What to wear to work (or home): Amanda Hearst, co-founder of Maison de Mode

In our bi-weekly series, we ask female executives, founders, CEOs - basically boss ladies - about their "power suits," the clothes they wear every day to be ready for any job.

For Amanda Hearst, co-founder of Maison de Mode (open in new tab), an online ethical luxury fashion retailer, sustainability is more than just a buzzword. She has been a proponent of sustainable fashion since about 10 years ago, when she was editor of Marie Claire. At the time, she oversaw the magazine's monthly "Feel Good Fashion" column, which showcased responsible fashion brands.

"Back in 2010, sustainability wasn't exactly a hot topic, but I did it [because] I was interested in the story behind the brands, like who made them and where they came from," Hirst says. 'Then I met Hassan Pierre and we came up with the idea of opening a pop-up concept store.' [It was 2012. After more than a dozen pop-ups featuring brands like Stella McCartney and Remrem, the two realized they were on to something.Maison de Mode was born in 2015. The curatorial platform now features 74 sustainable brands from around the world, and counting, often featuring pieces made by small businesses and BIPOC artisans.

"For us, sustainability means fashion that takes into account the environment and the people who make it. Each product is handmade by indigenous communities, and therefore, they are committed to supporting the economic growth of those communities."

"Recycled, organic, made in USA, artisanal, cruelty-free, fair trade, charitable, and the butterfly mark of positive luxury. communities, or that they are made from recycled or reclaimed materials, must touch at least one of these criteria. The brands we are partnering with are moving toward covering all of these criteria simultaneously."

In addition to working with brands that make responsible clothing, Maison de Mode stays true to its roots by embracing the idea of slow fashion. As many of the products at Maison de Mode are made-to-order or artisanal, we start small and develop our brands at a slower pace. As the brand grows, so do we. For example, it is not sustainable for an indigenous community in Costa Rica to fulfill a large order that will be delivered in a few days." [Outside of her role as curator of Maison de Mode, Hirst is deeply involved in the nonprofit world. She works for The Humane Society (opens in new tab), started a committee called Friends of Finn (named after her dog), and runs Well Beings (opens in new tab) with co-founder Breanna Schultz. She says, "Every year we sign up a new campaign. This year it's a campaign to protect the Bolivian Amazon (opens in new tab)." Recently, Well Beings partnered with sustainable shoe brand Alice + Whittles (opens in new tab) to produce a limited edition set of shoelaces.

Hirst further elaborates on how sustainability has impacted not only her work, but also her personal life, especially her style.

"I was in Oslo, Norway for two weeks and I'm so jet-lagged that I can't really go about my normal life. My husband is Norwegian, so it's nice to see my family here. I'm [usually] based in Los Angeles, but if I have a routine, it's coffee, staying off my cell phone as much as possible (at least until my first cup of coffee), and then I'm not really into beauty, so I keep it pretty basic. I'm not a morning person, so I don't work out then, I work out in the afternoon or after work. "

"Our company is mission-based and focused on sustainability, so I've been trying to make my closet as sustainable as possible. At the moment, most of what I have has some kind of story behind it.

I can't wear pajamas to work. A button-down and leggings is my typical work attire. Now that I'm in Oslo, [the companies] are a little more open, so I dress up, and it's cold, so I wear boots, denim, button-downs, and layers."

"I really like an athleisure brand called Girlfriends (opens in new tab). I always wear leggings and love Veja sneakers (opens in new tab) and button downs from Entireworld (opens in new tab). That's my everyday look. I do Instagram Lives for Maison de Mode and Well Beings (opens in new tab), an animal welfare and conservation non-profit, so I have to put together an outfit from the chest up. I like the little pearl earrings from a brand called Shashi, made in the U.S. and sold at Maison de Mode, and I stack my necklace on top of them. when I do IG Lives, I wear jewelry and make-up, and when I do Instagram Lives, I wear my jewelry with my make-up, and I wear it with my hair, and I wear it with my hair.

Another thing I started doing this year is to avoid wearing leather and to wear vegan clothes. I love brands like Stella McCartney (opens in new tab) and Hozen (opens in new tab) that make chic, standard bags."

"Sustainable, comfortable, and minimal."

"I once heard Jane Goddard say: everything is connected and everyone can make a difference."

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