Taking her time

From Uruguay to the Upper East Side, Gabriela Hearst is regarded as the Hermès of America. But beyond her soft-touch tailoring is the story of her sustainable efforts. She shares how the lessons she learnt growing up on a farm set the course for her career

- Akanksha Kamath

“It was only recently that I realised that the way I grew up was different. My husband, a true-blue New Yorker raised on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, brought it to my attention when he told me what I had was very special. I’m from Uruguay, in South America, a country that is home to a warmhearted people and a primarily agricultural economy. We drink a plant-based tea called maté that is sipped all day long from the same earthen pot and metal straw. We give a customary kiss on the cheek every time we meet someone old or new. You can imagine, then, how strange and provocative a suggestion like social distancing is to me.

“I grew up in a remote rural environment. My family has lived on the same ranch for six generations. As a child, I don’t remember being taught how to ride a horse—riding a bike, yes—but it came almost instinctively. When you put a small child on such a large animal, it gives you perspective. It teaches you respect for danger and forges a deep relationship between man and animal.