Local thought leaders convened for a one-of-a-kind dinner and discussion on the future of their industries
Words by GEMMA PRICE
On Wednesday, Sept. 11, supporters of the slow food and slow fashion movements — including the brains behind some of California’s most beloved brands and restaurants — gathered at Angel Island State Park in San Francisco Bay for an evening of thoughtful conversation surrounding sustainability.
Guests such as Gretta Humphrey of Marine Layer; Katie Hanson from “environmental solutionist” collective Planet Home; and Jasmine Peterlin, the manager of Michelin-starred restaurant Benu, arrived before sunset by a private ferry charter to the island, a former military stronghold still visited by day-trippers looking to explore the historic Civil War-era structures, picnic areas and scenic hiking paths with views of the Golden Gate and Bay bridges.
Once on the beach, guests nibbled on appetizers such as Hog Island oysters and California-raised Sterling caviar canapés and mingled with two-time Olympic skier Kaylin Richardson, Bay Area photographer Eric Wolfinger, actor Adrienne Thomas and others modeling a range of custom garments from brands like Helly Hansen, The North Face, Lululemon and Taylor Stitch, all crafted using Sorona, a 37-percent bio-based, recyclable fiber by East Coast-based company DuPont. (The textile maker also just debuted a new sustainable faux fur developed in collaboration with designer Stella McCartney; called Koba, it was seen for the first time at McCartney’s Spring 2020 runway show in Paris.)
As the moon rose and the sun set over San Francisco, guests walked upon vintage rugs cutting a path through a golden-grass meadow to a long table illuminated by strings of lights. Over locally sourced wines and a dinner of sustainably raised striped bass and trout, DuPont global marketing director Renee Henze led a discussion among the industry’s experts and representatives from NGOs like Sausalito’s Marine Mammal Center around how slow food and slow fashion can drive a more sustainable economy.
Feature image: Dinner guests on ANGEL ISLAND. All photos by Russ Levi.
Oct. 2, 2019
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