There was a time when Grammy-winning artist Gabriella Sarmiento, commonly known as H.E.R, was afraid to wear sweatpants on stage. “I’d [think] this is too casual,” the 24-year-old singer/songwriter tells POPSUGAR over Zoom. “I need to be fully glammed.”
Eventually, she learned to embrace “big hair and big sweaters with sweatpants” and do as she pleases. “Fashion to me is all about dressing from the inside out,” she says. “And that means being comfortable in my own skin no matter what.”
She’s hoping to inspire that same confidence in others with her new limited-edition collection with The Drop by Amazon. The unisex line of earth-tone hoodies, sweatpants, and shorts includes a nod to H.E.R.’s cultural heritage. She’s half Filipino, and one hoodie is printed with a catchphrase she grew up hearing her mother and grandmother say: “Bahala ka sa buhay mo,” which roughly translates to “live your life.” “As I got older, this concept took on a new meaning. It’s a funny and sentimental thing, but it’s also a mindset. It’s your life to do what you will with it.”
That includes experimenting with fashion trends that are widely viewed as polarising. H.E.R. admits that she “never thought bootleg jeans would be coming back,” but she’s enjoying the resurgence of the 2000s-inspired denim style. “It’s cute with a heel when you’re not trying to wear sneakers.”
To pull off most trends, she says, you simply need to style them well. “The conversation when it comes to fashion now is not necessarily about the brands, but how you put everything together,” H.E.R. explains. “I could put on some thrifted jeans with a designer hat or rock that comfy sweater that my dad’s had since the ’80s and still do it with style.”
“Fashion to me is all about dressing from the inside out. And that means being comfortable in my own skin no matter what.”
Read on for more on the inspiration behind the collection, how H.E.R. defines comfort, and her thoughts on fashion and personal style.
Robb Klassen
Her Fashion Story
POPSUGAR: When did you first discover your love of fashion?
H.E.R.: I realised I had a misconception about what it means to be a fashion designer. Years ago, I thought fashion was this prestigious industry where you had to have a lot of money and have all these expensive brands in order to become a fashionista. But when I started putting together my own looks and doing my thing and showing people who I am as an artist and creative, I realised that I was already a fashionista in my daily life. And it was because of the way that I put things together and not necessarily the high-fashion brands that I had on.
For me, the conversation when it comes to fashion now is not necessarily about the brands but how you put everything together. I could put on some thrifted jeans with a designer hat or rock that comfy sweater that my dad’s had since the ’80s and still do it with style.
Robb Klassen
On the Theme of the Collection
PS: Why did you pick comfort as the main theme?
H.E.R.: I feel like it’s something we’re always going to need, always going to want to go back to for long road trips or airplane rides, on days when you don’t feel like getting all dressed up. [For example, when] you’re just running to the store so you throw on your hoodie, or even for going to the gym.
Robb Klassen
On Her Favorite Piece
PS: What is your favorite piece from the collection and why?
H.E.R.: Definitely the Bahala Ka Sa Buhay Mo hoodie. It’s a phrase that my mom and my grandmother used to say to me growing up. “Bahala ka sa buhay mo” is actually a very funny phrase to anybody who grew up in a Filipino household. Whenever I would ask if I could go out with my friends or if I could stay out later or anything I wanted to do when I was a kid where I had to ask for my mom’s permission, she would say, “Bahala ka sa buhay mo,” which means whatever, live your life, go ahead. As I got older, it took on a new meaning to me. It’s a funny and sentimental thing, but it’s also a mindset. It’s your life to do what you will with it.
Robb Klassen
On Her Favorite Fashion Trend
PS: What fashion trend are you loving right now?
H.E.R.: I’m all about sneakers, and I really like that young girls are wearing boyfriend jeans. I never thought bootleg jeans would be coming back. I really love that. It’s also cute with a heel when you’re not trying to wear sneakers.
Robb Klassen
On Her Design Process
PS: Tell us about you as a fashion designer. What is your design process like?
H.E.R.: With this collection, I got to make my own mood board, then I asked myself, “How would I piece this together?” It was exciting to dive into my options and explore the fabrics to make the collection fully something I would wear. I played around with a lot of different colours. I love earthy tones with pops of colour. That’s kind of how I designed my house. I’m subtle, but you feel my presence. It’s those little subtleties for me. It’s always in the details. And that’s how I approach a lot of things in life.
