What I Wear When I'm Not Wearing Herderin
What I Wear When I'm Not Wearing Herderin
Creating a brand means living inside a specific design philosophy every day. But a wardrobe—a real wardrobe, the kind you actually live in—is never just one thing. It's an ecosystem of values made visible, a collection of pieces that speak the same language even when they come from different places.
These are the brands I return to. The ones I wear when I'm not wearing Herderin, and the ones that, in many ways, taught me what Herderin could become. They share something essential: a commitment to place, to craft, to natural materials, to design that doesn't chase trends because it's rooted in something deeper.
If you wear Herderin, you'll recognize them immediately.
Baserange
Baserange understands the body. Their pieces—simple, essential, made from natural fibers—work because they start from the premise that clothing should feel good against skin. The French Terry, the seamless knits, the commitment to GOTS-certified materials: this is a brand that knows comfort and ethics aren't separate categories.
I wear Baserange when I want something that disappears into my day. Their basics layer under Herderin perfectly, and their approach to color—muted, earthy, timeless—reflects the same philosophy of designing from nature rather than against it.
Lauren Manoogian
Lauren Manoogian's work is about texture and weight and the intelligence of handcraft. Her knits—chunky, architectural, often made in collaboration with Peruvian artisans—have a presence that doesn't need to announce itself. This is slow fashion in its purest form: pieces that take time to make, that improve with wear, that you don't replace.
I reach for Manoogian when I want substance. Her cardigans pair beautifully with Herderin's merino dresses—both understand that natural fibers have their own logic, their own way of draping and breathing and aging. And her shoes (more on that below) are some of the few that work for tall frames without compromise.
Black Crane
Black Crane designs for movement. Every piece—the wide-leg trousers, the oversized tunics, the simple dresses—assumes you're actually living in your clothing, not posing in it. Made from natural fibers, dyed with low-impact processes, designed in Los Angeles: this is a brand that understands the West Coast ethos of elevated casual.
I wear Black Crane when I need volume that doesn't feel precious. Their pieces have a quietness to them, a refusal to be fussy, that mirrors what I'm trying to do with Herderin. Both brands ask: what if clothing just worked, without drama?
Evan Kinori
Evan Kinori makes menswear, but it's never been just for men. His field shirts, work trousers, and field jackets are designed for bodies that move, that work, that exist in the world. Made in San Francisco from Japanese and European textiles, his pieces have a utilitarian beauty—functional, refined, built to last.
I wear Kinori, and I think Herderin pairs particularly well with his work. As in, I think two people on a date dressed in Herderin and Kinori would like twin flames. Both of us design from Northern California, both prioritize natural fibers and local manufacturing, both reject the idea that clothing needs to declare itself. If you wear Herderin, you probably already own an Evan Kinori piece. If you don't, you should.
Shaina Mote
Shaina Mote's work is sculptural without being costume. Her dresses and separates—often made from linen, cotton, and silk—have a quiet drama to them, a way of moving with the body that feels both considered and effortless. Designed in Los Angeles, made with sustainable practices, her pieces feel like they come from a clear point of view.
I wear Mote when I want something that holds space without demanding attention. Her understanding of proportion, especially for taller frames, is exceptional. Like Herderin, she designs for real bodies moving through real days.
Cosmic Wonder
Cosmic Wonder is Japanese design at its most philosophical. Their pieces—often made from organic cotton and linen, dyed with natural pigments—feel less like clothing and more like an inquiry into materiality itself. This is a brand that asks questions: What is essential? What does cloth want to be?
I don't wear Cosmic Wonder often—it's precious, ceremonial, not designed for my daily life. But I return to it as a reminder of what's possible when design is treated as practice, as meditation. It's aspirational in the best sense: it shows me what clothing can mean when it's made with complete attention.
Norlha
Norlha makes textiles from yak khullu (the soft undercoat of the Tibetan yak) in collaboration with nomadic communities on the Tibetan plateau. Their scarves, throws, and simple garments are some of the most beautiful things I own—not because they're decorative, but because you can feel the landscape and the hands that made them in every fiber.
This is what place-based design looks like when it's done with integrity. Norlha doesn't approximate Tibetan craft—it is Tibetan craft, made by people who live in that place, from materials that come from that ecosystem. It's what I aspire to with Herderin: design so rooted in place that it carries that place with it, wherever it goes.
On Shoes: Maryam Nassir Zadeh, LoQ, Lauren Manoogian
People often ask what shoes work with Herderin. The answer is: anything that understands proportion and doesn't fight the body.
Maryam Nassir Zadeh makes shoes that are sculptural but wearable, interesting but not trendy. Her platforms and mules have the height that tall women can actually wear without looking like we're wearing costumes. They're also just beautiful—bold enough to anchor an outfit, simple enough to not compete with it.
LoQ makes footwear that feels handmade because it is. Their boots, sandals, and flats are produced in small batches in Spain, using vegetable-tanned leather and traditional construction. They have the quiet refinement that pairs perfectly with Herderin: nothing flashy, just good design executed well.
Lauren Manoogian's shoes—particularly her ankle boots and clogs—understand the same principles as her knitwear. They're substantial, architectural, made from quality materials, designed to last. I wear them constantly, especially with Herderin's dresses and skirts. They ground an outfit without weighing it down.
Building a Thoughtful Wardrobe
None of these brands are Herderin. But all of them share the values that make Herderin what it is: commitment to natural materials, respect for craft, design rooted in place rather than trend, refusal to compromise quality for speed.
If you're building a wardrobe—not a closet full of things, but an actual wardrobe, the kind you live in—these are the brands worth knowing. They're the ones I return to, the ones that taught me what's possible when design starts from the right questions.
And if you wear Herderin, you're already asking those questions too.
About the Designer
Alix Vasquez is the founder of Herderin, a regenerative fashion brand designed exclusively for tall women (5'9"+). A Bay Area native and sociologist (PhD, Brandeis University), Alix's work examines identity, embodiment, and material culture—research that directly informs Herderin's place-based design philosophy. She has spent seven years developing a vocabulary for dressing in Northern California's Mediterranean climate, creating clothing that honors both the landscape she comes from and the tall bodies often overlooked by the fashion industry.
About Herderin
Herderin creates regenerative, trendless fashion for tall women, using Climate Beneficial certified materials, plant-based dyeing, and San Francisco manufacturing. Each piece is designed to accommodate the tall female form while honoring the temperate climate and active lifestyle of Mediterranean regions worldwide. The Fall/Winter 2026 collection features 26 styles across five categories, all crafted from merino wool and other natural fibers that regulate temperature, move with the body, and last for years.
Pre-Order the FW26 Collection
The Herderin Fall/Winter 26 pre-order is open now through March 15, 2026. Be among the first to wear clothing designed with a true sense of place. Shop the Collection →