The Sustainable Trend You’ll Want to Wear All Season Long
We are going green this year! And we are starting with our wardrobe.
Clinging to a theme that we deem is here to stay, the infamous puffer trend is taking on fresh form in the realm of sustainability. A chunky oversized coat isn’t exactly unheard of for these chilly days, but the latest outerwear staple, specifically the ‘Reversible T-Shirt Puffer Jacket’ from sustainable streetwear brand NMB New York, will leave you saying, “reduced waste never looked so good!” Elevating the idea of sustainable fashion, we have spoken with Natalie Brown, owner and designer of NMB New York as she is striving towards a fashionably cleaner world one original design at a time.
Rebranding the concept of upcycling and clothing individuality, the innovative designer sources retro apparel from vintage shops, primarily eye-catching vintage band tees, deconstructs them, and converts them into edgy, expressive “NMB Originals” nonidentical to any other. “One shirt will just catch my eye and then I work up a theme around it,” shares Brown. “I design my pieces to have a personality and I believe each one has a personality of their own. Each NMB piece is an original one of one, meaning that only the customer will have that piece. There’s something special about having something one of a kind, celebrating your individuality!” NMB New York also specializes in sweatpants, cropped vests, bustiers, beanies, hats and masks.
As NMB New York continues to grow, the emerging brand has an array of new top styles up their sleeves to be revealed this year, however, “the ‘Reversible T-shirt Puffer Jacket’ will forever hold a special place in my heart,” reveals Brown. “I made the very first one for my Parson’s thesis collection by myself, isolated in lock down. Working on that jacket kept me excited and passionate in the midst of the pandemic. It’s the first piece in the NMB collection and the one that visually stands out most to me.” Although this layering accessory is on trend this season, the expressive designer does not believe in fashion rules. “If you like it, wear it. If you think about it, fashion icons can pull off anything because they wear it confidently and unapologetically.”
Surpassing the one year milestone, “I have learned to trust the process,” shares Brown. “I think being a young adult, you do have those moments of doubt. You’re still figuring things out, this is my first time as an entrepreneur so it can be very daunting at times. But I find comfort in the fact that everyone’s path is unique and in reality no one really knows what they’re doing. There’s no handbook to life so you just have to push through the fear. Everything has fallen into place and as long as you have vision and drive, things always work out, and sometimes even better than you expected. Believe in yourself and it’s never too late to pursue your passions!”