Like most creative industries, the fashion industry has taken a huge hit during the coronavirus pandemic—and some of the biggest names in fashion are no exception. With a new year beginning and the end of the pandemic in sight, Vanity Fair is catching up with 12 fashion greats, as they recommend their go-to items for quarantine, and their hopes for the year to come.
“2020 has been a year like no other for obvious reasons,” said Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, the co-founders of Proenza Schouler. “As horrible and dismal as it has been, it hasn’t been without its positive aspects and in some ways—perhaps the only way to make good of an otherwise terrible situation is to learn from it in an effort to grow. For us, 2020 has been a year of introspection, slowing down, trying to do less better, and with more intent.”
Since founding Proenza Schouler in 2002, having met as students at Parsons, McCollough and Hernandez have worked almost nonstop. “We hadn’t even realized how fast we were moving until we were forced to suddenly stop in our tracks,” they said of the pandemic’s shutdowns. “We had to continue to put collections out and keep the company’s engines running, but without the same level of resources at our disposal. We were ultimately able to do it—realizing all the things we thought we needed to do our jobs, were in the end just a collection of yesteryear vestiges and really could have been updated a long time ago. We never had the time nor the space to really think it through.”
Working from their shared homes in the Berkshires and in Brooklyn, and with the rest of their team remotely, McCollough and Hernandez said, “We feel leaner and more efficient working the way we do now, with the freedom to work from home without feeling disconnected from the outside world. 2020 has refined our communication skills like no other year, and allowed us to focus on what is actually essential, and pare everything else back in an effort to not only be conscious of the environment from a sustainability level, but also on the sustainability of ourselves, and our amazing team who have been instrumental in helping us weather this year.”
And like the rest of us, McCollough and Hernandez have grown fond of the items in their home, from a Edward Wormley vintage desk to a home bar that requires no explanation.
All products featured on Vanity Fair are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.