Inside Hudson Valley’s Sustainable Fashion Week: Clothing with Care
HVSFW Banner - Photo Credit: Ilan Harel Photography
by Taylor Nevin
Bright blue skies, the sweet smells of grass and fresh apples, and soft strums of a live guitar. Attending Hudson Valley Sustainable Fashion Week’s third annual show was as inspiring as it was gorgeous. Seeing creations made with love for the earth against the stunning backdrop of sunflowers and the Catskill Mountains seemed to pave a new path (or rather runway) within the fashion industry.
Rose Hill Farm was the most amazing venue, complete with a bar serving their own wines and ciders and breathtaking views everywhere I looked.
The experience started with insight into each designer's ethos and brand personality through the pop-up shop located outside of the main barn. I loved seeing each stitch up close and sensing the care that went into making each piece. Interacting with the bubbly and knowledgeable volunteers made exploring so much fun.
The So Vicki rack was the hardest for me to walk away from. Designer Annie McCurdy’s work had an original blend of modern detail and vintage silhouettes. The Blue Dot Appliqué Biker Jacket was my favorite piece on the rack.
The show began, and the talented Ginger Winn provided gentle live background music. Every look that walked past was intentional and fabulously scrappy.
The looks that stood out most to me were the ones where the story of an old piece echoed through the modernized construction of the garment. It was easy to imagine strolling through town or going to lunch with loved ones while wearing these earthy and grounded aesthetics.
As a stylist, HVSFW inspired me to reframe the societal expectation of what sustainability means. We, as a fashion community, tend to treat ethically-made clothing as outfits for special occasions only because the cost is typically comparable to that of a new luxury item. However, we can use the stories behind these garments to make getting dressed a special occasion every day.
Clothing is what we wear, but fashion is why and how we wear it. Seeing looks on the runway that spanned from casual to costume challenged societal norms of what can be seen as a wearable item.
Lastly, I left thinking about where my clothes come from. Everything starts with the earth. Whether that be from a natural fiber like cotton, linen, or flax, or the natural energy sources required to produce synthetic material, all fashion comes from the same place.
As our world evolves at an even faster pace, planting roots in fashion has never been more important. As consumers, we vote with our dollars, and supporting brands that align with our morals is how we work toward a more sustainable future. HVSFW reminded me that this work isn’t just about fabric, but about storytelling, community, and respect for the earth.
Leaving Rose Hill Farm, I carried with me the sense that fashion can truly be a living dialogue between past and future, stitched together by passion and care.
Taylor Nevin is a stylist and creative director with a focus on intentional, narrative-driven fashion storytelling. Learn more at taylornevin.com