After countless collaborations with brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Frankies Bikinis, and Stuart Weitzman, Gigi Hadid felt it was time to create a fashion label that was her own.

“I received a lot of different offers, but I really didn’t want to be pressured into it,” the model tells InStyle of her decision to launch a clothing brand independently. “I wanted to have a brand that stayed true to myself.”

In the end, she'd create Guest in Residence, a cashmere knitwear line committed to designing investment pieces that can be worn and passed down through generations. Hadid is both the founder and creative director, and since its initial launch in September 2022, the brand has not only released a core collection of staples, but a few limited-edition drops. The latest, which hit the Guest in Residence site on October 26, is entitled Varsity Funk, and includes vibrant, colorblocked pieces that add joy to any fall wardrobe.

Still, despite its fast production schedule, Guest In Residence — otherwise known as GRI — is far from a fast fashion business model. Hadid assures InStyle that quality, not quantity, is one of the three pillars of her creation.

“We did a lot of research on why some cashmere can cost one price and why others can cost less but still say they’re 100% cashmere. A lot of it comes down to the integrity of the beginning of the fiber and the making of the yarn,” she explains.

The brand is direct-to-consumer but at the highest level, creating pieces made from 100% cashmere and of the longest fiber. Guest in Residence's core collection includes everything from matching sets to accessories like scarves and beanies to loungewear, like robes and joggers. GIR capsule collections are theme-driven and explore more nuanced designs and compositions. Capsule collections are also made in small batches and only available for a short time, a testament to Hadid’s commitment to sustainability.

“I am very sustainable with my closet — I have pieces that I have styled many different ways for many years,” the 27-year-old notes in our interview. To ensure its pieces are ethically made, and eco-friendly, GIR partners with certified cashmere mills with strict animal welfare standards, environmental protection, and sustainability practices.

“Ensuring animal and environmental welfare is crucial to the integrity of the brand and product,” stresses Hadid. “Humanely treated animals produce higher quality, longer fibers that enable longevity.”

It’s that longevity — a product constructed to last years of wear (and then some) — that Hadid says is her ultimate goal.

“The genesis of Guest In Residence is to honor past heirlooms and give life to new ones spanning generations. [My favorite hand-me-downs are the] second-hand cashmere sweaters that were handed down by my parents when I moved to New York,” Hadid tells InStyle over email. “I still have these pieces in my closet as they are portable, cozy keepsakes for me while on the road. My ultimate goal is to inspire people to invest in quality heirloom pieces that can be passed down to loved ones.”

But while Hadid’s hope is to inspire her customers' closets, it's GIR customers that inspire her designs. Varsity Funk, for example, was inspired by the school community and young people learning about their collective identity. The capsule is a curation of uniquely designed varsity jackets, rugby shirts, and basketball shorts with hand-crochet details and floating knit techniques, in a variety of traditional school colors as well as “funky” combinations with vibrant hues like sky, kiwi, mandarin, and sunflower.

“I was particularly inspired by school spirit — pride, enthusiasm, and collective desire to achieve a school's success by uplifting and invigorating its community,” says Hadid. “Each school has its own traditions and personality, and I wanted to embrace new ideas when designing my first Varsity collection.”

Sizes for Guest in Residence currently range from XS to XXL, with pieces priced from $95 to $745.