In this episode of the Phillip Lanos Podcast, we dive into the world of sustainable fashion with Berkeley Gamble, CEO and founder of Past Life. Berkeley shares how her brand, based in Denver, crafts timeless fashion from upcycled fabrics to prevent waste, emphasizing slow fashion over fast. Past Life uses dead stock materials and opts for buttons over zippers to reduce environmental impact. The company also engages in social good by donating proceeds to environmental causes, like Protect Our Winters. Berkeley discusses the challenges of educating consumers about sustainable practices, the higher costs associated with ethical production, and her personal journey from being a college athlete to a fashion entrepreneur, highlighting how her sports background shaped her business ethos. She also touches on the importance of community and mindfulness in her business operations, revealing how meditation inspired her brand's name and values.

Key Points:

- Mission of Past Life: Creating zero-waste, small-batch, slow fashion using upcycled materials, promoting sustainability and ethical production.

- Environmental Impact: By using dead stock fabric and buttons, Past Life significantly reduces landfill waste and promotes recycling.

- Challenges Overcome: Educating consumers on the importance of sustainable purchasing, dealing with higher production costs for ethical practices, and launching during a global pandemic.

- Community Building: Emphasis on creating an online community due to the shift towards e-commerce, maintaining direct-to-consumer sales to control sustainability.

- Personal Influence: Berkeley's background as an athlete influenced her approach to teamwork and leadership in business, while her meditation practice inspired the brand's philosophy and name.

- Future Plans: Upcoming creative campaigns, continued charitable donations aligned with current global needs, and new collections for the coming seasons.

- Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Encouragement to take risks, embrace learning, and create one's own business rules, emphasizing personal growth and patience.