Sustainable Design has a Future and it’s Called Nicole Bridger
by Jordana Mah in Business on February 3rd, 2010
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TweetNicole Bridger is a designer from Vancouver, BC. She utilizes fabrics that are renewable and made from natural resources. Not only does NBD hope to promote positive change in today’s world through their socially conscious clothing, but the line also shows that sustainable clothing isn’t synonymous with ugly.
About Nicole
When did you realize that a career in fashion was for you?
I learned how to sew in grade 7 and sewed a lot of my own clothes from then on. Both my parents are in the medical field so I thought I was supposed to do that too. My first boyfriend’s dad was a shoe designer and I saw that I could do what I love and have a successful career. So it was then, in grade 10, that I put it together and it has been my goal ever since to have my own line.
If you weren’t a designer, what do you think you’d be doing right now?
Maybe a vet?
What are your largest fashion inspirations?
Vivienne Westwood, Isabel Marant
Being a graduate of Ryerson’s Fashion Design program, do you think that an education in fashion is the way to go, or is creative talent and determination really all that is necessary to a designer’s career?
It definitely helps to get into the job market to have a good education. It’s expensive and time consuming for a company to hire you without the proper training.
How many hours do you work per day? What is your daily routine?
Half of my week I am a mom to an 11 month old baby boy and the other half I am a designer and business owner. So, on a work day, I wake up at 6am with my baby, feed him and myself breakfast, the babysitter comes at 8am and I have a shower and get to work. I answer emails, fill online orders. Then I take care of production, or fabric ordering or pattern making. I have lunch at noon with my baby. Maybe I have a meeting with my brand manager or my web programmer. Maybe I run down to the factory. I finish up my day in time for dinner at 5:30pm and then bathe my baby and put him to bed. Maybe I go out for dinner with friends or just stay home and go to bed early. On my mom days I do fun activities with my baby and I also get to go for a workout.
On being green
Sustainable design – so many designers are coming out and being “green,” but many of these attempts come off as half-hearted marketing gimmicks and excuses to charge higher prices. What do you think marks the truly sustainable designers from the posers and how do you ensure that your audience receives the best quality pieces while maintaining that sustainable ethos?
Well first of all, it doesn’t bother me if other designers start using eco practices even if their heart isn’t in it; it is still a great thing to do. For me, it is just what I believe in, so I don’t need to try. It’s just authentic, and that translates into everything we do and our customer knows and feels that. Sustainability certainly doesn’t compromise quality, if anything; it raises the quality of the garment. And these fabrics are more costly than conventional ones, so the garments are often more expensive but the customer understands why and sees the value.
On the collection
Who is the woman you have in mind when you design NBD? Alternatively, do you have a muse?
Myself, really. It’s all about what I like and how it works into my life. I like to wear things that are comfortable but look stylish or interesting. I like to throw everything in the wash and dryer. I like neutral colours.
For this season’s collection, why did you choose the themes of community and self-worth as the dominant theme you wished to express? How is this expressed in the designs?
I look to my personal life for inspiration. At the time I had a brand new baby and was trying to understand the importance of community, seeing how it changes when you have children. It’s just what works for me. I then take the feelings of that life lesson and it transmutes into colours and shapes. Clothing gives off a feeling, so I translate the feelings I’m feeling into the visual of the clothing.
I noticed that the model featured in your Spring/Summer lookbook has multiple tattoos – was this on purpose? Do you have any tattoos yourself?
Yes and yes. I like tattoos. I like to challenge people’s assumptions of others. Tattoos are often stereotyped to be only on criminals or pirates. I think they are beautiful on a lovely young woman too. It’s really about being current with the times.
Views on the industry and the world
It seems that the modern woman is losing her sense of self-worth, with photos of celebrities like Heidi Montag and her multiple plastic surgeries everywhere you look. As someone who believes that “…our spirit and sensuality comes from the inside out…” what do you think that those in the fashion community can do to counteract such dangerous outlooks?
I don’t even know who Heidi Montag is. I don’t pay much attention to those kinds of shallow things going on in the world; it’s a waste of my time. I’m inspired by celebrities that are doing great things with their status like Angelina Jolie. It is sad that people feel so empty about themselves. But at the same time I feel there is a movement going on that is more about self-worth and natural beauty. Really, we all are living our own lives and do the best we can with what we’ve got. It’s up to Heidi Montag to decide what she wants to do with her life and me with mine.
The Future
Where would you like to take your brand over the next 3 years?
Our online store is doing really well, so I would like to continue to expand that. We have also been marketing the maternity friendly pieces in the line. And eventually I want to start a baby line.
Would you ever expand your brand into menswear or accessories?
Absolutely, when the time is right.
What is the best entrepreneurial advice you’ve ever received?
Keep your overheads as low as possible.
All about Vancouver
Many fashion lovers in Vancouver complain that style in Vancouver is non-existent, but I would beg to differ as I’ve seen many examples on the street, in blogs, and at fashion events, that would rival style anywhere. As a designer, what are your opinions on Vancouver fashion, and how would you characterize it?
Sure Vancouver doesn’t show a lot of great style on every street and there are a lot of bad jeans worn with outdoorsy jackets. But there are also little pockets, like Main Street and Gastown, where you see lots of stylish people struttin’ their stuff. Vancouver is great for a certain kind of fashionista. You can go to some of the best restaurants in jeans, boots, and a sexy top. I also think people here are about functionality, so your clothes need to work for you and the weather. So you rarely see any seriously outlandish digs.
It’s a typical rainy Vancouver Saturday afternoon, where can you be found shopping for your latest finds?
Truthfully, I don’t shop a lot in the city. And usually on a Saturday afternoon I would take my baby to the farmers market. I love fresh produce and market people. But if I am in need of something, I’ll go to Vincent Park or Jonathan and Olivia on Main Street. For shoes, I go to Gravity Pope on 4th. Gastown also has some great shops and wonderful furniture shops too.
Just for fun
Your go-to fashion reads (online or in print)?
I don’t read mags very much; I just don’t have time now being a mom, and really was never that into mags. I do get inspired by biographies on TV or movies though. I recently watched Coco Chanel and found that very inspiring.
What do you see as the top trends for 2010?
Well as far as the West Coast goes…I think people are becoming a little more daring with the drapey pieces. But maybe that’s just me hoping.
What are the top 3 trends you wish would die a violent and swift death?
Not much, I love when people wear ridiculous things with confidence. But… actually, I don’t like it when girls wear skirts so short I can see their “whoohaaas”, nobody needs to see that.
The winner of our Nicole Bridger contest is Bex of The Styling Bee! Congratulations!
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