Today we’d like to introduce you to Britt McFadden.
Britt, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I moved to Austin from Philadelphia about five years ago. I have a degree in Fashion Design and had spent the previous six years working for a small fine art fashion brand working between Philly and New York. During the pandemic, I spontaneously moved to Austin with a friend and after taking about a year off from fashion, I began what is now, PHBE GB, as a personal creative outlet. I started out by selling screenprinted crop tops and bedazzled lighters at different markets around Austin and slowly began to create my wonderful Austin creatives/fashion community. This past year, I’ve found my focus as a slow fashion brand and showed collections in multiple runway shows around Texas. I’m excited to continue down this path of sustainable fashion and grow PHBE GB as a brand that celebrates and empowers every body.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Creating your own brand and trying to navigate how you want to articulate your message to the world is no easy feat. There are a lot of obstacles, ie financial, time, resources, market unpredictability, social media, etc, that can make bringing your creative vision to life very challenging. It’s easy to compare yourself or brand to what you see on social media and to feel overwhelmed by trying to navigate how you want to grow your small business. Once I started to focus on creating pieces I felt really proud of and sustainably building a brand I believed in, so many opportunities came my way. It has been a such a rewarding experience to connect with Austin’s amazingly strong and supportive creative community and I am excited about the future of PHBE GB.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
PHBE GB is a slow fashion label focused on using upcycled and dead stock materials to create playful fashion that celebrates and empowers the wearer. I design, pattern, cut and sew every PHBE GB piece with a focus on intentional and sustainable development and manufacturing processes. Some ways I practice this are by using the sun to burn my screens, shipping with recycled packaging, using second hand and deadstock fabrics sourced from other small businesses, and creating 3D design elements and trims with my scrap fabrics. I start by sketching and collecting inspiration photos for a mood board and use a mix of flat patterning and draping to construct each garment. Color and texture guide me as I design and I am endlessly inspired by how my customers use their individual style to bring life to their PHBE GB pieces.
What are your plans for the future?
My plan for the very near future is to launch my online store and be able to sell to PHBE GB customers everywhere! I hope to drop a few collections annually and would love to collaborate with and dress other Austin creatives and performers. I hope to continue to build my community of colorful and sustainable fashion baddies that celebrate the beauty of the individual with no compromise to their moral or environmental values. I want to be an ally in the slow fashion movement, knowing that the future of sustainable fashion lies in our collaborative efforts.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @phbegb
- Other: phbegb@gmail.com
Image Credits
Madison Dee @madison._.dee
Chris Cantoya @neohombre
Madison Dee
James Woodford Hues @jwoodfordhues
James Woodfor Hues
Madison Dee
James Woodford Hues
Eric Schneeman @each.charted.street
