“It’s rare to see a fashion brand have the balls to take a political stance”: Erin Wasson speaks on her new collaboration with Hvisk
By Josefin Forsberg
December 9, 2021
Danish label Hvisk partners with model Erin Wasson and photographer/actress Gillian Zinser for International Animal Rights Day. Speaking with Vogue Scandinavia, the iconic duo divulges everything we need to know ahead of the launch
American model and animal rights activist Erin Wasson and photographer-dash-actress Gillian Zinser make an unstoppable duo. Wasson – who’s previously worked with photographers like Steven Meisel and Peter Lindbergh – has come to define an era of unequivocal cool, her singular aesthetic influencing wardrobes on an international scale. On her end, Zinser knows what it’s like to be in front and behind the camera. Most famous for her role as Ivy Sullivan in the 2009 reboot of 90210, she recently worked on the new Hollywood film The Guilty, starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
Together, they’ve partnered with Danish PETA-certified handbag brand Hvisk on a reworked handbag ahead of International Animal Rights Day. “We were already fans of the brand and loved how chic they made vegan leather look,” the pair explains. “We’re super into the Scandinavian focus on minimalism and functionality without sacrificing beauty. Nordic style really lends itself to sustainable design, too, because of its innate simplicity, practicality and emphasis on the minimal aspects of design.”
Hvisk’s bags are all made from 100 per cent recycled fibres, and 97 per cent of the collection is made from recycled materials. Sustainability is a constant journey for Hvisk, and the goal is to do even better every day.
Vegan leather has seen massive leaps over the last couple of years, the material improving to the point where it is now hard to discern between what’s real and what’s faux. “Most people don’t realise you don’t have to. sacrifice quality and elegance to make the switch from animal leather to vegan alternatives,” Wasson says. Zinser agrees. “There is absolutely no reason to be using animal leather anymore when such amazing substitutes exist.”
According to the women, working with Hvisk was a natural choice. “We wanted to partner with them for Animal Rights Day on a simple collaboration that really highlighted the beautiful ethos of their company, ”the duo explains. “It’s really refreshing working with a company that authentically represents ethical, conscious fashion and whose essence is rooted in building awareness and bringing accountability to an industry in such desperate need of change.”
Summarising the campaign, Wasson and Zinser say that the message is simple: “Be conscious. Be kind. Wear the change you want to see”. The campaign, shot by Zinser and starring Wasson, is simple, featuring the duo’s handwritten notes alongside the imagery. “We really wanted to honour. this message by using our own handwriting to give the campaign a really intimate, personal touch,” they say. “It’s rare to see a fashion brand have the balls to truly take a political stance in its advertisement - and we love thatHvisk was totally in support of us wanting to use the campaign to promote our shared principles and not just push pretty product photos.”
While creating the bag, Wasson and Zinser were determined to keep the design timeless, saying, “We’re all about the longevity of staple pieces. The older you get, the more you get to understand that less is truly more.”Cra!ed from a croco-embossed vegan brown leather, the pair settled on an accent of red for their handbag. “We used an existing style, elevated with the red stitching and lining.” The eye-catching shade meant as a reminder of the message behind the campaign.
Named ‘The Casset’, the bucket bag is a staple in the Hvisk range and a season less style set to last. “We wanted to create a design so easy and classic you could wear it every day,” they explain. “We wanted to work with a timeless palette and type of material that you’d want to keep in your wardrobe forever.”
Sustainability is arguably one of the most significant issues the fashion industry faces right now, with the production of clothing accounting for around 10 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. “The environmental and social costs of fast fashion are forcing us to rethink the way we both create and consume, stressing the need for more sustainable models and practices,” Wasson and Zinser say. “As big-time animal lovers, we believe cruelty-free, vegan alternatives are an essential step towards responsibility ecological integrity and protecting animal welfare.”
On a final note, they points out that “this collaboration is simply about celebrating the potential of using vegan-leather alternatives without having to compromise on quality or style.”
The handbag will be available on hvisk.com December 10, with all profits going to the 'North Shore Animal League America', an organisation and 'no kill movement' that rescues vulnerable and homeless animals giving them a new and safe home.
