In an industry constantly seeing new brands and labels emerge, it has become rare to see lasting fashion designers that still manage to create a fresh, state-of-the-art style. Mara Hoffman is one of them.
Mara Hoffman’s pieces empower women’s silhouettes with bold prints and unexpected shapes while staying timeless and utterly elegant. Two decades spent refining her aesthetic helped Hoffman create an iconic style, between a laid-back spirit and a daring attitude in the women wearing her creations.
After 15 years of developing her brand, Hoffman decided to completely change her business model to focus on an aspect that had been neglected before: sustainability.
Changing the practices and supply chain of a well-installed label can be quite tricky, but the brand managed an effective shift and is now a reference for responsible fashion around the world.
The materials sourced by Mara Hoffman have to correspond to three criteria: natural, organic or recycled. For example, swimwear is made out of ECONYL, a 100% regenerated nylon fibre coming from waste like fishnets, and REPREVE, a polyester fibre made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles. The brand also uses GOTS certified cotton, linen and hemp (famous for needing less water than traditional materials) for their Ready to Wear collections.
The label is also very careful about the suppliers’ use of chemicals for dying and processing their fibres.
All of Mara Hoffman’s swimwear line is manufactured in Los Angeles. Most of their Ready to Wear collection is made in New York. The team regularly visits their factories to make sure employees have good working conditions.
Regarding the rest of their Tier 1 manufacturers (those putting the final product together for the brand), Mara Hoffman prioritizes proximity and skills. For example, they grow their organic cotton in India, and are therefore working with manufacturers from this country to produce their cotton styles. This practice aims at valorizing local economies and reducing the brand’s carbon footprint by shipping its products as little as possible.
All images in this article are courtesy of Mara Hoffman.
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