Hudson Valley Fashion Champions Style and Sustainability

The Hudson Valley is home to a vibrant community of fashion designers who are redefining style through sustainability. From a pair of thrifted, striped boxers-turned-skirt with pink lace trim, to handkerchief tops crafted from upcycled fabrics, and effortlessly chic relaxed knitwear, these local designers are proving eco-conscious fashion can be both innovative and stylish. With a focus on repurposed materials, timeless designs, and ethical production practices, these 15 Hudson Valley-based brands are leading the charge in a new wave of fashion that celebrates creativity and the Earth’s well-being.

La Vie Aprés L’amour

La Vie Aprés L’amour, meaning “life after love” in French, breathes new life into fashion by reimagining second-hand clothing. The brand seeks to rethink how we fill our closets with a mission to embrace a circular economy that tackles climate change and pollution and reduces waste, with each piece crafted from upcycled materials. Founder Kaitlyn Murray, inspired by the effortlessly chic style all Parisians seem to have, designs and curates collections that include pieces like thrifted striped boxers sewn into a skirt and trimmed with flowing pink lace, or a cropped, puffed-sleeve button-down blouse. The shop, at 101 Abeel Street in Kingston, features a cozy cafe offering espresso, pour-over, and tea for customers while they browse, read, or meet up with friends. Murray is also available for closet organizing and styling services, making sustainable fashion accessible and stylish.

Zephyr

Zephyr specializes in silk and linen dresses that blend timeless elegance with artistry. From a simple pearly-white silk slip to an elaborate black silk organza piece featuring a full circle skirt with draped accents and waist ties—more art than cloth—each piece reflects meticulous craftsmanship. Handcrafted in owner and designer Caitlin Millard’s Kingston studio, Zephyr’s signature designs are showcased in their boutique at 28 East Market Street in Rhinebeck, alongside a curated selection from other designers. The storefront is open daily from 11am to 6pm.

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GirlBoy

Morgan Hoffman, a Hudson Valley native, launched GirlBoy at 311 Wall Street in Kingston’s Stockade District at the end of 2023. This brand reinterprets strong, feminist, androgynous styles, drawing inspiration from iconic muses like Louise Brooks from the ‘20s, Katharine Hepburn from the ‘40s, and Diane Keaton from the late ‘70s through evocative Polaroid homages. “These are women who played with gender roles and broke barriers when it came to style,” Hoffman says. The GirlBoy philosophy celebrates the effortless elegance of classic designs with a modern edge, featuring timeless pieces such as navy wool blazers, boxy-cut silk blouses, and flared twill trousers—all embodying the intersection of feminine and masculine.

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So Vicki

Established in 1890, the Vicki Clothing Company factory once manufactured women’s girdles, overalls, workwear, and long coats for the New York City market. In the late ‘90s, the company laid off all 80 remaining employees and ceased production. Two decades later, So Vicki was launched to revive garment-making in the same factory at 327 Liberty Street in Newburgh. The new brand emphasizes ethical and sustainable practices throughout its design process, utilizing vintage notions, compostable packaging, and deadstock fabric—surplus materials from other fashion brands and textile mills in the region. So Vicki offers funky pieces like handkerchief tops straight from granny’s linen closet, translucent, lacey “church pants,” and jackets crafted from old blankets.

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New Form Perspective Studio

NFP Studio, located at 457 Main Street in Beacon, showcases high-quality garments designed by Gail Travis. Crafted in muted tones, these pieces are perfect for versatile layering and comfortable lounging. The studio’s name reflects its three distinct categories: Nit (knitted sweaters), Form (draped and molded blouses and dresses), and Phrame (foundation basics). Travis’s collections are rooted in architectural shapes and styles that are of the moment but not bound by time. Each piece has the ability to link, layer, fold, snap, or connect, creating a platform for personal expression and supporting a socially conscious and resourceful lifestyle through appreciation of well-designed, multi-functional products. NFP aims to elevate fashion as an enhancement to our environment and personal identity.

Clare Bare

Clare Bare creates small-run and one-of-a-kind lingerie from upcycled and sustainable materials, all handmade by a dedicated team in studios located in Los Angeles and Hudson. Founder Clare Herron uses vintage fabrics from the ‘60s and ‘70s, thrifted silk scarves with beautiful prints, Lenzing Tencel modal (a cellulose fiber), recycled mesh, organic cotton, and local remanent or surplus fabrics, accompanied by organic dyes and printing techniques learned at Parsons School of Design. Herron aims to harmonize contrasting elements—hard and soft, masculine and feminine, light and dark. She views lingerie as a medium for experimentation, play, and empowerment.

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Karina Dresses

At 329 Wall Street in Kingston, Karina Dresses brings a refreshing approach to women’s fashion. Founded in 2008 by Karina Cousineau, this woman-owned brand champions body positivity by offering sizes from XXS to 4XL and styles designed to fit and celebrate each body shape, drawing inspiration from the absurd analogy of women’s bodies as fruits—from pear to apple. Cousineau’s designs feature flowing silhouettes adorned with small florals and rich earth tones, that suit every facet of life—from workdays to weekend strolls in the garden. Each piece is crafted in the Hudson Valley, wrinkle-free, and machine washable.

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Faithfully Yours

Faithfully Yours is dedicated to upcycling and sustainability, with a creative focus on repurposing materials. Owner Faith Delozier sources fabric from donations, thrift stores, rummage sales, and even her own wardrobe to craft one-of-a-kind pieces like patchwork pullovers, dual-sided shorts, and children’s button-down dresses. In addition to her innovative clothing line, Delozier offers alterations, repairs, sewing lessons, and custom orders at her shop, located off 9W in Port Ewen.

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Eleven Six

Catharine and Nick Carnevale launched knitwear brand Eleven Six in February 2015, located in the Fuller Building in Kingston. Inspired by their trip to the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru, the couple’s collections blend contemporary design with traditional Andean knitting techniques. The collection spans from slouchy fuchsia v-neck pullovers to tailored ivory vests, and chic striped shorts. Their pieces feature luxurious alpaca yarn and Peruvian pima cotton, crafted by small family-run businesses outside Lima, supported through the business’s give-back initiative. Eleven Six challenges itself in how it can further reduce its impact on the Earth by using eco-friendly materials, non-toxic dyes, compostable packaging, and creating timeless designs to be worn throughout seasons and generations.

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Utility Canvas

Born from Jillian Kaufman’s background in art and fashion and Hal Grano’s love of the outdoors, Utility Canvas was founded in 1990. The brand focuses on simple, practical, and versatile designs, using a single material—canvas—across all products. Over 30 years later, Utility Canvas continues to deliver timeless pieces like the “chore” denim coat, wide-neck work smock, and quilted snap vest. In 2021, the brand expanded with Canvas & Clothier, a retail store at 27 Garden Street in Poughkeepsie that showcases Utility Canvas alongside other US-made, functional brands. Designed for artists, seekers, nature-lovers, and the everyday wearers alike.

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Made X Hudson

Founded in 2020 by Sergio Guadarrama of Celestino Couture and Eric De Feo of the Hudson Community Incubator, Made X Hudson launched a small-batch textile manufacturing factory and two slow-fashion boutiques in the Hudson Valley: one in Catskill and the other in Hudson. The storefronts feature clothes and accessories designed and sewn by them, alongside pieces by other small, sustainable brands, for whom they handle production. Made X Hudson also offers alterations, customization services, and hosts events and workshops like their open studios on Mondays and Saturdays and Catskill First Fridays, fostering community and creativity in the region.

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Brosgé

Crinkled linen gauze tees, plaid short-sleeved vests, and hemp dresses, designed for comfort, style, and durability. Brosgé is a plus-sized fashion brand carrying sizes 12 to 26, designed by Schenectady artist Jennifer Wilkerson. Made primarily from organic linen and hemp fabrics, with some pieces cut from vintage and deadstock fabrics, all pieces are free of harmful substances and environmentally conscious. Brosgé focuses on timeless, layerable designs that are made to last, prioritizing sustainability and inclusive sizing.

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Namai

Namai jackets are one-of-a-kind wearable art, handcrafted from upcycled vintage Kantha quilts—a traditional Bengali craft of patching and embroidering cloth and saris. Founder Bianca Kuttickattu was drawn to these antique Indian textiles to reclaim a lost part of her identity. By the time Namai designs are sewn, the fabric is on its third life cycle, having passed through the hands of generations of women. Through partnerships with artisans in India, Namai honors ancestral craftsmanship while creating timeless, zero-waste clothing to be worn by people of all genders, all year round. Combining high-impact colors and patterns with low-impact production, Namai envisions an earth-friendly future of fashion that celebrates the history embedded in every piece.

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