How did Hillary Taymour come to name her brand Collina Strada? Collina is Italian for “hill,” and it’s what her Italian friends call her, and Strada translates to “road.” She says she likes the way the two words sound together, but there’s more meaning to derive from the moniker. It could mean walking up the side of a hill, or perhaps facing an uphill battle, which in Taymour’s case is the fight against climate change. Sustainability is the focal-point of her brand and while she is certainly doing her part, she is honest and straightforward about how far we have to go.
Taymour’s calls to action are simple: shop locally, grow your own food, don’t use plastic, and DIY your clothes, even if they’re based on her designs. She’s been transparent about the fact that while the majority of her collections are upcycled; she isn’t 100% sustainable yet (though she’s pretty damn close). Most importantly, she doesn’t speak about the climate crisis through any sort of doom and gloom narrative. Her approach, in terms of both design and activism, is one of hope and optimism.
So it was fitting that in a moment when climate change is literally lighting fires in our faces and there’s a pandemic still threatening our lives, she forged ahead with humor and lightness. Instead of a traditional runway show, Taymour and her collaborator Charlie Engman created a virtual candyland, mashing up clothes with art and 3D animation. The video, dubbed “Change is Cute,” stars a mix of old and new Collina Strada friends, including professional track athlete Ce’Aira Brown, poet Precious Okoyomon, and disability activist Emily Barker. There are flower models too, illustrated by the artist Sean-Kierre Lyons. Set to a bouncy soundtrack by Angel Emoji, the 11-minute film features the diverse cast of humans running and jumping at several different farms upstate, as well as at the seaside. Cows and frogs swirl in and out of the frames, and the flower characters dance. It’s trippy and weird and wildly.
As are the actual clothes that Taymour designed for spring 2021, which nicely balance novelty and practicality. A floral print slip dress with crystal straps was a standout piece, as were sweats and hoodies featuring playful hand-drawn prints. Taymour collaborated with Cosabella here on comfortable, quirky printed underwear that brings new meaning to the WFH ’fit (if you’re someone who has been dressing from the waist-up only, that is).
As conceptual and offbeat as Taymour’s garments may appear on the runway or on screen, she’s savvy when it comes to understanding what people actually buy and wear for everyday life. She’s a smart businesswoman, but her artistic integrity, sustainability, and dedication to providing platforms for her community and those who are often overlooked in fashion remain front and center.
Towards the end of the film, a line in the soundtrack resonates: “Frogs are cute but change is cuter, I wish it would get here sooner.” We all wish and hope for change. In this industry and in this world, Taymour is wholeheartedly dedicated to making it happen, no matter how steep the hill.
