Meet Deb Henriksen creator of Equillibrium. Deb is one of the talented designers being featured in the Whiteout fashion show at Artopia happening this Saturday! You can purchase ticket to the show here and use promo code fashiondenver for a discount!

Q:When did you first know you wanted to be a fashion designer?

A:I committed myself to being a fashion designer in 1998, when I started planning the creation of Equillibrium. 

Q:Where do you draw inspiration from? 

A: My inspiration comes from whatever hits me in the gut to design from…  nature, calls to action for sustainability or humanity, a genre of music,  my lifestyle as a boarder for over 23years, various cultures, urban environments, people, and of course ColoRADo.

Q:What has been the most rewarding and the most frustrating part of your journey thus far? 

A:The most rewarding is the respect and reputation I have built for Equillibrium and the support Denver has given the brand. The most frustrating is how much time, talent, and capitol it takes to make a little money… sales are always the biggest challenge. As a sustainable brand it is obvious consumer behavior doesn’t quite fully walk the walk yet with supporting quality over quantity. Fast fashion has ruined good consumer behavior of the masses. Hopefully that demographic becomes more educated and alters their behavior toward supporting sustainability and slowing climate change. Humans are a hell of a catalyst in the equation of life. Conscious consumption can change many realities we face today on these subjects if everyone applied it to their daily consumables, and yes, their wardrobe…

Q:You emphasize the importance of being eco-friendly with your work, (which is so awesome!) but do you ever find this to be difficult or limiting in any way? 

A:At the scale I currently produce at, yes it can be a limited selection for private label garments in ready to wear. When we are able to do more cut and sew, and purchase textiles by the bolt, I think I will have more than enough to choose from. There has never been more options purchasing in bulk, although there is still a lot of green washing. Knowing molecular science helps cut through the B.S. I hope the Fashion Industry as a whole focuses on sustainability more and it becomes the norm one day. It really needs to be in the 21st Century… I am committed to that cause and is really the only way I can participate in the fashion game. My own consciousness won’t allow it any other way. 😉 

For more on Deb and Equillibrium check our her site here!