Eileen Fisher: Mindful Leadership in Fashion Design

To celebrate the influence of mindful women in leadership roles, we revisit our 2013 cover feature on renowned clothing designer Eileen Fisher. I have long recognized that Eileen Fisher infuses her business endeavors with deeply held principles, but it was in 2012, amid the devastation of Hurricane

To celebrate the influence of mindful women in leadership roles, we revisit our 2013 cover feature on renowned clothing designer Eileen Fisher.

I have long recognized that Eileen Fisher infuses her business endeavors with deeply held principles, but it was in 2012, amid the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, that she truly captured widespread notice. Her company's headquarters in Irvington, New York, suffered severe flooding, which severely disrupted their critical year-end shipments.

Even after removing twelve dumpster-fulls of ruined inventory from the offices and the adjacent Lab Store—at a staggering cost of $1.5 million—Eileen Fisher remarked at the time, “It was just stuff.”

One can only picture the overwhelming feelings that might overwhelm a CEO witnessing their sewage-drenched merchandise drifting past. Yet Eileen and her team refused to dwell on the setback. Instead, they sprang into action, setting up carpools for commuting, establishing temporary meeting areas, and providing interest-free loans to employees facing immediate financial hardships during the emergency. This display of resilience and compassion revealed a company genuinely centered on its people.

Mindful Leadership Matters

A full year following the hurricane, I visited the partially rebuilt Eileen Fisher headquarters, where I gained insights into the meticulous attention the company devotes to its apparel production. This includes supporting a Chinese silk dyeing operation to reduce chemical usage and water consumption, as well as introducing a recycling initiative for clothing. Customers can return items they no longer need, and the funds generated support programs aimed at enhancing opportunities for women and girls worldwide. The facility even features a dedicated yoga and meditation room. In a separate space, young women engage in an empowering activity: clipping images from magazines and critically examining the narratives imposed on them by media portrayals—a key component of the Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute.

In an fashion sector dominated by ephemeral trends, exorbitantly priced items produced in overseas factories with poor labor conditions, Eileen Fisher stands apart by thoughtfully considering the complete lifecycle of each garment, from its creation to disposal. Moreover, the brand prioritizes the long-term well-being of both those who craft the clothing and those who wear it, fostering sustainable practices and ethical standards throughout.