Nicole Heim and Chelsea Healy founded Cienne as a means for more purposeful dressing. Made in New York City with textiles sourced from artisan collaborations around the world, Cienne showcases a vision for empowerment, responsible production and the preservation of craftsmanship.

“For Cienne, the word ‘sustainability’ is synonymous with creativity, culture, and connection,” Heim explained. “Our ethics and sustainability practices across the brand derive directly from those values.”

Along their journey to responsible sourcing and production, Heim and Healy, finalists for the the 2018 CFDA + Lexus Fashion* Initiative, maintained an openness to learn and evolve. The duo spent hands on time with their partnering artisan groups to understand the varying complexities in order to effectively problem-solve.

“It’s taken us years to build a global network of artisan partners,” Heim said. “It’s not the same as sourcing fabric from a mill – there’s more research, communication, and hustle that goes into finding the right partner.”

Through their hard work and meaningful collaborations, the designers have been able to create natural and artisanal fabrics with a modern aesthetic; a challenge that was key to Cienne’s vision for sustainability. Heim and Healy continue on their long-term sustainability journey by sourcing more environmentally conscious materials and looking at their waste on both a fabric and inventory level.

“We believe it’s up to each brand to define what sustainability means to them,” Heim said. “We’re in a time where creativity and collaboration are more important than ever. We believe fashion will naturally move into a more sustainable future if designers lead with original thinking and a collaborative approach.”