On Italian Cashmere, Bad Bunny, and the Best Way to Spend $20: A Conversation with G. Label’s New Design Director

On earning her stripes in the fashion world:

During my senior year at FIT, I interned at Alex Wang and ended up staying for four years. I started in technical design, then went into development, and then finally, design. Then I went to The Row for four years, and I learned so much there about quality, and fabrics, and seams, and buttons…the smallest details that are hard to see with the naked eye, but to the trained eye, they’re huge.

Then I went to Margiela in Paris for two years to work on the artisanal couture collection. That was a completely different way of working, with John (Galliano). You don’t sketch; you do everything in 3D. If he asks you for a skirt or a pant, you literally make it or you find a vintage one and you transform it. He also changed my view completely when it came to research. I stopped looking at contemporary references and learned how to create a story.

On making the jump to goop (and LA):

I loved being in Paris, but I missed being in America. I lived in New York for 12 years, so I really consider America a home. Plus, LA is close to Mexico. And then I loved that the product was made in Italy. I was excited to work on a small team with high-quality materials and a lot of freedom to explore what this line is and can be.

On her creative process:

I start by gathering inspiration. It’s usually more of an energy than silhouettes. Sometimes it’s an emotion, interiors, art…and again, I create a story or a character. And then I go into color. I like to have a very consistent color story in each collection. For February, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to use black and white, of course, and a super-dark brown and vanilla and butter and fog. I was really excited to bring in a strong color—the red came from this photo of a wild orchid that I love.

On getting to know the goop woman:

I think I’m still trying to figure her out. It’s hard because the only goop women that I have seen in real life are the Brentwood women. I haven’t been to the New York store or the Hawaii store yet. I want to go to Marin when March drops because it really helps to physically see the women that are buying the clothes right now.

Part of what I’ve been trying to do is imagining where she goes. I think she works. I think she works out. I think she makes outfits that are kind of effortless and easy. I don’t think she stays at home that much; I think she’s traveling and she’s on the move. So I’ve been thinking a lot about how the clothes themselves move. Like with the trench—it looks really nice when you’re standing, but it looks even cooler when you’re walking. Same with the dresses. They have a power when you’re walking.

On designing with height in mind:

I try everything on with flats, just to make sure that even the things that are long and look good on GP also work on shorter people. Unless it’s a trouser—I believe that trousers should be cut long and hemmed to your height. I’m short, so I tailor all my pants. I tailor all my jeans. I know I have to do that. That’s why I like to use bend-back blind hems, which are the easiest thing to alter. A tailor will charge you 20 dollars to do it.

On what it’s like to collaborate with Gwyneth:

It’s amazing. She’s so involved—and really decisive. And sometimes, she doesn’t like things. One time, I showed her these Donna Karan-esque jersey dresses, like the ones that were big in the ’90s and early 2000s. And she was like, “No. I already did that.” [laughs] At the end of the day, she understands the client more than any of us.

On the future of G. Label:

I think, for the most part, we are keeping the DNA of the brand the same: the colors, the clean lines, the cottons. We just are making it a little bit more elevated, a little more refined.

Zodiac sign?

Libra.

Go-to goop Kitchen order?

The Greenest Green Salad, with two eggs and avocado.

Now streaming?

Bad Bunny’s new album. I listen to a lot of Gracie Abrams. Like, a lot. And when I’m sketching, I listen to “I’ll Try Anything Once” and “You Only Live Once” by the Strokes, on repeat.

First thing you ever designed?

I did the costumes for one of my mom’s plays. She’s a director and an actress in Mexico City. It was El Sueño de Una Noche de Verano—A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Style icon?

Sienna Miller.

Standout show from this past season?

Saint Laurent Men’s.

First thing you bought with your goop discount?

The peptide serum. I got hooked and now I buy, like, two a month.

Do you bathe in it? Why are you going through them so quickly?

I shower twice a day.

Favorite TV show?

Survivor.

Favorite hobby?

Sailing. I grew up on boats, but I only started learning how to sail by myself three years ago. I took these long courses that were almost like summer camp. Got my license. And then last year, I captained a boat in Greece for the first time. We went from Aegina to Hydra and back up again. It took seven nights.

Most-worn piece in your personal wardrobe?

Right now, it’s this black ribbed zip-up sweater that I bought here in Italy.

Best purchase of 2024?

I got a Row belt that I wear every day. The classic one.

Best career advice you’ve ever received?

Don’t be in a rush.

Favorite thing about LA?

Being by the beach.

Proudest moment?

Getting my driver’s license at the Santa Monica DMV last summer.

Favorite piece from this collection?

I think the ivory trench. And the brown dress. And the brown sweater.