Eglantyne Jebb founder of Save the Children
“Eglantyne Jebb was an Edwardian powerhouse, striding into action to protect, support and empower children at risk of harm, whoever they were and where ver they lived. Her radical approach required passion, compassion, creativity, and determination. People were not ungenerous, she believed, but unimaginative and very busy. To fight effectively for children, we have to ‘touch the imagination of the world.’ She went on not only to found Save the Children, but to write the pioneering statement of children’s rights that has evolved into the most universally accepted human rights instrument in history. Sadly, children around the world still face conflict, exploitation, famine, and disease, meaning Jebb's mission remains as urgent as ever.”
— Clare Mulley, author, “The Woman Who Saved the Children”
The Gabriela Hearst Autumn Winter 2026 collection pays homage to Eglantyne Jebb, an intrepid humanitarian whose work has touched more than one billion children in over one hundred countries since she founded Save the Children in 1919.
Devoted to social welfare but not to social norms, Eglantyne’s daring spirit animated both her advocacy and her personal life — from her love affair with Margaret Keynesto her Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Eglantyne lived with passion, but her work was carefully planned, deliberately researched. Her rigor is honored through the materials and techniques of this collection, which bring depth, expertise, and humanity to every detail and garment.
Eglantyne was known to friends as the “white flame,” a nickname earned for herintensity, embodied when her striking red hair turned prematurely white at a young age. That allegory runs through the collection in ivory floor-length dresses and separates crafted in proprietary cashmere lace — a technique first developed by the House.
Inspired by Eglantyne Jebb’s conviction, the Gabriela Hearst Autumn Winter 2026 collection is about commitment — to human touch, innovation, and strength.Throughout, borders are crossed and limits are explored, while celebrating each material’s authenticity. Traditionally feminine and masculine forms are combinedand remixed; menswear accompanies women’s on the runway and pairs naturallyin the world.
