“I’d always dreamt about creating my own brand, but I knew I had to pair up with someone who mastered all the skills I didn’t have,” she tells RIISE. As fate would have it, Stephanie was introduced to Awa through Awa’s boyfriend Jens. The two “randomly talked” about starting a responsible brand and realised that they shared the same dream. They did not mess around: three months later, their first collection had arrived. 

Sustainability has always been a guiding force. Copenhagen has a global reputation as leading best practice in sustainable fashion. Many brands born from this city focus on environmentally-friendly fabrics and ethical design practices. Copenhagen Fashion Week  is also the most sustainable fashion week in the world: designers must show collections made up of at least 50% certified, upcycled or recycled materials; each show’s carbon footprint is offset; and there is a ban on single-use plastic, among other initiatives.

A deep understanding of branding and an appreciation for how clothes should be presented to tell a story played in Stephanie’s favour. “We needed to build up a recognisable universe that would work both digitally and physically, and make timeless and responsible clothing with a twist that people want to wear,” she explains.