Eileen Fisher
Founder, EILEEN FISHER, INC.

From our conversation

“The vision that we are seeing is to take this concept of bringing life back into the land and bring it into our companies, our supply chains, and the whole fashion system.”

Biography

Since founding her eponymous brand in 1984, Eileen has championed an original concept: a system of timeless shapes that simplify getting dressed. Her commitment to designing a more sustainable tomorrow began over 25 years ago when she established the company's first Social Consciousness role. Eileen founded the Eileen Fisher Foundation in 2005, supporting initiatives spanning design, women's leadership, and innovation. In 2009, she initiated a circular manufacturing model with the EILEEN FISHER Renew take-back program. Her accolades include the 2022 CNMI Sustainable Fashion Pioneer Award, Forbes 50 Over 50: Vision List (2021), and the 2019 CFDA Positive Change Award.

Interview

Designing Clothes for Life: Eileen Fisher
In this conversation, Eileen considers how we can “design our way out” of the textile waste crisis, reflecting on lessons learned throughout her decades of experience as a clothing designer. She outlines her vision for regenerative design principles, from material choices to design intention, rooted in her ethos of timeless, simple shapes. Acknowledging that the path toward change is imperfect, Eileen holds hope for transformation with a curiosity for how regeneration can revitalize ecosystems and revalue what we wear.