Q&a / Gigi Hadid on modelling, motherhood and mentor Tommy Hilfiger – the celebrity supermodel prizes cashmere for her Guest in Residence knitwear brand, but still seeks sustainable fashion
Supermodel Gigi Hadid, who last year founded knitwear label Guest in Residence, talks to Style about her love for cashmere and being a new mum
Why did you choose to focus on knitwear and cashmere in particular?
Cashmere is a material that has always interested me and we did a lot of research on why some cashmere can cost one price and others cost less, but still say they’re 100 per cent cashmere. We found that a lot of it comes down to the integrity of the beginning of the fibre and making of the yarn. We got it down to a price that is accessible for a very high-quality piece that can last a long time.
Where does the brand name come from?
I started thinking about a lot of different words and phrases when coming up with a name. We’re all “guests in residence” of the clothes we have – we only wear them for a certain amount of time and hopefully they’re passed down to loved ones. It’s about being conscious of what we’re consuming and that’s why cashmere is a luxury and costs a bit more than some fast-fashion pieces, it’s about thinking of the future of what you currently have. I also think Guest in Residence to me is someone that is at home with themselves and walks into a room with their own sense of warmth and comfort in themselves, enough to feel wonder about the people around them and the place they’re in. It’s a feeling – it’s how I feel in cashmere.
Tell us about making seasonless pieces that last.
The idea came from wanting to create pieces that could be worn and styled in different ways for many years to come, not just for a season.
Is there a piece of knitwear that holds sentimental value for you and why?
The second-hand cashmere jumpers that were handed down to me by my parents. I still have these jumpers in my wardrobe as keepsakes while on the road, and I want the same for everyone that purchases pieces from Guest in Residence.
Who in the fashion industry did you ask for advice when establishing the label?
I was very lucky in my past opportunities to design and collaborate with amazing brands. I watched my bosses – whether that was the team at Reebok or Tommy Hilfiger – operate their businesses, and I took inasmuch as I could.
How has your modelling career helped you in establishing the business?
My modelling career led me to collaborate with amazing designers and brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Vogue Eyewear, Stuart Weitzman, Reebok and Maybelline. All of these experiences have taught me about myself as a creative and helped me establish my own business.
How has becoming a mum changed what you buy and how you dress?
I have always been very conscious of what I buy and about wearing pieces that are sustainable and comfortable. Being a mum really made me think about what the trends and styles might be as my daughter grows up, and what I hope to pass down to her. It’s one of the big reasons why I decided to start my own brand.
- The American A-lister sat down with Style to talk about her most memorable modelling gigs and the fashion mentors who inspired her in crafting her Guest in Residence label
- Working with Tommy Hilfiger, Vogue Eyewear, Stuart Weitzman, Reebok and Maybelline all left a mark – but it’s raising her daughter with Zayn Malik that really changed Hadid’s style philosophy