Kathryn Hilderbrand of Good Clothing Company
Once a month, the Futurewear team comes together to nominate one leader and one brand who are exemplifying innovation in the fashion industry. This month, we were so inspired by one brand and its’ founder, that we’ve nominated them both to be featured.
Good Apparel, founded by Kathryn Hilderbrand, launched a few weeks ago and has immediately stolen the hearts of the ethical fashion industry. The line itself is the brainchild of a much larger project, one that has made Kathryn known for revolutionizing the apparel manufacturing industry in Massachusetts.
Kathryn’s journey in the fashion industry began 31 years ago as a tailor. She gained her first apprenticeship at the age of only 16, before becoming a Master Tailor in her late 20s. After years of working in the industry, she started to recognize that fast fashion was violating workers’ rights, causing loss of jobs, and devaluing labor associated with apparel production in the United States.
Petitioning to Bring Hemp Back to Manufacturing
Frustrated by her surroundings, Kathryn began to research how agricultural crops could benefit the industry. After much investigation, she recognized the various uses of Hemp, not just in apparel manufacturing, but in all aspects of creating an ethical and environmentally friendly lifestyle.
“Waking up in the morning, one can consume hemp for breakfast, hemp can also be used to fuel the car you drive to work, and create the foundation for the house you live in. Hemp does not need nitrogen based fertilizers which makes it a great crop for the environment, along with its’ biodegradable characteristics. It is consumable for humans, animals, and industrial use,” explains Kathryn.
Unfortunately, manufacturing Hemp has been illegal since the 1920’s, bundled with the Cannabis law, even though Hemp itself does not contain THC. Today, in collaboration with Project Runway’s Tim Gunn, Kathryn is working with Massachusetts legislatures to have Hemp legalized as an industrial crop. This giant step in apparel manufacturing would be a contribution that would go down in history as greatly impacting the sustainable and organic fashion industry.
Providing Jobs and Ethical Production in Massachusetts
Equipped with a drive to inspire positive, proactive change in the industry, Kathryn set out to create a company that would pay fair wages and offer opportunities that 100% did not exist at the time. She founded Good Clothing Company in hopes of raising the bar so that transparency is the norm.
With facilities in both Cape Cod and Fall River, Good Clothing Company now works with over 100 different designers around the world to pattern, develop, sample, and produce their clothing. Employees are paid the highest wages in Massachusetts for seamstresses, pattern makers, stitchers, and cutters. In an effort to reduce waste and stay true to their ethical standards, designers have the option of producing small batch runs with minimums as low as ten pieces. Kathryn hopes that her company, along with the community, can collaboratively rebuild Fall River, which used to be one of the largest hubs in New England for manufacturing.
The Birth of Good Apparel
In addition to Kathryn’s admirable manufacturing company (yes, there is more!), she recently designed and created Good Apparel (link: https://weargoodapparel.com) , their house label which is manufactured on the floor alongside all of the other great companies they work with. The mission of this brand was to deliver a sustainably produced product that is timeless.
Good Apparel, launched just a few weeks ago, lives up to all of the expectations and standards that Kathryn has set forth as a revolutionary in the ethical fashion space. Inspired by available sustainable textiles, Good Apparel was designed to release new collections every 45-60 days, as well as limited edition pieces, going against the grain of a normal fashion calendar. Each silhouette is truly an investment piece that can last a lifetime, resonating across multiple generations, and finding a place in any wardrobe with the right accessories. The production of these pieces is planned to eliminate waste, while being conscious of the company’s environmental footprint.
Good Apparel’s next collection will be released April 21st, made out of recycled polyester, a hemp blend, and small amount of spandex. While this collection will be, “the coastal version of a canadian tuxedo,” as described by Rachel Lyn, Marketing Manager at Good Apparel, we are excited to share with you a limited edition linen piece released today for purchase.
Setting the New Standard
As you can see, there are multiple reasons why we admire Kathryn and Good Apparel. As an activist, she has taken a stand and presented her beliefs in hopes of legally changing hemp manufacturing in MA, a contribution that would be remembered for decades to come. As an entrepreneur, she was able to establish a company that went against the norm and treated both her employees and the environment consciously. As an artist, she was able to use the skills she had to create a timeless collection, suitable for woman of all ages and backgrounds.
While we hope that the entire fashion industry one day adheres to these ethical standards, the work that Kathryn Hilderbrand has done through Good Clothing Company and Good Apparel should be admired as the new normal, setting the standard for the founding of ethical brands in the future.
SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave
