Fashion with a Focus
By Katie Murphy
Photography By Joseph Nother
Born on a horse farm in Franklin, Jeff Garner was raised by artists. His grandmother taught him to sew at a young age, and his mother was a piano teacher. Growing up, most of Jeff’s friends were in bands. They all wanted him to join, but he was more interested in dressing them. “I liked to sit on my floor and design things… I’m one of the lucky ones because I quickly discovered what my passion was, and I was able to pursue it,” says Jeff, who spoke with us from London. He told us he prefers the title “Fashion Artist,” as opposed to “Fashion Designer,” and says he’s not in the business of creating commercial fashion. His sustainable fashion label, Prophetik, sprouted from his childhood here in Williamson County.
“It taught me how small towns view the world and that you must take care of what’s around you,” says Jeff, sharing the harsh reality of the toxins in commercial synthetic fashion. Believe it or not, approximately 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used in the manufacturing of clothing. These include harmful substances like lead, phthalates, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and pesticides. These chemicals’ negative impacts on human health and the environment are significant. Health risks range from immediate effects such as respiratory issues to long-term consequences like cancer. Environmentally, these chemicals contribute to air, water, and soil pollution, leading to widespread ecological damage. Jeff seeks to expose this harsh reality and offer solutions within his industry.
Prophetik’s aesthetic is an elevated mix of colonial as well as equestrian-inspired pieces that are completely non-toxic. With his clothing line and his design work in general, Jeff is bringing the fashion industry back to the basics by dying his fabrics exclusively with plant-based dyes. His designs have been seen on notable celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Kellan Lutz, Jared Leto, Cara DeLevingne, Miley Cyrus and more. His newest project, Let Them Be Naked, is a documentary that sheds light on the toxins found in our everyday clothing and his journey transforming the fashion industry. “I decided after my mom passed away from her breast cancer, now’s the time. Now or never. I’m not gonna stay young forever,” says Jeff.
Jeff’s advocacy has fostered connections with research organizations and innovators worldwide, driving the conversation on unregulated toxins in the fashion industry. The documentary is backed by The Redford Center, which is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated solely to producing environmental impact films. Suzy Amis Cameron, a former actress and model turned activist and the wife of Avatar and Titanic director James Cameron serves as the film’s executive producer. On the project, Jeff says, “I decided to make this movie with my friends, and I went with my gut. I followed my passion, and we basically went from the financing phase to delivery within a year.” The documentary will be released in the Fall of 2024, and it’s currently making its rounds in the film festival world. The Nashville Film Festival is hosting a viewing of the documentary at the Franklin Theatre on September 23rd.
“After twenty-two years of doing this, I quickly realized that you can only get so many people to go to a catwalk show. The platform to make change is a documentary, and I’m looking forward to seeing its impact,” says Jeff.
