Sustainable Spotlight | Created Beautifully

Ever wonder where we get our leather from? We collaborate with local designers and brands to salvage their scrap leather from going to the landfill. Created Beautifully was one of our first brands to join us in the sustainable fashion journey. 

1. Tell us about your brand.

Created Beautifully was started seven years ago as a sort of hobby/therapy. To be candid, my husband and I planned on having a houseful of little ones and our hopes were not coming to pass. I had just put him through nursing school and was leaving my job of ten years as a merchandising manager at a second hand store. I delved into making jewelry first; the infamous little bird nest to be exact  that is still a big seller to this day. Looking for the beauty in the ordinary started to heal my heart after dealing with years of infertility. Soon I started to want to do more than just make jewelry so I pulled my sewing machine out and started with a few fabric clutches, which then turned into a few industrial sewing machines and utilizing leather in my designs. My mom had taught me to sew when I was nine years old with my first project being to make a flannel nightgown for my little sister, who now works next to me every day!

2. Why is sustainability important to you?

Growing up we didn’t have much excess, we used cloth napkins at dinner ( and I still do, they are just classy!) Thrifted most all of our clothes and we would even pulled a good piece of furniture from the garbage pile in our neighborhood to take to the thrift store, just so it wouldn’t be thrown away.  My parents really ingrained in us the importance of valuing what we owned and wasting as little as possible. That value has continued into the daily grind of CB; salvaging leather from the upholstery industry for our bags and then sending the scraps we can not use to brands like yours is just one of the ways we practice this.

 
3. Which are your favourite fashion brands and/or individuals, whose ethos you most respect and are inspired by?

To be honest, I don’t really follow mainstream fashion any more. I still love to thrift and go for very classic and minimal styles in my wardrobe. I would have to say my muse has always been Audrey Hepburn. 

4. What will we see next from Created Beautifully?

  We soft launched our home goods line at Nest Fest this October, and will be growing that in 2019 to make it more accessible. It showcases the style you love from CB and turns them into things for your home, from Pillows, Luxury Hand Picked Cowhide Rugs to reclaimed and recovered foot stools and ottomans. And of course Created Beautifully will continue to grow as we responsibly source all the best for Beautiful You!