Sustainable fashion designer Mara Hoffman has announced the closure of her New York-based brand. In an Instagram post, Hoffman shared that after 24 years, “it is time to take a pause for inbreath.” The brand’s Spring 2024 collection will be its last.
Hoffman cited the challenges of running a sustainable fashion label, stating she had been “fighting for what feels like a long time to make this vision and model work in an industry that I believe deep down in its heart wants to heal and become better. But at the end of the day, its structure is archaic and was never built to prioritize Earth and its inhabitants.”
Since 2015, the brand has focused on sustainability, incorporating innovative design and manufacturing practices, responsible material selection, and supporting social justice movements.
Hoffman, a Parsons School of Design graduate, founded her label in 2000, aiming to inspire with vibrant colors, prints, and bold shapes. A decade and a half later, the brand shifted towards a more sustainable fashion model. “We are deeply aware of the paradoxes that exist as an apparel company speaking about sustainability, which is why our definition of the term is about a framework within which our goals and objectives can evolve,” the brand stated.
In her post, Hoffman expressed that her work is far from over and looks forward to taking a moment to rest before embracing new opportunities.
