Julie Gilhart

Julie Gilhart epitomizes the future of fashion pioneers: someone that cares deeply about the environment while still having an outstanding eye on aesthetics and rising young talent. Gilhart made her mark on the industry as the lead Fashion Director at Barneys for nearly two decades, and is credited with discovering talents like Riccardo Tisci and Proenza Schouler.

She’s gone on to help launch the prestigious LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, is an advisor to The Copenhagen Fashion Summit and The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a founder of Fashion Girls for Humanity, and so much more, that we could continue continue gushing about her impactful endeavors if space allowed. Because every great mentor also has her heroes, we asked Gilhart to tell us what other game changers should be on our radar:

Ellen MacArthur
Record-breaking sailor and activist

“Ellen embodies the true spirit of a pioneer. At 28, she was the first woman to break the world record for the fastest solo sailing circumnavigation. She is fearless and used this spirit to set up the UK-based Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), inspiring people to rethink, rebuild, and redesign by way of circularity. In short: making sure nothing goes into a landfill.”

ellenmacarthurfoundation.org

Yvon Chouinard
Founder, Patagonia and One Percent for the Planet

“What I admire most about Yvon is how intentionally he lives his life. Patagonia started way back in 1960 because Yvon took it upon himself to create better climbing tools that didn’t damage the rocks he loved so much. He’s always been a fierce friend to our natural resources and lands, but his recent stand to sue the Trump administration for their move to significantly reduce the Bears Ears National Monument may prove to be his defining moment as a conservationist.”

onepercentfortheplanet.org

Stella McCartney
Fashion designer and environmentalist

“Stella feels like an old friend and as an inspiration to many, she has been integral in reshaping the luxury fashion industry through her tireless advocacy for our environment. She even built a global handbag business without using leather. Stella is a designer before all else: creativity and design are what truly interest her, with planet responsibility driving her.”

stellamccartney.com

Kelly Slater
World champion surfer

“For those of us who fancy ourselves surfers, it’s hard to imagine the vibrant culture of the sport existing where Kelly Slater does not. The 11-time world champion has changed the way the world views surfing, consistently pushing boundaries and forcing us all—surfers and non-surfers alike—to think about how we can simply do better. He created a revolutionary inland wave pool while expanding his sustainable, cruelty-free, and fair-trade-made menswear brand, Outerknown.”

kellyslater.com

Alice Waters
Chef, activist, and author

“Alice’s Bay Area restaurant Chez Panisse transformed the course of American dining. With it, Alice started an organic food movement focused on how we feed and educate our children. She worked with Michelle Obama on the farm-totable initiative through her Edible Schoolyard organization, and it’s driving practices that help kids and families across the US think about where and how food is produced and consumed.”

chezpanisse.com