Conversations with Monica Garry

Hi Monica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My love of textiles and fashion was inspired by both my mom and grandmother who valued finely made fabrics and styles that endure and are timeless. Hand made is the essence of couture, the highest form of fashion, but it is becoming rare or obsolete in many parts of the world. The idea that you can have a few, finer well made things that last inspires my designs and work with artisan partners in Nepal, India, Tibet, Peru and the USA. The beautiful part of our collections is that our customers can enjoy lasting beauty for their home and lifestyle that supports artisans and their communities and sustains cultural handmade traditions.

I first went to Nepal in my teens and studied at the School for International Training. I rode my bicycle around Kathmandu, making friends, learning and being inspired by the cultural and spiritual beauty of daily life in Nepal. My Nepalese teacher wore a beautiful handwoven cashmere shawl and she helped me find a master weaver to make them for my mom and sister and the love of artisan handmade textiles made in Nepal began! Thirty years later, these shawls are still in use and as lovely as ever.

The architecture for design. Noble fibre refers to the category of the finest, softest natural fibres, including cashmere, wool, silk, linen and alpaca. Designs made with them will last, often for decades. They are natural and made in the right way contributes to sustainability. Our focus is making timeless luxe basic and limited edition handmade heritage collections. Our first collection of cashmere blankets hand-loomed with handspun cashmere are still soft, warm favorites after more than a decade.

My goal is to create designs that are loved and will last and are kinder to the environment.

My designs and colorways are very much inspired by California, especially the ocean as I love to surf. I am able to work with my partners and customers from my studio in Carlsbad. I live in the North County of San Diego with my husband and our dog and enjoy being near all of the great beaches and trails. I usually spend 3months of the year working with my partners in Nepal, India, Peru and Tibet. Our partners are fair trade certified and together, we work on being more sustainable as we create limited edition collections.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Running a business is always challenging especially when you focus on achieving a high level of quality, design, sustainability and working with fair trade values on top of all of the daily tasks that need to be done to sell and market one’s collections.

Working with handmade designs requires a lot of attention to detail, patience and a longer production schedule. We also source some of our raw material directly from nomads, mostly cashmere and yak wool, and that process requires a lot of work in advance. It also can be super challenging when you are waiting for a truck to make it over the mountain passes through Tibet, a 7-10 day journey to Nepal.

It is so gratifying though to work directly with our partners, nomad, artisans and local businesses and we are really grateful for the wonderful community that supports our brand. The North County, including Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, Olivenhain and Rancho Santa Fe have been so supportive!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in designing limited-edition collections in cashmere, wool, alpaca, silk, cotton and linen for home and lifestyle. Our collections feature design collaborations on heritage pieces that are really special handmade items. Everything is made to be loved and endure.

We can trace the source of our materials and are directly involved in all aspects of artisan production. We also make special custom pieces for design projects. Our colorways and vibe are inspired by the coast and ranch life of California. It is wonderful to be able to collaborate with incredible designers and artisans including LBD -Little Bit Different, Salt Water Color and Mama Bear in Del Mar.

Noble FIbre donates some of our proceeds to nonprofit organizations that support animal welfare, ocean protection and vulnerable people including the Rancho Coastal Humane Society, Oceana and Mujeres Unidas and Tewa Women and local schools and charities by participating in their events.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
More people are appreciating slower, hand-made sustainable brands that last. There is greater awareness about labor practices, fair trade and good environmental impact. Sustaining and respecting cultural traditions will enable artisan communities to generate income and keep techniques and traditions alive. People are now more conscious about what they buy and want information about where and how items are made.

We keep working toward being as sustainable as possible and growing our collaborations with artisans to share a wider range of the highest quality, enduring handmade designs and heritage pieces available.

We also feature a limited collection of heritage pieces that are traditional designs or modern iterations of those designs traditional masters and emerging new designers too.