From thrifted gems to
hand-crafted unique designs.
Sustainable kidswear, handmade in NYC from carefully selected thrifted garments
Gloria is a children’s clothing brand centered on sustainability and legacy. Collections are made up of upcycled garments, bringing new life to discarded and overlooked gems.
Mens dress shirts give way to airy summer dresses, t-shirts and flannels become comfy play clothes. Named after the designer’s mother, Gloria seeks to blend tradition and memory with conscious utility and spirited style. These one-of-a-kind pieces are both stylish and eco-friendly, ensuring your little one make a statement while helping the planet.
Thrifted Garments
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Each piece is selected individually with an eye toward color palette and usability of all components of the shirt and the feel of the fabric.
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This process transforms discarded clothing and textiles into new, fashionable items. Instead of adding to landfills, we reuse material to extend the life of the original garment.
Bespoke Transformation
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Each piece is custom designed using the original thrifted textile to create a unique piece that exists nowhere else.
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All parts of the thrifted garment are examined, considered and used to add individual touches to the pieces. Gloria aims for zero-waste, using even the remaining fabric for accessories to accompany your dress.
Unique Dresses
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Merging high fashion with sustainability, your little ones will stand out with sophisticated style while contributing to a better future for the planet.
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Elevating sustainable clothing and leaving behind stereotypical looks of second-hand or traditional thrifting styles, each piece is a unique treasure.
About Gloria and Sustainability
Who is Gloria?
My name is Susanne Hertell and I am the founder and creator of Gloria (and only employee).
I spent over a decade working in fashion. I was always astounded by the amount of waste production considered normal. This waste has increased dramatically with the continued rise of fast fashion.
Since my daughter was born, I’ve struggled to find my place in the professional world in a way that was more meaningful to me as a mother. After much introspection, I landed on the idea of creating a brand inspired by my daughter and her friends that does its part to take as little of a toll as possible on the world that they are growing up in.
The company is named after my late mother, this brand is an homage to her and her signature adorns every piece we make.
What impact does fast-fashion have?
Fast fashion’s rapid production and disposable nature come at a steep cost to the environment. Each year, this industry generates staggering amounts of waste, with millions of tons of clothing ending up in landfills. The use of synthetic fibers like polyester contributes to microplastic pollution in our oceans, while the intense water consumption and chemical dyes used in production harm vital ecosystems and deplete natural resources.
Additionally, fast fashion's carbon footprint is immense, driven by energy-intensive manufacturing and global transportation.
By choosing sustainable alternatives, like upcycled or circular fashion, you can help reduce waste, conserve resources, and minimize pollution—paving the way for a greener future.
What is upcycling?
Upcycling is the creative process of transforming old, unused, or discarded materials into something new and beautiful. Unlike recycling, which often breaks materials down for reuse, upcycling adds value by repurposing them into high-quality products. In the world of children’s dresses, upcycling might mean turning vintage fabrics, surplus textiles, or gently used garments into unique, stylish outfits for your little ones.
What is circular fashion?
Circular fashion is a revolutionary approach to design, production, and consumption that keeps clothing and materials in use for as long as possible. Unlike the traditional "take, make, dispose" model, circular fashion focuses on extending the lifecycle of garments through practices like recycling, upcycling, repairing, and reselling.
“We are seeking to be part of the solution, protecting the world our kids will grow up in. ”