“The Issue Is Bigger Than Our Industry”: Gabriela Hearst Shares Her Behind-The-Scenes Diary From Cop27

Gabriela Hearst has been completely and utterly obsessed with fusion energy ever since she first read an article about it back in October 2021. So much so that she dedicated Chloé’s entire spring 2023 collection to the potential green energy source, which replicates the process that takes place at the center of stars, including the sun. “I really think in fusion I’ve found my holy grail,” the designer tells Vogue. “We cannot continue the dependency on fossil fuels—here is a potential solution.”

That’s why Hearst is at Cop27, the annual UN Climate Change conference taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, this year to take part in a discussion on fusion power. While it’s not every day that you find a creative director waxing lyrical on green energy policy, the designer considers it a key role she can play within the environmental movement, beyond the work she is doing to make fashion more sustainable.

“I think we live in this siloed world: in fashion, we focus on our industry, in [the] fusion energy [world], they focus on fusion,” Hearst explains. “Cross-pollination is really important. The issue is bigger than our industry—I want to put whatever I have to offer into something I believe in. ”

As well as highlighting the benefits of fusion power, Hearst has been busy speaking to young activists attending the conference while out in Egypt. “There are people from all around the world here, so it is a place where you can learn and exchange ideas,” the designer says.

Below, see Hearst’s behind-the-scenes diary from Cop27.