Her Fruit, a fairly new launched label made in Los Angeles, is reinvigorating your statement pieces with its latest drop of sustainable and comfortably chic garments. Founded by designer Malia Sine in early 2020, the up-and-coming fashion brand has become loved by many including us. Inspired by her love of vintage clothing and Mother Earth, Sine is carving out her own space in fashion with elevated pieces that accentuate your body.
Taking a new approach to her signature sets, cut-out tees and sheer sleeves, garments in Her Fruit’s latest collection are upcycled from vintage materials and turned into one-of-a-kind pieces that stand out. Through delivering high-quality and contemporary designs while continuously making an effort to tackle environmental issues, the brand has attracted the likes of several millennials and Gen-Z including familiar names like Alyssa Lynch, Gabriela Vallejo, and Rachael Kirkconnell amongst several others. “I’m doing what I love by repurposing materials that already exist into something new for someone to love and cherish, while simultaneously honoring Mother Earth,” Malia shares.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Her Fruit founder Malia Sine about her latest collection, sustainability, and how fashion empowers the wearer amongst other topics! Read below.
How has your heritage and upbringing influenced the way you perceive fashion or approach designing?
I truly believe that I came out of the womb wanting to be in fashion. I grew up wearing Disney princess dresses and clickety-clack heels to preschool. Flash forward to high school and I was awarded “Best Dressed.” I was always the most overdressed person in my entire school and it didn’t bother me one bit. Flash forward even further to my study abroad trip in Florence, Italy; I took fashion sustainability classes, visited the factory where Prada designs and creates their leather bags, attended Milan Fashion Week, and so much more. Those four months forever shaped my view on the fashion industry and propelled me into creating my own brand.
Walk me through the inspiration behind your items in your latest collection such as the Zero Waste Plastic Scrap Set and Starlet Steez Set.
My latest collection, “The Divine Feminine,” is actually my very first collection and I’m quite proud of it. When conceptualizing this collection, I was inspired by the meaning of the divine feminine, the part of one’s consciousness associated with intuition, empathy, and sensuality in order to reach one’s highest creative potential. I wanted to empower women to embody their powerful femininity in the pieces I created. I was challenged to create sustainable, rare artwork by sourcing materials such as vintage hosiery and knitwear and upcycling them with unusual techniques.
The Zero Waste Plastic Scrap Set is one of my favorite pieces I’ve made, I think it’s my most unique piece. My mother asked me one day if I had any use for bedding cases she had found in the back of her closet. A week before, I had made a pile of all my tiny little sewing scraps, keeping them but unsure what I could use them for. I came up with the idea to encase the fabric scraps in these clear bedding bags and created an outfit out of what others might call “trash.” Rather than throwing away “useless scraps,” I found a way to transform them into something new.
The Starlet Steez Set is also an interesting piece, I especially love the intricacy of the top. This set was made from vintage white T-shirts. I enjoyed experimenting with the manipulation of the fabric by folding and sewing with a reverse seam to create unique lines and shapes.
Upcycling plays a massive role in your brand as well as many others as the world transitions into a more eco-conscious lifestyle—how important for you is it for you to remain sustainable?
It is very important for me to remain as sustainable as I possibly can, and it makes me really happy to see this recent shift in society towards a more eco-conscious lifestyle. When I learned that the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the entire world, my heart broke. It was difficult for me to wrap my mind around the fact that the thing that I was most passionate about, could simultaneously be so harmful to our Earth. But Her Fruit is my contribution towards a better world. I’m doing what I love by repurposing materials that already exist into something new for someone to love and cherish, while simultaneously honoring Mother Earth.
Your label is all about empowering those who wear it. How do you think fashion builds confidence?
Fashion is all about expressing yourself. Whatever makes you feel good, wear it. If I have the honor of making someone feel empowered through my pieces, that means everything to me. And it’s even more so special when it’s valuing a fashion that accentuates the handmade.
Ava Max and Thuy are amongst a few names to where your brand—is there anyone you’re excited about seeing in Her Fruit?
It’s been so special seeing big names wearing Her Fruit. I’d also like to thank Rachael Kirkconnell from The Bachelor and influencers such as Bridget Bahl and Alyssa Lynch for supporting my dream. To think that one year ago, I launched my little brand and seeing where it is now, I’m so very excited to see what 2022 has in store.
What advice would you give to young women looking to break into the fashion industry?
Go all in. Don’t hold back. Remind yourself that if you really truly want something, you’ll do everything you can to make it happen. Don’t give up even when you think you might not be going anywhere. If you put in the work, you’ll see the results. And if you show how passionate you are about something, others will too and that goes miles.
How do you see your brand evolving in the future and what do you hope to achieve in the next handful of years?
I’m currently in the process of rebranding so I’m really excited for that and can’t wait to start this new year off with an elevated, more timeless look for the brand. In the next handful of years, I am wanting to release collections more frequently as well as drop smaller capsule collections in between. I would also love to have my pieces on more big names who will really support my mission and use their platform as a voice to promote sustainable practices to their followers/fanbase as conscious consumers.
One of my other goals is to eventually donate a portion of my earnings to an organization that improves sustainability within the fashion industry. Talking about these big dreams of mine makes me so excited for the future of Her Fruit. Thank you to everyone who’s come along for the ride.
Elsewhere in fashion, 444 The People is the Virginia streetwear label you need to know.
Published by Malcolm Trapp
