Isabel Perez is the creator of Hera Studio, an Ecuadorian brand on the road to sustainability. Having studied to be an architect, she was interested in fashion from an early age, constantly feeling a strong desire to create something that comes close to what she had in mind: to create a product with aesthetics, real concept and that is conscious. Throughout the process, she researched sustainable fashion, followed brands with her same values, connecting with her passion for colours and unisex tailored cuts to create her brand Hera Studio. Recently, Hera Studio has started its internationalization process, especially in the Asian market, as well as consolidating itself in the local market as a brand of aesthetic reference and sustainable purposes. Sustainability is the most important part of her brand, making modern, contemporary, colorful garments, made above all with materials linked to ethical work and made entirely in Ecuador. Hera Studio garments contain no polyester, acrylics or materials that can be harmful to the planet. Isabel didn't want to design what the giant brands already make, which don't bring anything positive to the market. The first jackets she made were made with hemp and organic cotton, and she started with a proposal of seven jackets that sold out immediately. Through the brand’s collections, the objective is to represent the duality of the masculine and the feminine and to transmit a lot of color. It combines hard and raw textures, always in line with this duality.
The firm values quality over quantity, creating pieces that will last a long time with timeless styles. Her goal is to create a community where artisans can create their own businesses in the future, with the necessary tools to do so. In recent months, Isabel has expanded her business to the Asian continent and it was all thanks to a trip to Japan where she realized that the aesthetics of her brand are very much in line with the fashion of that country. In addition, there is a huge interest among that community in sustainable fashion and, above all, in garments dyed with natural pigments. HERA's Takes its Sustainable Fashion Overseas The brand employs the use of natural fibers such as hemp, wool, linen, organic cotton, and jute, which when decomposed will be biodegradable. In addition, the firm values quality over quantity, creating pieces that will last a long time with timeless styles. Its end goal is to create a community where artisans can create their own business in the future. In recent months, Pérez expanded her made-in-Ecuador clothing business to the Asian continent, thanks to a trip to Japan. She realized that her brand's aesthetic is very much in line with Japanese fashion. In addition, there is a huge interest among that community in sustainable fashion and garments dyed with natural pigments. Isabel also wants to start entering the US market, however she doesn’t want the process to be out of control. She’d also like for the brand to be something more local, and to be in contact with the person who makes the garment, with the person who makes the textile, to generate a community, we want to grow and expand, to be able to present the clothes in other countries.
Vintage Textiles Made Ethically Hera Studio vintage-style garments that literally tell stories from the past, sourcing upcycled textiles that are from the 50's, 60's and 70's. By transforming existing garments to give them a new life, Fair Trade certified Hera Studio also maintains ethical practices at its core, and ensures fair wages are paid to its employees that transform its designs into a reality. It uses natural pigments for its dyes, including beetroot, cochineal, red cabbage, turmeric, logwood, annatto seeds and avocado seeds.