Atelier Doré

As founder and owner of Wol Hide, Leah D’Ambrosio knows her way around a knit. We caught up with her in Soho last week to ogle some of these knits and chat style…

How would you describe your style in three words?

Easy. Natural. Layered.

How has your style transitioned or changed as you’ve matured?

I’ve become more conscious of my purchases as I’ve matured, which has maybe simplified my style. I’ve always been aware of fiber contents and interested in my clothes’ origins but now I’m not willing to compromise at all. I think a lot about my purchases and buy select quality pieces that I know I’ll wear for a long time. I’m more interested in finding clothes that fit my style and feel good to wear, and less interested in passing trends. I have also always loved to mix vintage pieces into my wardrobe. I’m a sucker for old handmade cotton, crochet or lace pieces as well as vintage military. I’m really interested in how things were constructed out of what was available and made for such practical end purposes.

Who do you look to for style inspiration and why?

I don’t really look to any specific individuals for style direction. I’m most inspired by the people I see when I’m just out and about. I love when you come across someone who just has their own unique style, and look to how they put things together or carry themselves. I’ve always been more intrigued by how a model or actress I admire is dressed in their own everyday clothes rather than how their stylist dressed them up for an event.

Can you tell us a bit about your line, Wol Hide? What inspired you to start it and what is your intent behind it? What is the woman you imagine you’re designing for?

My intention in starting Wol Hide is to create easy forever pieces that are rooted in quality production, the craft of knitting, and our interaction with the planet while fostering relationships with our producers and our customers. I design with a holistic approach. I don’t use materials just for their sustainable qualities, but also think about the person wearing the fibers. I want them to be soft, clean clothes that aren’t harming you or the planet. I also look at all aspects of the supply chain and the effect each element has on the planet and the workers involved. I think the most important part of fostering conscious consumption is to create pieces that will last. This makes the quality and integrity of each garment extremely important to me.

After college, I worked for a large company and was really discouraged by the way they did business, the production practices, and the waste that was created as a result. Some time after that I came to the conclusion that a business could be both financially successful and ethically run. I think deep down I always wanted to work for myself too, so I was sort of always unconsciously working towards starting this brand.

I want my collection to be worn by all sorts of women, so I don’t ever have one specific individual in mind. I love the versatility of basics because so many different kinds of people can adapt them into their lives. I think this is what makes knits in particular so special. They are incredibly flexible in terms of fit, but also in terms of style or taste. They really do cast a wide net, and I want my line to be accessible to different types of people.