INTERVIEW #64 BROOKLYN BANDIT
Based in: Brooklyn, New York
Founded in: 2021
Founded by: Linda Andric
Stores: www.brooklyn-bandit.com
Price range: $290-$700
Instagram: @brooklynbandit_official
What is Brooklyn Bandit and why did you start?
Brooklyn Bandit is a women’s luxury footwear brand with collections designed in Brooklyn, NY, and brought to life by European manufacturing ateliers. Our company prides itself in its slow and considered process, rooted in traditional footwear craftsmanship. From the first cut to the last polish, our shoes are handmade by master artisans. Our development lifecycle is centered around quality, sustainability, and mindful creation, with each collection produced in limited batches, so as to reduce our environmental impact. We create luxury products, and offer them mid-level price point, by engineering our prices in a way that is fair to both the consumer and our manufacturing partners.
I have spent over a decade working in the fashion industry, specializing in footwear design, development and sourcing. I visited and worked with factories from around the world; China, Vietnam, India, the US and throughout Europe, creating footwear for various brands. It was during these travels that I developed a strong appreciation for craftmanship, and felt most inspired when working with small factories, who employed skilled artisans and crafted high-quality, durable products. As my career progressed, my personal values became even more closely aligned with slow and sustainable fashion, and I knew that I wanted to become a part of this movement. Brooklyn Bandit was born, you could say, out my love for footwear, and this dream to build a sustainable, slow fashion brand. It’s a true blessing to have had this long career in the industry, as it gave me a solid foundation on which to build my brand.
In what ways do you work with sustainability?
Sustainability is at the core of our company, and is woven into everything that we do, from our development and production processes to material sourcing and packaging. It is also important to note that for us, sustainability, ethical sourcing practices and slow fashion go together and are part of the same philosophy. At Brooklyn Bandit, we source all our materials from top-rated European tanneries, which adhere to the strictest environmental standards and solely use hides that are a byproduct of the meat industry. We create a handful of styles each year and produce them in limited batches, to ensure that each pair gets the attention it deserves, and to limit waste. Any leftover materials are saved and incorporated into future collections, so that we use up everything that we purchase. Our packaging consists of FSC-certified paper and natural cotton dust bags. We’re continuously educating ourselves on sustainability best practices and look forward to learning and growing, always with a focus on doing the right thing.
How and where are the products produced?
Fit is important when it comes to both our shoes and our manufacturing partners. Our collections are hand crafted in Europe, by small ateliers who share our values and working style. They employ high-skilled artisans and provide them fair wages and good working conditions. In turn, we pay our ateliers well, and encourage them to work slowly and mindfully in bringing our shoes to life – and they love this way of working.
Your best selling product?
Our Eva bootie has been a superstar!
Where do you find inspiration?
Ironically, I get the best ideas when I am walking my dog, hiking in nature, or whenever I am not looking to create or design. Our design process starts with making a “last”, which is essentially a foot-shaped insert that goes inside the shoe when creating a prototype. I will get inspired to create a certain heel or toe shape and start designing the last from there. Next, I will design the upper (top part of the shoe) and select materials. We consciously choose to reuse our constructions (heels and lasts) in our collections, since those are the most time and labor intensive to create. Our Eva construction for example took about 6 months to perfect, so we plan on using her again and again in the future. Our design and development process is also built around sustainability and respect for resources.
What have been and are the major challenges?
Supply chain issues related to Covid, when we first got started – delays with shipping, material shortages, our ateliers working at half capacity. Luckily, things have been going smoothly since the start of 2022.
What has been and are the largest gain?
I love my job, I believe in our mission, and am incredibly grateful for this experience. We’ve also built a great community through social media and networking, where we get to connect with like-minded businesses and consumers, which has been so rewarding.
What do you think needs to change in the fashion industry to make it more sustainable?
There are many small brands like ours who genuinely want to do the right thing. However, industry-wide change will come when it is demanded by the consumer, who basically “votes with their wallet”. We are already seeing a big shift in people’s mindset when it comes to buying products, which makes me optimistic about the future of the industry. The modern consumer is educated on sustainability, and understands that cheap, throwaway products come with a big hidden cost that they are no longer willing to ignore.
What would you advise consumers to do who seek to create a sustainable closet and lifestyle?
As a first option, consider buying vintage – there are so many great secondhand options out there, and you can find unique treasures at amazing prices. When purchasing something new, buy from small and mid-sized companies that are focusing on sustainability. Also, in general, try to buy less, but invest in quality pieces that will last you a long time.
Best thing about Brooklyn Bandit?
Sustainable, high-quality shoes that are made by the same ateliers as luxury European brands but offered to you at fair prices. Need I say more?
Question to the founder: Do you have any advice for people who want to start their own business or get into the industry?
First ask yourself why you are doing it. You will need a strong reason or motivation to be your guiding star when things get tough, which they will – starting a business is challenging. Second, getting started is the hardest part. If you are passionate and you strongly believe in your cause or idea, just go for it. In the words of MLK: “you don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”. Lastly, and I am still learning this myself, try to enjoy every step of the journey instead of focusing on the end destination.