Eileen Fisher is a clear example of a sustainable company that is really engaged in following a circular economy model. From the selection of materials, such as organic cotton and linen, the use of green techniques to dye the clothes, the design of the garment, to the worskspace, the recycling process, this company has implemented sustainable measures at every stage of the chain. Most companies should follow this model as Eileen Fisher is the proof that a company can be both successful and sustainable. Something that I found interesting is how the owner, Eileen Fisher, transferred some shares to the employees so they could also own part of the company. This way the employees become more valuable for the company as they understand how the company works and how it can improve. It is in their best interest therefore to look for the well being of the company as they are owners too, rather than simple employees. In the text, for instance, they mention how certain employee suggested to reduce the use of plastic and the company actually took measures regarding this issue, so this company seems pretty open to suggestions as they are really interested in changing the way fashion is done and every small change could reduce a lot the impact it has on the environment.
I checked Eileen Fisher’s official website and noticed their desings are quite simple, minimalistic and loose. They do not try to impose the perfect fit like most brands do, so the clothes seem really comfortable. However, they do not have a lot of variations of colors and patterns but I guess this might be due to the dying techniques they use as they use less water and less chemicals. I think some people would not buy their clothes as they prefer more colorful clothes with crazy patterns, given that fashion is not only about comfort and functionality, but also a way to represent ourselves, to create an identity, as we saw in the last reading. Therefore, I think this is something the company could work on, like they did before by designing leggings, jeans, tank tops, etc in order to attract the young. Regarding the price, it seem high but it might actually be a fair price for the quality and sustainability involved in the production of these clothes, but the question is if more and more people are willing to pay these prices, if they are willing to switch from fast fashion to sustainable fashion.