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PHOEBE DAHL Caoilfhionn Maguire
For Phoebe Dahl, the founder of Faircloth & Supply, the clothing line that donates a uniform and a year’s scholarship to an underprivileged child in Nepal with every item sold. Phoebe is a descendant of the Dahl dynasty, advocating for children isn’t just a calling, it is a family trait.
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Her grandfather, beloved children’s book author
grandfather and movie star grandmother
Roald Dahl, taught generations that no situation
Patricia Neal, who played wealthy matron Emily
was so desperate it couldn’t be conquered with
Eustace Failenson in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
wit, cunning and a little magic. Phoebe’s eyes misted over from a distant memory. Phoebe’s unrelenting fight for furthering the
She smiled slowly to herself, then recalled: “When
education of young women through philanthropy
my mother was a child, my grandpa would put
in fashion is beyond admirable. Education
a ladder up against her bedroom window. He
in Nepal is a luxury for the majority of the
would crack it open and stick this big blow torch
population. Through Faircloth & Supply Phoebe is
through and blow glitter; it was supposed to
making education more accessible. Every time a
encourage good dreams.”
Faircloth & Supply item is sold, Phoebe donates a school uniform, supplies and a year’s scholarship
Phoebe’s adoration for fabrics was heavily
to a young girl in Nepal.
influenced by her grandmother’s antique fabric shop, Faircloth Adams in Santa Fe. She zealously
In Nepal, it is a requirement that students wear
recounted the hours she spent there as a child,
uniforms to defuse caste discrimination. If a child
exploring the fabrics and listening fervently to her
cannot afford to buy a uniform, they are unable to
grandmother explain the intricacies of vintage
attend school. Phoebe recognises the importance
nightgowns from the 1700s and 1800s.
of girls and women receiving education to the same level as their male counterparts, especially
She reminisced: “The first piece of clothing I ever
in countries where women’s rights are not
made was with my grandmother. It was a French
recognised and where human trafficking is rife.
beret, made from antique linen with a big pompom on top.”
“I was such little hustler. I would make 5-10 skirts per night and sell them at school the next day.”
Phoebe’s talent for design began at a young age. She explained: “I learned how to sew when I was 13-years-old and started making these really simple circle skirts for myself.”
We sat in awe of Phoebe’s beautiful studio in Downtown Los Angeles. The sunlight poured in
News of her circle skirts whipped around her
from large windows, catching the fiery auburn
school like wildfire and the orders came flooding
tints in her hair. She was effortlessly beautiful, in a
in.
Breton-style t-shirt and sweats, her glorious blue eyes shone bright with unwavering passion as she
She recalled: “I was such a little hustler. I’d make
discussed her magical childhood.
5 to 10 skirts per night and sell them at school the next day.”
She grew up in the affluence of Martha’s Vineyard with her mother, sister and their menagerie of
After graduating, Phoebe embarked on an
pets. It was a picturesque upbringing of secluded
adventure to Japan and India. After falling in love
family time with outbursts of creative freedom
with Japanese street style, she coupled her love
that were strongly encouraged by her mother.
for fashion with her desire for change, spurred after witnessing the injustices faced by many in
Creativity is a force that runs deep in the Dahl dynasty and definitely stems from Phoebe’s
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countries such as India and Nepal.
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Having
little
business
experience,
Phoebe
Faircloth & Supply’s beautifully minimal designs
consulted a number of people, pitching her idea
echo her own relaxed style; these are clothes that
of a charity conscious fashion line and began to
are designed to be lived in. Phoebe explained that
formulate a coherent business plan.
the fusion of comfort and elegance was always at the forefront of her mind during the design
She furrowed her eyebrows in mild frustration as
process.
she recalled: “I was constantly told to set up the company first and then the charity part second. I totally disagreed with that.” Adamant that charity would be the foundation of her clothing line, Phoebe searched scrupulously for an organisation with which shared her values.
“It’s so incredible to be able to give a child a school uniform. It’s not just clothing, it is a chance at a better future.”
Before long she was introduced to the General
Faircloth & Supply’s ethos is timelessness:
Welfare Pratisthan (GWP). Their mission; to
a collection made primarily from linen and
create an organised, enterprising society, free
inspired by found fabric and heritage textiles. It
from the social and economic disparities of
is also heavily influenced by antique treasures like
gender inequality.
classical French basics and Japanese indigo-dyed fabrics.
Bringing educational opportunities to girls is one of GWP’s paramount priorities. In March 2014,
The thrill of creating your own masterpiece,
The Faircloth team made their first venture to
from sketch to item, may seem unbeatable. For
GWP’s headquarters in Kathmandu. They were
Phoebe, nothing comes close to her magical bi-
educated about Nepali culture and customs by
annual trips to Nepal.
the Executive Director of GWP, Mahesh Dev Bhattarai.
To date, Faircloth & Supply has furthered the educational opportunities of more than 2,500
With over 67 million children out of education
girls in Nepal, through uniforms and scholarships.
in Nepal, over half are girls and young women. Phoebe pitched her idea to the GWP, highlighting
Phoebe’s face illuminated with a bright smile that
the 30% gender gap in literary rates in Nepal.
reached her eyes, she said: “It’s so incredible to be able to give a child a school uniform. It’s not just
For a young girl in Nepal, the benefits of education
clothing, it is a chance at a better future. The look
go further than just academic. Girls who receive
on their faces is unforgettable, you’ve changed
education are less vulnerable to HIV, human
their lives forever.”
trafficking and other forms of socio and economic exploitation. They are less likely to be forced to marry at a young age, and as a result, go on to
@Phoebe fairclothsupply.com
contribute positively to their family’s economic well-being. While Phoebe’s priority is to change the lives of young girls in Nepal, she also recognises the importance of her valued customers.
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