We’re looking forward to introducing you to Monica Garry . Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Monica , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Building a sustainable supply chain of raw natural fibres by sourcing directly and through trusted partnerships.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I live in La Costa a part of the North county of San Diego that retains its wild natural beauty and rancho coastal heritage. My design studio is based here. My husband and I get outside as much as possible to surf, walk, ride bicycles and be in nature. There are often coyote, bobcat and sometimes mountain lion sightings on the horse trails and canyons nearby. We see dolphins, seals, sea lions and pelicans at our favorite surf breaks. The colors, feel and vibes of our collections are informed by the water, earth, sky, plants, trees, stones, and wildlife all around us.
I started Noble Fibre and one of its brands, Fibre Tibet, over 20 years ago, in California. We design and create modern classics that are perfect for coastal California life, travel and home.
Noble Fibre denotes the class of finest softest natural fibres including cashmere, wool, silk and alpaca, are the foundation of our designs and collections. We source our natural/noble fibres as directly as possible or through trusted partnerships.
Noble fibres offer a sustainable choice. They wear and breathe well, last, and are biodegradable, making them better for you, your home and the planet.
Noble Fibre works with artisans, emerging designers, and ateliers in the U.S., Nepal, India, Tibet, Italy, France, Mexico and Peru. Our collections are crafted with specialized skills and techniques such as hand spinning, hand weaving, hand knitting, embroidery, shibori, block and screen printing that are rare and provide a special hand touch to each piece. Partnering with artisans enable us to make the highest quality pieces possible, sustain hand craft traditions and directly support creative communities. The definition of couture is hand made.
My love of textiles, fashion and fibre was inspired by my mom and my grandmother who valued finely made fabrics and styles that endure and are timeless. While I was a student at the SIT school in Kathmandu, Nepal, I discovered hand woven pashmina -cashmere shawls. My teacher introduced me to a master weaver who made the original classic silk and cashmere pashminas for both my mom and sister. Thirty years later they are still favorite, loved shawls. Noble Fibre strives to achieve this level of quality by making pieces that will be loved and last. There are so many options in the market today but it is often not what you need or want and it may not go the distance.
After college I started and led TBF, a non-profit fund of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, to support community development and sustain culture and environment on the Tibetan plateau. I spent over 15 years working across the Tibetan plateau with an amazing group of local people and partnerships including UNESCO, World Wildlife Fund and the Smithsonian. I continue to work directly in Himalayan communities that have deep knowledge, skill and a culture of craft and through Noble Fibre Artisan Marche offer partnerships, marketing and collaborations.
Working with nomadic communities, often at very high altitudes -over 10,000 feet, who rely on herding goats, yaks, sheep and horses to develop innovative partnerships, helped me understand their needs, goals and drive to build businesses to improve the quality, sustainability, processing and production of wool, diary, herbal plants and products.
With an Italian designer, technical experts in Biella and Tibetan partners including nomads, I created Fibre Tibet a brand of yak wool and cashmere knitwear that was sold at Barney’s, Maxfield’s LA and leading boutiques in Europe and Japan. Fibre Tibet was the first top fashion brand made with Tibetan yak wool and cashmere featured in W, WWD, Elle France, San Francisco Magazine, Yoga Journal, Town&Country and Architectural Digest.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My stepfather showed me I could chart my own course and go the distance. He was a gentleman and lived by a code. He was and pilot and officer in WW2. His plane was shot down and a he was a POW in a Nazi prison camp for 2 years.
He did not talk about it, lament or complain. He endured loss, grief and enjoyed life.
Focus, learn, practice, keep refining, stay sharp, give it all you have, rest and then go further. Prioritize, don’t be discouraged, don’t make a fuss, be prepared, respectful and polite. Compete and have fun while doing it. He would tell me, Go baby go.
He made sure it was not out of the ordinary for me to: climb a ladder to check something on a 2nd story roof, drive in a blizzard, bring in jumpy, rearing horses in a windstorm and go for it.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
All of the pain points in your business and how to address them.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
Customers as they are purchasing our products and have valuable feedback and insights.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Sustainability is incremental and constant process so developing more sustainable supply chains and upcycling cashmere and other materials can always be improved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.noble-fibre.com
- Instagram: @noblefibreartisanmarche
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/authwall?trk=gf&trkInfo=AQEx03bdaIWmOAAAAZnfrW2IkWsQzS3bpdvv-tZ-J9KNq1f0rAKlvOXmeHFi1mVVocS5R6Spgn26VxilmjDpeLrn8iijIq4GZTK98MWw_9-VZ22kn68lvoofwzpsbvyvcfVGP5A=&original_referer=https://www.google.com/&sessionRedirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmonica-a-garry-11060613
- Twitter: https://x.com/monica_garry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mgpondichery/
