Crafting a Sustainable Future: An Interview with Fashion Designer Samantha Brunner

Designer: Samantha Brunner
Photographer: Andras Schram
Model: Crystal Paquette
Hair: Michelle Suffolk HMUA
Makeup: Ivonne Arsenault MUA

Samantha Brunner, a fashion designer based in Calgary, AB, has established herself as a notable figure in the sustainable fashion industry. A graduate of Olds College: Fashion Institute, Samantha majored in Costume Cutting and Construction and holds two certifications in Sustainable Fashion.

Beyond her professional achievements, Samantha is deeply involved in her community. She balances raising her family with volunteering for local fashion productions and focusing on her own line of sustainable products. Notably, she contributed to the costuming team for the movie “The Northlander” and played a key role in organizing prominent events such as the Motionball 2018 Calgary Gala and the MS Society Winter Gala 2019.

In 2019, Samantha extended her expertise to mentoring her daughter and niece at the Calgary MakeFashion EDU STEAM fashion show, where their creation, "The Phoenix," debuted at Calgary’s Beakernight 2018. Her dedication to fostering young talent and promoting sustainability was further recognized when she was chosen to display her work at the first Future Oceans event in Victoria, BC, and was showcased as one of the designers for EventU, an event empowering women entrepreneurs.

In this interview, Samantha delves into her passion for sustainable fashion, the challenges she has overcome, and her innovative approaches to creating eco-conscious garments.

Q: Tell us about your background and what led you to a career in fashion design.
A: I grew up watching my grandmother and Nana making and mending clothing, so when I was in my early 20’s, I started my first career job in fashion retail. I knew I wanted to start designing my own clothing after seeing the lack of quality clothing that was available in today's market. I was constantly having to mend or repurchase items because of the quality.

Q: Were there any key moments or influential figures in your life that steered you towards focusing on sustainable fashion?
A: My great grandparents were key figures in raising me; they came from a time when you had to reuse or repair what you had before you bought new. I grew up with these values, so when I became a mother, I really tried to focus on how I could put this into practice. I didn’t really understand the impact fashion had on the planet until I took ethics in fashion during my first year of school. This was the pivotal point in my life where I needed to find a way to combine the values I had in my personal life with my soon-to-be career practices.

Q: Can you share how your formal or informal education has played a role in your focus on sustainability?
A: Before college, I saw a need to produce better quality garments that lasted longer than what was available. During college, in my ethics class, I learned about ongoing issues normal consumers don’t normally see because it happens behind the scenes. I became more aware of what I was buying and how I made my garments, but it wasn’t until I was really on my own making small batches or made-to-order garments that I really pulled together everything I learned and put it into practice. I continually learn more about the ongoing issues with fashion and sustainability and how I can better myself and my business through online courses, articles, research, and really understanding what sustainability is to me. Being sustainable isn’t just about organic small batch clothing; it needs to be sustainable right down to the farmers growing/raising the fibers or skins, to transporting them to processing plants, to textile factories being sustainable, and the laborers having sustainable working conditions, transporting to consumers. It’s a never-ending cycle of how sustainable I can ensure my garments are. Do I just buy only sustainably made textiles? Do I use deadstock and recycled materials before purchasing more and putting more demand on manufacturing? It’s something I constantly ask myself. Currently, I was given a whole bunch of old textiles, deadstock, and fabrics. Me purchasing more would not be sustainable.

Q: Who are the designers or environmental activists that have inspired you the most in your work and ethos?
A: Historical fashion has inspired me the most in my work. I find the craftsmanship, care, and attention to garment making throughout history something really beautiful. It’s not something you see with the fashion and garments that are readily available in modern society.

Q: Please describe your design philosophy and how it reflects the mission of ocean conservation.
A: I am a mother of three. I want to help leave this earth a safe, sustainable place for generations to grow. I'm afraid at the rate we are progressing, my children will face many hardships due to climate change. As an artist, I believe that it is my responsibility to create meaningful art that has a positive change in society. Our oceans are an essential part of the planet’s ecosystem, and we can already see parts of it starting to wildly change due to climate change and plastic pollution.

Q: How do you balance aesthetic appeal with environmental sustainability in your designs?
A: It’s actually not really that hard. I generally really like the sustainably made textiles that are out on the market. They have a natural luscious look and high-quality feel. Currently, that is not something that I really need to worry about when I am purchasing sustainably made fabrics. On the other hand, I also feel it would be very irresponsible of me to go out and purchase those fabrics because I was donated a whole bunch of vintage fabrics, off-cuts, and random little pieces that would most likely be considered deadstock. I feel like I need to work those into what I have right now for my new collection. I’m using products that aren’t necessarily sustainably made, but rescued out of the landfill. I’m using as much of a textile as I possibly can to ensure I’m not creating waste out of the items. I 100% wholeheartedly believe that sustainability has its meaning to other people, and in this case, I am focusing my efforts on recycling and reusing what I have before purchasing new stuff.

Q: Can you discuss any innovative techniques you employ in your manufacturing processes that are environmentally friendly?
A: Small batch made-to-order garments. That way, if an item doesn’t sell, I’m able to reuse the materials for something else.

Q: What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced in creating eco-conscious fashion, and how have you overcome them?
A: Finding readily accessible materials. A lot of the times, I need to order samples to see what is available in Canada. And most of the time, if I order a textile, I can’t just order what I need; I need to order a minimum amount. I have found connecting with other designers and sharing orders to be very helpful. I also found that a lot of people shy away from the words "sustainable" or "eco-conscious" in the area of Canada that I live in. I need to lead with the designs, let them talk, and then tell people about my brand and mission.

Q: Can you share a particular project or design that you feel best represents your commitment to the oceans and why?
A: My current art piece I am working on for an upcoming show with Future Oceans, made out of recovered ocean plastic. I’ve been working on it for the last two years to truly change it into something new. I have been tinkering around with different ways I can use the materials that give it a new feel. I’m really excited that it’s all coming together finally, as I’ve tried multiple methods and watched countless ocean documentaries for inspiration. Back in 2019, I made my first piece with them. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but I found a love in creating something beautiful out of something so devastating.

Q: What are some emerging trends in sustainable fashion that you are excited about or think could be revolutionary?
A: Finding vegan leather alternatives! I feel like vegan leather is a contradiction; it’s extremely bad for the environment because it is made of plastic. In turn, it doesn't really help the animals because of the environmental impact it has. Finding a material that is organic and that can mimic the feel and look of real leather is fantastic!

Q: How do you think personal experiences shape your designs?
A: I grew up with it just being my mom and my brother and sister. My brother has Down syndrome, and because of the extra needs for him, and my mom being a single mom, I spent a lot of my early years at my great grandparents’ learning how to garden, mend, and fix things in the shop. I have carried these values throughout my whole life, and they have really inspired my designs and the sustainability behind them.

Q: What advice would you give to young designers who want to make a positive impact on our planet through fashion?
A: Start thinking of what you want your sustainable impact to be! If you want to mend, recycle, how you are going to manufacture, where you're going to source sustainably made textiles. Research where you're shopping, and data collect the places that fit within your vision. That way, you are able to have what you need available. Also, talk to other designers with like minds, work together, share, and create.

Follow Samantha @samanthafaye.yyc