Sonja Nuttall. Courtesy of Urban Zen.

It is an unfortunately common misconception that the individuals who hail from the fashion industry–whether they be models, designers, or stylists–are superficial and lack any appreciation of reality. Although such attitudes are not uncommon in their cliquey world, accepting this to be the general rule would be an affront to those unique creatives who are incredibly fashion-inspired, and yet who also work hard to make a difference to other lives in a fascinatingly humane way.

Founded by designers Donna Karan and Sonja Nuttall, Urban Zen embraces a broad philosophy which is ultimately based upon three concepts: heightening personal wellbeing, empowering children, and preserving cultures.

Since its inception in 2006, Donna and Sonja have worked tirelessly to introduce nontraditional healing methods into hospitals, set up boutiques in New York and LA which promote a philosophy of conscious living, and generally sought to raise people’s awareness of the plights affecting people everywhere from Tibet to Israel. In times where high fashion is purely concerned with maximizing revenue and feeding egos, Donna and Sonja are demonstrating that fashion is far more beautiful when it is used as a stepping stone to humanity as opposed to an end in itself.

With collaborators that include everyone from the Dalai Lama and Richard Gere, to Barbara Streisand and Sting, the work and influence of Urban Zen is incessantly expanding. Chic Today recently caught up with Sonja, who graciously took time off from her busy schedule to tell us a little more about this inspiring project.

The Urban Zen Foundation is a multi-faceted project that is difficult to describe in merely a few words. However, it is clear that love is one of its core underlying threads. In what little ways can we (to borrow an expression of yours) ‘dethrone our egos’ in our everyday lives?

I think we need to breathe, love, be compassionate, and be aware. And be kind.

How did you originally meet Donna Karan, and what common thread(s) led you to collaborate upon Urban Zen together?

We met through a very dear friend of ours, Maureen Doherty of EGG. We were both on a journey philanthropically, and we both wanted to help and make a difference in people’s lives. We then agreed upon the three initiatives, and what was important to both of us, then partnered.

Wellbeing is one of the three founding principles of Urban Zen. Contrary to popular belief, alternative medicine was as widely used in Western cultures as in the East over 3,000 years ago. However, whilst in Asia such practices continue to form an integrative part of society, European and American practices have clearly separated alternative medicine and science, favouring the latter. Why do you think this has occurred? Do you think there is hope of conciliating these two aspects into one practice in the near future?

I truly believe the reason for separation is so that it can come back together again. It is essential for us to promote and continue to take care of the patient. It’s essential for us to holistically prove that it can reduce pain and panic in people’s lives. It’s essential because many patients need an advocate, and that is what we at Urban Zen do. Right now it’s a matter of connecting the dots, and hopefully the two eventually will become one.

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