has created an initiative called Vision 2020. Great focus goes towards choosing fibers and materials that are sustainable so that the clothing lasts longer. Fisher also wants to begin using 100% organic cotton and linen materials by the year 2020. That’s not all, the company is also steering clear of unnecessary chemicals that go into clothes during the dyeing process. In her opinion, companies should be held as accountable as individuals when it comes to protecting our planet, and it’s not just a change that should happen. It’s a change that needs to happen. It’s a new way to do business and with Eileen Fisher leading by example, this might very well be the future of fashion.