Hayden Lehr

Hayden Lehr

Collection

Bio

Hayden Lehr is a New York based designer with a focus on construction, textile development, sustainability, and material exploration. Her work reflects a commitment to thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and an understanding of responsible material practices. Hayden's work has been featured in Style Cruze magazine and Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam. She has sold her work at the boutique Eclipsed Emporium and to clients who reached out for custom designs. She has participated in group fashion shows with other young designers and her accessories were included in the late Bella Pietro’s NYFW ’25 show. Recently her garment was worn by rapper JT styled by Briana Andalore. 

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Video:

Controlled Burns Trailer

Image:

Thesis Statement

Image: Part of my research included learning why the creation of leather is unsustainable and solutions to alleviate negative impacts. I created a mind map to summarize my research.
Image: Animal Leather Mindmap
Image: I also researched vegan alternatives to leather that have a better impact on our world and aren't made from polyurethane.
Image: Vegan Leather Mindmap, most of which are made from plants
Image: Leather Silhouettes Mindmap
Image: Deconstructing leather garments, like this jacket, helped me understand what goes into making a quality leather garment and to source materials for my final garments. To develop silhouettes, I draped pieces of the jacket onto my dress form and created flats and collages.
Image: Some of my grandmother’s earlier work included jellyfish made from painted Japanese paper burned with gunpowder then encased in resin with beaded tentacles. These were always a favorite of mine, so it was natural to reference them while sketching early concepts.
Image: Final Collection (pictured from left to right)

Look 5: Sea Swallow Me Set
Look 4: Burn Plan Dress
Look 2: Gaia in Scarlet Jacket and Oilspill Pants
Look 3: Esca Bomber Jacket and 3 in 1 Pants
Look 1: Embers Vest and Stomolophus Skirt
Image: Look 2 (pictured top right) features the Erosion Cowl Neck Top made from deadstock brown lambskin leather and upcycled from a black vintage leather jacket.

The Oilspill Pants are made from one donated cowhide sourced from Fabscrap and black and brown waxed cotton canvas.

Look 1 (pictured bottom left) is upcycled from a cow leather biker jacket and pants with hand-stitched fuschia silverfin carp leather applique and inserts from Inversa Leathers. The skirt is made from leftover cow leather from a previous project and waxed cotton canvas pleats.
Image: Look 5 (pictured left) is made from Inversa Leathers invasive silverfin carp and python skins ignited with gunpowder.

Look 4 (pictured center) is made from ignited waxed cotton canvas, one of leathers' alternatives.

Look 3 (pictured right) is made from black lambskin leather leftover from previous projects, sourced from Fabscrap, and donations. The fins at the waistband are Inversa’s silverfin carp leather.The prints on the jacket and pants are made by painting wire mesh and repeatedly stamping the leather.
Image: Look 3 includes the Intertwined Tank made by hand stitching pieces of lambskin leather with decorative leather lace.

The pants can become knee-level shorts and mini shorts by disconnecting the snaps on each leg.
Image: The jacket and it’s handstitched appliqué is made from Caxacori Studios Shringa bioleather ignited with gunpowder.