Eileen Fisher
Even as a child, Eileen Fisher was connected to clothes. Her mother sewed dresses from her designs. Later, Eileen grew the idea of her clothing line for five years, from pictures of simple clothes and basic shapes that easily fit together.
Also as a child, Eileen was well aware of power. She found she was most engaged when free to find her own way to work on a project. She understood that when we have permission to do what we love, our motivation is there naturally.
For over 20 years now, Eileen Fisher Inc. has created clothes that invite women to dress simply and happily. Fine fabrics and sophisticated colors are key to the design concept. Each piece connects to another and another to build a wardrobe that moves easily from day to night.
While growing her company as an entrepreneur, Eileen found the biggest obstacle in her path was self-doubt and overcoming it. She surrounded herself with supportive people to stay connected to her vision.
Now, as her company grows, Eileen’s experience helps to continually refine its approach to leadership and cooperation. The company aims to articulate a collaborative style in its leadership practices, based on Eileen’s belief that how people work is as important as what the company makes.
Indeed, the company’s management style mirrors its clothing line, emphasizing connection among people (like the wardrobe system) and integrity of the individual (like each garment). The company stresses teamwork, with as much creativity as possible, encouraging fun, joy and a sense of humor.
Like her clothes, Eileen’s vision for the organization is fluid, not static.
“I see us revolving around each other like satellites – to leave room for the unexpected, for thinking, for new ideas,” explains Eileen.
Another key to the company’s success is balance. Rather than confining employees to a title or a single role, they are encouraged to share ideas. All strive to make this a reality, continually working on it—although it isn’t everyone’s experience every day!
“That’s my wish,” Eileen explains. “For people to enjoy work-life and contribute with depth because of that balance.”
As a socially conscious business, Eileen Fisher Inc. is dedicated to supporting women through social initiatives that address their well-being and to practicing business responsibly with absolute regard for human rights.
The Eileen Fisher Mission Statement identifies “Social Consciousness” as one of four values that help advance the company purpose: To inspire simplicity, creativity and delight through connection and great design. Using Social Consciousness as a framework, EF employees are encouraged to help:
- Support women through social initiatives that address their well being.
- Practice business responsibly and with absolute regard for human rights.
- Guide EF product and practice toward sustaining the environment.
In addition, as part of their annual review process, employees evaluate themselves and are evaluated by their managers on their application of the mission. The company’s Social Consciousness manual also helps employees respond to customers, vendors, and other business contacts who might inquire about their work in the area of Social Consciousness.
“I would like to see women more and more comfortable in their bodies and selves,” explains Eileen. “We strive to make clothes that give women permission to be themselves. I’m inspired to bring something deeper to women with the clothes.”
Eileen is passionate about modeling a way of working that embodies corporate social responsibility and hopes that the organizational design of her company will inspire other companies to embrace these values and initiatives in some form. But that doesn’t detract from her understanding of the importance of profitability! On the contrary, the company understands that profitability is as closely related to practice as is product.