When she returned to live with her parents in East Hampton, New York, during the pandemic, she found herself, like many young people, at a professional dead end.

But her creative spirit led her to an unusual idea: She used inherited Hermès beach towels to make face masks, which she sold to benefit FoodBank NY. She raised over 10,000 dollars for the charity and laid the foundation for her brand LilyEve. With the growing demand for her colorful products, Clempson sought support and met Michel Cantin, a 90-year-old fashion designer with an impressive background. Cantin, who grew up in Quebec and got his start in Paris working for the famous designer Jacques Fath, had a decades-long career that took him from Broadway productions to opening his own boutique in East Hampton.

There he created fashionable suits for working women and developed a successful business for over 32 years. Even after closing the boutique, he remained active in the fashion industry, helping designers develop their collections. Clempson and Cantin’s relationship quickly developed into a unique partnership based on mutual appreciation and a deep love of fashion. Together they developed the idea of giving the highest quality bath towels, silk quilts and cashmere plaids a second life. Her eye recognized the graphic fashion potential, while he designed the cuts and tailored the products to the highest standard.

As LilyEve continued to grow, a sustainable partner was needed for production. This is where Morteza Saifi, the latest addition to the team, came in. Saifi and his wife Evgeniya Khromina founded the “Panah Project” in Nairobi in 2013, a company specializing in ethical fashion and the education of women and young people. With a clear focus on fair working conditions and sustainable practices, Panah Project created over 50 full-time jobs, improving the quality of life for many families. In 2018, Saifi and Khromina moved to New York and continued their work there.

Clempson saw the Panah Project as the perfect fit for her team, as the values of Panah and LilyEve merge seamlessly and their passion for sustainable fashion and innovative designs is reflected in their joint work. Together, they form a team that not only creates high-quality, sustainable fashion, but also stands for values such as social responsibility and ethical behavior. LilyEve’s products are the result of an inspiring collaboration that connects generations and cultures and influences the world of fast fashion positively.