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Timeline

1987

Childhood

1990s

birth name: Christina Alexandria Najaf-Pir

short name: Alix Vasquez

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Born in San Francisco, California to Iranian and Puerto Rican parents. Growing up, she wore her mother's clothes for emotional security, later shaping much of her understanding of how design can be an empathic influence to healing comfort.

alexandria vasquez childhood 1990s herderin

2013

Home/body

Purchases vintage Viking Husqvarna sewing machine while in her first year doctoral studies in sociology. 

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prior education to date:

Oxbow School of Art

The New School (undergraduate)

Virginia Commonwealth Uni. (masters)

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To date, published a number of articles on the emotional connection to labor, identity, body and time.

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Begins taking the theoretical and physical concept of space intentionally, reading Peter Zumthor, John Pawson, Kenya Hara, Frank Lloyd Wright, Takashi Sukimoto, to name a few.

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photo: 2013-2015, Cambridge Apartment

alexandria vasquez cambridge apartment interior brandeis university days

2015

Kodama Light

Objects for space must consider the kind of ways an individual interacts within a habitat--not in the sense of how they normalize the use of space, but how design can influence a better way of living divorced from showcasing collector objects and entertaining others: space is for the soul, it is our intimate environment that ought to serve us in the same way we seek meaning from spiritual spaces and nature.

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FIrst, expressing the need for meditative, healing light, which can only be provided through harmony of nature and intentional artisanship. 

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photo: Kodama Light (mini)

alexandria vasquez kodama light herderin lighting maple wood

Research / Design

photo: Alix in her Edgar Miller Chicago Apartment

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Conducts her dissertation research on Luminaire, an influential design curator, while working there for a one-year residency.

edgar-miller-chicago-apartment-alexandria-vasquez-herderin

Wrap Pant

The emergence of the idea that clothing is also an atmosphere to the human that deserves dedication to intentional, healing design. 

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First concept: a pant without size limitation for sustainable principles and body positive qualities in mind. The wrap pants were being made in organic fabrics that were sold to people who do healing work, from yoga practitioners to plant medicine workers.

herderin wrap pant in silk noil

2016

da.to.da. studio logo

Established da.to.da studio with architect, Matt Fiely. 

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We wanted to create products that were inspired by a way of living close to nature.

All clothing was made in our rural Northeastern cabin.

herderin-silk

A Handmade Wardrobe

Clothing designed without appearance in mind created garments not just of authentic comfort, but also authentic beauty.

 

Alix took all mirrors out of the home for 4 years while learning to design, iterate patterns and create sensually comfortable pieces without the problematic scaffolding critique of the eye on the physical self: misleading conceptions of beauty.

herderin-wool

Photo by Marta Saskinowska for Practice Studies.

Let Nature Speak for Itself

Emotionally comforting clothing needed good ingredients. The process of learning and discovering natural and truly sustainable textiles led to the inspiration from chefs like, Marco Pierre White: 

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Let nature speak for itself. Intervene minimally.

 

This became the essence of Herderin's approach to garment design and construction.

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Dyeing with plants became important for not just creating soft hues, but also to honor nature and to connect with the wisdom and medicine of plants.

herderin-hemp-organic-cotton-los-angeles

Collaboration with Oscar Mendoza.

Katie Laird pictured in Coquelicot Top and Drape Wrap Pant.

2017

Purveyours

Alix and Matt changed da.to.da to Purveyours in 2017 after relocating to the rural Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

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This life shift made them believe that they were no longer to assert theoretical, experimental ideas, but rather a concrete example of goods purveyed to the public with the harmony of nature, design and intentional craftsmanship. 

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This shift felt like growing up / graduating to a next chapter.

herderin-lighting-wood-silk-noil
herderin-silk-wrap-pant-top
herderin-waffle-knit-us-organic-cotton
alexandria-vasquez-vermont-home-living-space
herderin-functional-wood-objects
alexandria-vasquez-vermont-home-living-space

2018

Oakland

Relocated to Oakland, California, and popped up in a studio in the Glenview neighborhood.

herderin-alexandria-vasquez-jersey-top-jaleh-wide-leg-hemp-organic-cotton

Photo by Ulysses Ortega

Voyager Shop

Hosts a pop-up at Voyager Shop in June, and then is carried in the San Francisco and Los Angeles stores thereafter.

herderin-oakland-studio-california
herderin-silhouettes-shapes

2019

SilentSound

Collaboration with Jess More (photo) and Abigail Noyes (artist/model).

herderin-denim-wrap-pant

PhD, Sociology | Brandeis University

Dissertation

Misfit: The Impact of Mismatched Jobs on Creative Workers and the Organizations that Employ Them

Creation

Photo

Brynna Levine

alexandria-vasquez-pregnant-photo-by-brynna-levine

2020

Ombia Studio

Collaboration with sculptor Cristina Moreno of Ombia Studio.

herderin-ombia-studio-collaboration

One Hot Minute

Collaboration with Sarino Ho.

sarina-ho-one-hot-minute-la

Handwoven Sweater

Photo for Marin Magazine

herderin-handwoven-sweater-marin-magazine

Aleksandra Zee

Pictured in the Esilin Sweaterdress

herderin-aleksandra-zee-esilin-wrap-dress

2021

Headlands

Pictured in the Sherpa Tank and Siuil Wrap Pant

herderin-siuil-wrap-pant-sherpa-tank

SoulRetrieval

Pictured in the Cove Wide Arm Tunic and Highwaist Overlay Legging

herderin-california

Cloud Cover

First photoshoot with Housework Store at Alix's residence in San Rafael. Pictured in the Merino Sweaterdress.

herderin-housework-store-merino-sweaterdress

Sense of Place

Collaboration between Harper The Label and Herderin. Noel Pictured in the Wabi Gown and belt by Harper. 

herderin-harper-handwoven-wabi-gown-pt-reyes

Photo by Josh Soyombo.

In Todo

Floral arrangement by Jess More.

herderin-in-todo-market-los-angeles-bipoc

2022

Gerbode Valley

Sophia pictured in the Handwoven Sweater and Short.

herderin-handwoven-sweater-short

Photo by Josh Soyombo.

Work/space

Justus pictured in the Maple Tunic and Drape Pant.

herderin-studio-justus-hendrix

Photo by Hubbard Jones

Aja / Atelier Herderin

Aja pictued in the Patchwork Merino Tunic and Merino Thunaa Pant.

herderin-aja-de-wolf-moura

Good Natured

Aja in the Handwoven Funnelneck Sleeveless. 

herderin handwoven organic cotton

Photo by Hubbard Jones

Windtunnel

Edan pictured in the Mountain Poet Pullover and Merino Siuil Wrap Pant.

herderin-fluid-silhouette-wrap-pant-merino-us-organic-cotton

Photo by Josh Soyombo.

Introduction to Juju Baby & Toddler limited collection. Pictured: Handwoven Sweater and Jogger Set.

herderin  for baby and toddler
herderin handwoven organic cotton for baby and toddler

Wabi Gown for Conifer Shop.

herderin handwoven organic cotton wabi gown for conifer shop in fairfax, california

Photo by Amy Mautz

Handwoven Tunic on Valentino Jiron, layered with the Merino/Hemp Rib Oversized Turtleneck.

herderin-san-rafael-handwoven

Christine Mineart of S ENT Nudes wearing the Solglitter Bishop Sleeve and Wrap Skirt.

christine-malia-sent-nudes-bolinas-herderin

Collaboration with Brynna Levine:

DREAM STATES

herderin rocky mountain merino wool photoshoot in china camp, san rafael, california

Photo by Brynna Levine

2023

"Herderin Begins with The Body and Soul" by Stephany Wilkes for Fibershed.

Read here.

herderin fibershed article on climate beneficial wool

Photo by Paige Green

Searching for many things, but mostly ease.

Naomi Hawksley pictured 

herderin US organic cotton teppi poncho in moss

Photo by Josh Soyombo

In Favor.

Adam Savage, Tiyamike, Tisatayane, Emma Fief pictured 

herderin liis fragrances simrah farrukh point reyes photoshoot 2023

Photo by Simrah Farrukh

Style / art diretion Leslie Hendin

What a Northern California winter feels like

Mary Claire Hancock pictured

herderin rocky mountain merino wool and hemp linen

Photo by Josh Soyombo

2024

Borrowed From the Soil

Exhibiton 2/29 - 3/4 | Fibershed

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Clothing The Self

Written work

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