Lessons from Luxury: Why Quality and Design Integrity are Key to Sustainability in Fashion
CFC Member Spotlight: Christine Arra of ARRA
Author and interviewer: Stella Hertantyo
Christine Arra founded her brand, ARRA, in 2020. She is an experienced knitwear designer, based in New York, with more than 20 years in the industry. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology, she worked for luxury fashion houses including Ralph Lauren and DKNY.
Based on these experiences and her love for the intricate design details in knit fabrics, she set out to design her own knitwear line that was driven by quality and timelessness, with a commitment to sustainability.
I interviewed Christine in the Conscious Fashion Collective Membership as part of our Member Spotlight interview series.
Below are some of the highlights from the conversation, including:
Why design integrity and quality are key to ARRA’s understanding of sustainability,
Lessons from luxury that can be applied to sustainable fashion,
And what we need to unlearn to cultivate a new fashion culture.
What was the moment you knew you needed to start your brand, ARRA?
It all started during the pandemic. The fashion industry had changed tremendously, and I had to rethink what I wanted to do next. After working in the industry, I realized that I wanted to start something of my own.
I got my certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology in sustainability. I started working with mentors from SCORE, which offers a local mentorship program. You can get matched with mentors who are experienced or retired people who’ve been in the industry. I was matched with someone who had experience with US-based manufacturing, based in Connecticut.
At the same time, I began sourcing materials. I wanted to focus on sourcing sustainable textiles in the US, but this proved to be challenging so I ended up sourcing from Italy and Portugal. I haven’t looked back since.
Why do design integrity and quality go hand in hand with sustainability for you?
Quality is essential for the longevity of the product. You can use the most sustainable fabrics, but if the garment doesn’t last, it’s not sustainable.
Integrity is what keeps my ethics in check. It can’t be separated from sustainability. Working with integrity means that I’m constantly reevaluating my raw materials, my manufacturers, certifications, and my packaging – in other words, every aspect of the brand.
What does responsible sourcing mean at ARRA?
It means that I make sure that all the fibers that I use are organic or have a sustainability-related certification. When I approach suppliers, I ask questions like: Are you using low-impact dyes? Where do the fibers come from? How is your land used? How are your animals treated? Are your employees treated fairly? And where is your production based?
Can you walk us through the design process of developing a fully fashioned sweater?
I've specialized in fully fashioned sweaters for over 20 years. The part I love most about it’s the detailed process it takes to create a knitwear piece. You're designing everything from scratch.
You're sourcing yarns, twisting yarns together to create texture or different color combinations, and working with interesting fiber combinations. You’re deciding on knitting patterns, engineering the stitches, and tossing up between machine knits and hand knits. Designing a sweater is a detailed process. It’s an art form.
In what ways do the lessons you learned from working in luxury fashion houses still exist in the way you approach your brand today?
The lessons I learned from working at Ralph Lauren and DKNY are about committing to creating the highest possible quality of garments and sticking to your brand’s heritage.
This is extremely engrained in those luxury fashion houses, even though each company has a unique heritage. Donna Karen was more modern, while Ralph Lauren was more Americana.
Staying true to your brand’s heritage is how you create brand loyalty.The consistency of the ethos of the company is important. I try to practice this with my own line as well.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned about integrating sustainability into a thriving business?
It's more challenging than I thought it was going to be. The biggest challenge is sourcing. In the beginning, I wanted to source and manufacture everything within the US. But the industry wasn’t there yet with the types of fabrications that I wanted to use, let alone sustainability.
That’s why I ventured out and started working with the mills in Portugal and Italy. In Europe, they have stricter guidelines for sustainability, which is amazing. But it can be a tricky balance between sustainability, quality, and keeping your garments at a price point that consumers can afford.
What’s your approach to balancing artistry and sustainability when it comes to creating your products?
Artistry and sustainability go together for my line. They both are equally important to me and my customers. I have a loyal base that comes back for the same reason – they love the subtle details of my designs and the focus on sustainability.
My fabrics are high quality, will last a long time, and they’re washable. I work with smaller mills in Italy and Portugal, so they also are passionate about sustainability. I try to use fabrics that can be worn in multiple seasons or for layering like in the cooler months.
I also design timeless garments that are comfortable and can be styled up and down. I get creative with color by using low-impact dyes which use less water and chemicals.
What is the biggest fashion value that people need to unlearn to understand the true value of ARRA’s garments?
When I was in school, fast fashion wasn't a thing yet. I still have garments that I bought in high school. It was different then. I’d save up money to buy an item I wanted. Instead of buying 10 items, you buy two items that you know you’ll keep for a long time.
I think we need to change our mindsets around purchasing decisions. Before we buy a garment, we need to ask ourselves how long we imagine owning the garment. Do you feel good in the garment? What does the future of the garment look like?
My designs are intentionally versatile so that they can fit different body types and are meant to journey with you through the different stages of your life.
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