Hi Alexandra, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Living in Southern California, I became overwhelmed and frustrated at the amount of pollution infiltrating our oceans and landfills. I tried my best to reduce my consumption of single-use plastics, but as a working professional always on-the-go, I couldn’t find a beautiful handbag that was both sustainably made and had the necessary pockets for my reusables. On a whim and a recommendation from a friend I took a permaculture class and as part of the course curriculum the suggested reading was a book called, Cradle to Cradle. The book changed the way I saw the world and I knew I had my answer: we can learn from nature and redesign the way we make things. Inspired to put the framework in action, NOUR ZERO is for people who love luxurious accessories and want to leave the planet better than we found it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been easy! Making products sustainably is not a smooth or easy process. The fashion industry really is on autopilot with outdated design practices. I had to overcome so many obstacles to create a new plant-based leather material, it took forever, like 2 years of non-stop trial and error. I called so many companies to research and find the top, most innovative and sustainable products. Oh, and then I wanted to make the handbag ethically in America instead of overseas, which meant meeting with many manufacturers until I found the right fit.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At NOUR ZERO, our vision is to create the world’s first zero waste luxury brand. We want the fashion industry to move from a linear, take-make-waste economy to a circular economy. What sets us apart from other brands is we design with the next use in mind, so we don’t pollute the Earth.
For example, our first product is the world’s most sustainable luxury handbag for professionals. We’ve engineered and designed materials that are performance driven without sacrificing style for sustainability. The core of the handbag is plant-based, meaning after a lifetime of wearing, it can eventually return to the soil as nutrients in a biological cycle. It’s really exciting!
We are focused on many more innovations in the luxury accessories category, because we know that the future is circular and we can return the Earth back to its abundant, natural state.
What were you like growing up?
Born and raised in Southern California, I spent my childhood outdoors playing sports and my summers at the beach. I loved school and did well. When I wasn’t in school or on a sports field, I expressed my creativity through school projects and in elementary school sewed my own handbag line.
Pricing:
- $698 The Everything Tote
Contact Info:
- Email: info@nourzero.com
- Website: www.nourzero.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nourzero/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nourzero
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nourzerobrand
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2DwecaUsUQqQzvsUnsLLpg?view_as=subscriber
Image Credits
NOUR ZERO
