The Power of Fig Nine's Versatile Responsible Wears

by SUSTAIN the Mag

Meet the founder behind fig nine, Jacqui Broberg, up and coming sustainable fashion brand with a very essential piece that people should consider to have more in their closets…a wrap dress. The powerful wrap dress ha been a quintessential example of woman and now femme empowerment that drew popularity in the 1960s. But now with a modern twist, fig nine is able to bring a whole new meaning to the wrap dress. One that is reversible made from hemp and organic cotton with intention to biodegrade.

For Jacqui, it wasn’t until she went to design school that she became more aware of the harms of the fashion industry. Being intentional was her main focus when starting fig nine, “Starting small, growing organically, and constantly evolving in our practices has always been the goal and I know that the more we grow, the better we can be.” She drew inspiration for the name fig nine partly by botanical illustrations and paired with the significance of the number nine her my life.

With home-based in a small town in Southwest Montana called Butte, Jacqui is able to partner with a local women-owned businesses for this first round of production, which is making their launch more special.

Be sure to check out fig nine here and receive 20% off of your preorder with the code SUSTAIN20.

SUSTAIN: When starting your career, what made you decide to incorporate sustainable practices? 

JACQUI: It wasn’t until I went to design school that I realized the harms of the fashion industry on the planet. I felt devoted to this craft, but I didn’t want to add to the mess and the noise. It was never a question for me whether I would incorporate sustainability into fig nine, but more a matter of how many hurdles I’d have to cross in order to find the right system. At this point, after about five years off and on with 2020-21 being our biggest year yet, I can honestly say that I feel like I’m just crossing over the starting line. I wanted to be more intentional about what I was bringing to the world and I wanted it to feel real. Starting small, growing organically, and constantly evolving in our practices has always been the goal and I know that the more we grow, the better we can be. 

SUSTAIN: Can you describe a little more about Fig Nine's values and ethics behind the brand? 

JACQUI: I started this brand because I wanted the chance to create pieces that can be a catalyst for feeling your best. As I’ve grown in this endeavor, I’ve had to make hard decisions and I’ve had to face many challenges. Being challenged is something that makes us stronger, just as challenging that which we know can fortify that strength. fig nine’s values are centered in transparency, in responsibility, in awareness, and in connection with all who are a part of this community. We work to support other small businesses. We work to minimize our impact on the Earth as much as possible. We share our learning and unlearning experiences in anti-racism because sustainability is not just about eco-friendly fabrics and carbon footprints. We continually research how we can be better as a brand (and a human) while knowing full well that the work never stops. 

SUSTAIN: What inspires you in your life when it comes to creating and designing?

JACQUI: Like many designers I am constantly in awe of and inspired by nature. The colors and textures of our environment are so fascinating. I also love historical fashion and how design elements have evolved over time. I really enjoy looking at vintage style when I’m thinking about new designs and what designing for the future can look like. Art is another major inspiration for me and in the upcoming years I plan to do more collaborations with artists to create custom textiles. Most importantly, my son is the reason for everything that I do. He actually pushed the launch button when we launched the Kickstarter! He is my inspiration foundation. 

SUSTAIN: Where did the idea of incorporating an everyday wrap dress come from?

JACQUI: The design of the Wrap Dress is developed from one of the first patterns I’d ever made for fig nine that was essentially a simple robe. I wanted to diversify that design into something that was still comfortable, but also highly functional. This is why there is the option for side button closures in addition to the wrap belt, as well as why the pockets are so large. I think wrap dresses in general are a great staple design for a wardrobe (especially capsules!), so all of these elements kind of came together to make this hybrid wrap/shift dress and duster piece all in one. I think there is a huge need for clothing that is versatile and can blend easily into our lifestyles and I wanted to create something that would fill that void and be an authentic iteration of what that looks like through my lens. 

SUSTAIN: What do you do to rest and take time for yourself when life and work gets busy?

JACQUI: Sometimes just sitting still on my couch and watching a movie can be the best kind of rest honestly, but when I’m really able to reset is when I can be outside. We have a couple lakes that we frequent near where we live and I’ve gotten into paddle boarding the past couple years. There’s a certain point on the lake where everything is quiet and the water has a gentle current and I always feel the most replenished when I’m there.

SUSTAIN: What are some of your current favorite sustainable brands? 

JACQUI: The Ziran, Body Parts, Dynasty George, Maker & Mineral, ZOU XOU, Two Days Off, Tonle…

I could go on!

SUSTAIN: Do you have any upcoming projects you would like to share with us?

JACQUI: I’ll be doing a small Fall drop in October with a few new products! Folks can sign up for our mailing list to get the inside scoop on what will be happening and of course they can follow along via Instagram @fignine.

Photographer: Julia Le

Model: Jalin Abston