The UNIVERSE and BEYOND
don’t know that we’re donating 100% of what we grow” — around 160,000 pounds of food in the past 15 years — “to food banks and to communities in need. Education is a huge piece of it, for sure.” “I don’t know any other brand that’s working with Balenciaga and talking about farm animals and regenerative agriculture,” says Matty Friedman, Sky High Farm Universe’s senior brand and product manager. He says the label is building a critical bridge between the worlds of high fashion and farming. “It’s getting
“If they do know the farm exists, they often don’t know that we’re donating 100%
Grant Lurie, Sky High Farm Universe’s strategy lead, says the brand will aim to increase customer engagement and awareness around the farm’s mission. “Most of the customers we talk to recognize the logo, and they’re like, ‘Oh, I love your brand. It’s really cool.’ But they might not know the farm exists,” he says. “And if they do know the farm exists, they often
BELOW: TOPS, BOTTOMS, SWEATERS, HATS, OUTERWEAR, AND EVEN UNDIES ARE SOLD WITH 50% OF PROFITS SUPPORTING SKY HIGH FARM. OPPOSITE: DAPHNE SEYBOLD, SKY HIGH FARM UNIVERSE’S CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
of what we grow — around 160,000 pounds of food in the past 15 years
— to food banks and to communities in need.”
the dialogue of farming and ag into the minds of people who might not necessarily be thinking about it.” While Colen is co-CEO of Sky High Farm Universe, Seybold is quick to clarify that the farm and the brand are completely separate. The farm operates as a 501(c)(3), while the brand is a business that donates 50% of its profits to Sky High Farm. And Colen “still very much maintains his identity as an artist. He’s not a designer, that’s not how he identifies,” she adds. Yet, says Lurie, “it’s really important that the two organizations go together and are almost thought of in the same breath — the nonprofit and the brand. The brand was fully created in order to support the work of the nonprofit. So that’s everything we’re trying to do.”
Recently, Sky High Farm Universe has branched out beyond clothing, launching a sparkling honey- flavored soda and collaborating with skincare giant Tata Harper to create a hand cream. Seybold says these types of collaborations are just the beginning. “I think it’s actually important that we’re able to not only demonstrate that these things are possible, but then replicate them over and over and over again and show that you can have a viable business based on that approach,” says Seybold. “And I do very much think it’s possible.”
As Sky High Farm Universe builds out its roster of collaborations, it keeps the farm’s mission at its center. “You’re going to see a lot of big projects from us over the next couple of years,” says Friedman. “And I think that you’re going to be hearing a lot more people talking about regenerative agriculture in places that you didn’t really expect it before.”
Visit SKYHIGHFARMUNIVERSE.COM and SKYHIGHFARM.ORG to learn more.
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ISSUE 02
A FARM IN FASHION
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