Better together. Every stitch designed by women, for women.

Meet Erin and Vanessa, designers who create with you in mind, every day!

March is Women’s History Month, at Garnet Hill we are celebrating by going behind the scenes with two of our Designers who create product everyday with you in mind.  Meet our incredibly talented designers Vanessa Romeo and Erin Fortin.  Discover how these women are inspired by the women they work with and design for every day and the thoughtfulness, craftsmanship and details that go into the design of our product.

Meet Vanessa Romeo, home designer.

What inspires you most about being a designer, and how do you get your inspiration? 
Being a designer is fun, and no two days are ever the same. Even on the stressful days, I always feel proud of what we’ve made. Inspiration can come from so many different places and during a pandemic, when travel is limited, we’ve really had to get creative. I can be watching a movie and be inspired by a room or pick up a travel magazine and be inspired by the color. Books, magazine, social media and movies have definitely become key sources of inspiration.

What is special about designing for Garnet Hill? 
I love that, being a small company, we have the opportunity to dip our toes into different categories. It makes my job fun and keeps it interesting. I’m always learning, and no two seasons are ever the same for me. I also enjoy that our customer has always loved color and pattern — searching for new art and playing with bold color are my favorite design tasks.

How do women inform your design process? 
When I present the collections to our merchants, I’m getting feedback from a team comprised almost entirely of women. We all have varied experiences and opinions, and that gives me an understanding of the different types of women we are designing for.

What do you hope your designs do for our customer? How do you want to make her feel? 
I hope our product brings her joy. We’ve always stood for color and pattern, and those are the things that can make a home feel happy. She should feel comfortable in what we design for her and be confident it’ll last for years.

In March, we are celebrating women in conjunction with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day… What does this month mean to you?  
I like to think I celebrate the women in my life all year round, but it’s nice to have an occasion to pause and reflect on it.

Meet Erin Fortin, apparel designer

What inspires you most about being a designer, and how do you get your inspiration? 
It is enjoyable to be a part of making beautiful things, to work with quality fibers, and to provide people with solutions for their everyday. Gaining inspiration is one of the most satisfying parts of being a Designer. For me, the important thing about gaining inspiration is to remain an observer. Sometimes you find it in unexpected corners of your life. Once I found a palette I loved in the colors of the vintage rug I had inherited from my late grandfather. Sometimes you can make beautiful connections to nature within your design process.

What is special about designing for Garnet Hill? 
In a world seemingly filled with fast fashion, it feels good to be a part of a team that sets out to do better. We put so much time and energy into building beautiful and elevated products, sustainably and with a high level of quality. 

How do women inform your design process? 
Currently our design team is made up of women, designing predominantly for women. To understand what it will take to build a strong and relevant seasonal assortment for women, it is fundamental that we observe and listen to ourselves, each other, and the women around us to collect the tools and feedback we need. We also consider our own experiences being consumers and users of the products we create. 

What do you hope your designs do for our customer? How do you want to make her feel? 
I would hope our customer would feel delight and recognize the quality in the products we create and the importance of supporting sustainable practices. I would want her to find comfort in fit and feel great about how she looks in our apparel. Our products should fit seamlessly into her life and support who she is and how she sees herself. 

In March, we are celebrating women in conjunction with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day… What does this month mean to you?  
In reflecting on this question, I am first taken back to a deep-rooted memory. I had ventured out on a chilly day and was standing in a crowd of women of various ages and backgrounds on International Women’s Day. I didn’t know any of them personally, but we were all connected in purpose and the energy was great. Tucked into a baby carrier on my back, was my young daughter taking it all in, and we shared this important moment together. I was able to reflect on the contributions of women in history, culture, and society. I was able to pause and appreciate the women in my own life. I think that is what this month means to me. It is a reminder to take the time to pause and reflect on these things, to appreciate all women have built for us leading up to this month and all they will continue to do to shape the world in the future.