Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1115953
NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 56 MAY 2019 PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELISE SINAGRA SUSTAINABLE STYLE Gale & Hayes brings green into the accessories market. BY LAUREN TORLONE MAHONEY e advent of warmer weather often inspire us to reflect on our own self-care and personal wellness with renewed energy, and it only makes sense that this healthy frame of mind should be applied to the products we purchase as well. Gale & Hayes is a handbag and accessories company with a unique focus on "sustainability and environmentally conscious production methods," says owner and designer Kimberly Nowers. Inspired by her training in fashion design (including a degree from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design), Nowers' love for original design and for high- quality, one-of-a-kind materials developed into making and gifting handbags and other leather goods to family and friends. Even after graduating and embarking on a full-time job in the fashion industry, she kept designing and crafting leather goods on the side, a passion she soon discovered she just couldn't shake. Today, Nowers has control over the materials and products she uses in her products. "To me, quality and celebrating individuality and the artisan are so important," says Nowers, citing the high standards she has set for Gale & Hayes, among them the commitment to using American-made vegetable-tanned leathers that are chemical- free. "Vegan leather, while having its benefits, is not necessarily great," she explains. "Being able to learn so much about the leather industry has really motivated me to make sure that we are as environmentally conscious as we can be." is principle dovetails nicely with two of her other guiding principles for all Gale & Hayes products, the first being the concept of "slow fashion" and the second a commitment to sourcing from local suppliers whenever possible. e idea of "slow fashion" is about making deliberate choices, from the artisan who sources specifically selected materials to the consumer who makes the choice to purchase intentional products that will stand the test of time, rather than something that fits the bill of a fleeting trend. Slow fashion includes products that are "made with care for the right reasons," explains Nowers. Finding materials with purpose is made that much easier when quality options can be found nearby from local proprietors, whether that means leather made in the United States or buckles made much closer to home in Newburyport. For Nowers, the exacting design and execution of each product means many hours spent at her studio in Georgetown, where every Gale & Hayes piece, from backpacks to jean jackets, clutches, handbags, wallets, and necklaces, is made. Apart from leather, many Gale & Hayes pieces also Kimberly Nowers is the owner and designer of Gale & Hayes. S H O P + R E N E W