Bridget Artise
Meet Bridget Artise founder of @sustainablefashionweekus. A Sustainable Fashion Crusader, Bridget has been promoting sustainable awareness since 2001 via her brand Born Again Vintage. The brand is one of the earliest upcyling brands which allowed me to author the book Born Again Vintage in 2008. Afterwards I created one of FITs first sustainable classes called “How to build a Vintage Business” in 2010. From there I have implemented Sustainable Fashion Afterschool Programs in the NJ/NYC area then opened my 1st brick and mortar House of BAV. Which ultimately led to me founding Sustainable Fashion Week US in 2019. Currently I opened the first sustainable store at Tanger Outlets partnered with BK Style Foundation called House of BAV BK Style.
IRK: Tell is your “Why”
My “Why” changes periodically. I would say initially it was feeling a passion I had not felt by cutting up clothes and wanted to continue to feel that. Then it was learning the horrors of the fashion industry and wanting to spread the word. Next it was about putting on emerging designers because I remembered how hard and lonely it was for me when I first started with not many designers like me out there. I keep going because there is still so much to do, I believe in what I do so that will always drive me to keep at it.
IRK:What are you most passionate about with respect to taking care of people and planet?
As mentioned above, I am passionate about supporting newbies, students and emerging designers. I will always believe we are stronger together if we are truly about making an impact.
IRK: What are some conscious actions you implement in your daily life?
Well, I haven’t shopped retail in over 12 years nor have I driven in almost a year. I repeat my outfits frequently and encourage all those around me to thrift as oppose to shop retail.
IRK: What’s your hope for the future of the planet?
I truly hope we can go back to a day of less consumption and less production and really loving our clothes. I hope our future looks more like our past.
IRK: What Sustainable Development Goal do you align with the most? https://sdgs.un.org/goals
I definitely align most with Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production.
