Triple F: fashion fuels food

Co-founded by Daphne Seybold and Dan Colen, Sky High Farm Universe is a brand born out of a mission to support food equity and sustainability. Through fashion, beauty, and creative collaborations, Sky High Farm Universe works with the fashion world to address urgent issues surrounding food access and agricultural justice and bring a fresh perspective to conscious consumerism.

hube: How do you infuse the narrative of Sky High Farm’s mission into the design and storytelling of your fashion collaborations, and what has been the most impactful story told so far?

Daphne Seybold: That’s a hard one to kick off because there are so many facets. The brand’s main reason for existing is to help generate revenue and advocacy through education for the work of Sky High Farm, the nonprofit. The farm’s work is worth dwelling on because, without it, there’s no mission or purpose for the brand. The farm focuses on creating equity within the food system, really leaning into pathways toward food sovereignty. These are serious issues, right? They tackle this through urgent food access work, a global grants program that gives out $350,000 to farmers who are unseen by the system, educational programming, and fellowships for those who want to enter the food system but lack training or access to it.

So, the farm grapples with these urgent issues, and the brand is built to share these issues on a wider platform through our designs and storytelling. We do so in an uplifting and engaging way, largely through pop culture. Many people are aware of the problems but may not know how to get involved or can’t write the kind of checks needed to make a difference. The brand’s goal is to talk about regenerative agriculture and equity in the food system through our collections and designs.

h: Sky High Farm Universe sits at the crossroads of art, fashion and agriculture. Could you share an example of a project where these elements beautifully intersected to create something truly unique?

DS: One is with Balenciaga. They donated merchandise that had already been through the sales cycle and was unsold. We customised these pieces with artwork from our community, including photography by Ryan McGinley and a campaign shot by Nadia Lee Cohen. We then sold these pieces through Dover Street Market, with 100% of profits going to the farm. This project brought together high-level artistry, deadstock products, and a retail platform for a greater cause.

Another project was with Nike and the artist KAWS, Brian Donnelly. He reinterpreted our logos, and we customised surplus Nike Air Force 1 sneakers and other garments with his artwork. This collaboration also helped spread our message to a broader audience, some of whom may not typically engage with food sovereignty messaging.

h: What’s been the most impactful story or project you’ve shared so far?

DS: Every partnership and product has been different, but I’ll share two examples. First, we’re launching our first in-house beauty product this fall. It’s an all-purpose balm made from tallow, which is beef fat. The idea came from looking at the hardships farmers face and the brand’s aim to find value in materials that already exist. Tallow, which is often wasted, is actually incredibly valuable – it’s full of vitamins, mimics lipids in the skin, and has been used for centuries. We’re taking what we believe to be a super ingredient and reframing it, using our playful iconography to educate people about its benefits and where it comes from. The hope is that it will be impactful, both by generating revenue and by allowing us to purchase raw materials from farmers the farm supports.

The second example is a collaboration with Converse, which began before the brand even launched. We’ve now done four sneaker collaborations with them. The first three were Chuck Taylors, which we customised and marketed with an atypical campaign. Instead of glossy assets, the campaign focused on the farm’s story and mission. Converse even underwrote a six-part docuseries that showcased the farm’s work. The most recent collaboration featured the One Star and Chuck 70, made from upcycled workwear – this was a first for Converse. These collaborations have been strong examples of how we can use pop culture platforms to create impact.

h: In an age of people transitioning towards conscious consumerism, how do you ensure that your audience understands and connects with the deeper purpose behind Sky High Farm Universe’s products?

DS: At a baseline, people want to buy goods that reflect their values. Our best asset is our authentic connection to agriculture and the farm’s work. We try to make products that are desirable while embedding our message. We work with storytellers and creatives who help us frame the messaging in a way that feels engaging. For example, we partnered with magazine editors like Samira Nasr, former Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar, and Alastair McKimm from i-D. These are people who understand how to create desirability and make impactful statements, such as placing ‘Feed the People’ and ‘Food is Power’ on beautifully designed workwear.

We also embed giving back into our business model. For instance, we’ve developed a wholesale donation program, where a markup is added to the wholesale price, and a donation goes directly to the farm. This ensures that no matter how much product sells, money always flows to the cause. Retailers who carry our products are joining a coalition that supports the farm’s mission.

h: Many see fashion as a form of activism – a political vehicle. How do you use Sky High Farm Universe as a platform to advocate for food sovereignty and environmental sustainability?

DS: We demonstrate change through action. Our wholesale donation program and the way we make products are examples of that. We’re committed to giving 50% of our profits to the farm and 25% to our staff because it’s important to reward those doing the work. Another 10% is set aside for discounts and donations to the communities the farm serves, and the rest goes to investors. Our goal is to model the difference we want to see, without imposing a political stance. The farm itself is apolitical – it doesn’t dictate what people should eat or believe. We acknowledge the problems in the food system and aim to address them while respecting the wants and needs of the communities we serve.

h: Drawing from your rich background with Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market, what lessons or philosophies have you brought to Sky High Farm Universe, and how do they manifest in your current projects?

DS: I was privileged to work at Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market for nearly 15 years. There, I learned to question the norms of the industry and not take things at face value. At Sky High Farm Universe, we challenge traditional rules and aim to subvert them where necessary to make an impact. My time at CDG taught me how to communicate with brands and navigate collaborations to achieve bigger goals. I also started in the press, and those relationships have carried over, helping us get support from major media outlets like Vogue and The New York Times.

h: In what ways are you integrating modern technology with traditional farming practices at Sky High Farm, and how does this blend influence the products and projects of Sky High Farm Universe?

DS: The farm practices regenerative agriculture, which is actually low-tech. It’s about restoring the soil and maintaining biodiversity without chemicals or pesticides. The idea is to let nature do its thing, which contrasts with industrial agriculture which depletes the soil. As for technology, I think we need to focus on perfecting existing systems rather than constantly chasing new technological solutions. A lot of answers are already in front of us, like regenerative agriculture. There are innovative new fabrications in fashion, but large-scale adoption is needed for them to succeed.

We’re not anti-progress, but I believe we need to use the solutions we already have rather than constantly extract resources. Growth at any cost isn’t sustainable. We should focus on creating a steady-state economy rather than relentless expansion.

h: With a focus on educational programmes and youth involvement, what are some of the most memorable experiences or outcomes you’ve witnessed from young participants at Sky High Farm?

DS: Last year, we were privileged to work with Instagram on a creativity project in collaboration with the Lower East Side Girls Club in New York. It’s a wonderful organisation for disadvantaged girls. We brought in artists from our community to teach classes to these girls, and they customised Converse sneakers and Champion hoodies. This project was about using creativity as a tool for change and also educating them about the food system.

Another project we’re currently working on is with Champion, which is centred around universities. We’re still ironing out the details, but the idea is to engage the student body and faculty through on-campus activations that relate to agriculture and food systems. It’s exciting because we’re looking to collaborate with schools that are prominent in the agricultural space, and it’s all about creating an energising experience for students.

h: Looking towards the future, are there any innovative practices or projects on the horizon for Sky High Farm Universe that you’re particularly excited about and can share a sneak peek with us?

DS: I have so many ideas swirling around! One thing I’m particularly excited about is our beauty product, the tallow balm, which I mentioned earlier. This product is really important to me because it’s about finding value in what’s typically discarded, reframing people’s relationships with the food system, and supporting the farmers we work with. I’d love to expand that into more beauty products that allow us to source more raw materials from the farmers stewarding the land.

Another idea is looking at other byproducts, like vegetables and fruits that aren’t consumed. How can we transform these into useful, efficacious ingredients? We’re giving ourselves a healthy set of constraints by trying to use only what already exists, and it’s challenging but exciting.

h: Since you’re creating products from byproducts like tallow, how do you handle any initial negative reactions or connotations from people, especially with how Western culture views certain animal byproducts?

DS: The hypothesis behind tallow is all about reframing people’s material relationships to the animals they consume, whether it’s through what they eat or put on their skin. In Chinese culture, we eat everything as a form of reverence for the animal. It’s actually seen as wasteful if you don’t use every part.

I think part of overcoming negative reactions is through transparency. We can educate people on why we chose tallow – because of the food waste issue, the plight of farmers, and the incredible benefits of tallow itself. It’s not just about using it because it’s a byproduct, but because it’s a super ingredient that people have been using for centuries. Using our creative storytelling and engaging tastemakers who people aspire to follow, we can destigmatise these products and show that they are just as desirable as what people are already used to consuming.