At 23 years old, Karissa Birthwright is the owner of SaintVegann. What was once just a platform for bringing insights to veganism and living a healthy lifestyle, has now grown to offer hand-bleached merchandise. SaintVegann’s ongoing collection, SV Ups (SaintVegann Upcycling), is 100% upcycled and 50% of the proceeds are donated to Black Vision Collective. Since starting her business, Karissa has done four collections, collaborated with local and national companies, donated over $3000, and sold over 500 pieces. At a time when sustainability issues and climate change is the biggest threat to our Earth, SaintVegann is taking steps to bring awareness to a sustainable lifestyle. Check out our interview with the owner of SaintVegann, Karissa Birthwright.

Where are you based?
I am currently based in Rochester NY but started in Brooklyn, NY.

Can you tell me what SaintVegann means?
SaintVegann is best broken down by this: [saint] – a human who does good onto others, which explains the philanthropic side of my brand. [vegan] – the lifestyle the brand embodies. [the extra n, “ann”] – an homage to my beautiful mom, Lisbeth ann.

What inspired you to create SaintVegann?
Originally, I desired a brand for the lifestyle that I lead, so the intent was to create a growth platform for anyone who needs insight about veganism and making more plant-based choices in an ‘easy to access’ way. It grew into hand-bleached merch when I was headed out to LA last January in an outfit I bleached. Someone tried to buy it off of my body because it was “so lovely.”

Clearly being vegan is very important to you. Why did you choose to live a plant-based diet and how does it impact you?
All glory to my best friend, Jilli. I’ve been vegan for over two years now. I have always been finicky over meat and was posed the opportunity to make this change in the midst of my junior year of college. I chose to finally go plant-based because I could no longer justify eating an animal that was mercilessly killed. Also, it could save our planet the system stopped/decreased. At first, it was hard for the food element (cutting out eggs and milk) but it’s really been that wellness defining factor of my life. I feel my best, among my crazy work and play lifestyle, 90% of the time.

Jejune loves that you are a sustainable vegan fashion brand, which seems to make perfect sense since one of the best ways to help stop climate change is to go vegan. Do you feel these passions go hand in hand for you?
I feel that veganism has so much potential in the lives of so many. It’s gotten this reputation of being “cult-like” and a “pushy culture” but I intend to always make my brand the opposite of that. For me, it is an equal parts mindset, diet, lifestyle, and worldly issues. Being a vegan, your lifestyle helps the world so much more than you could even start to recognize. The good news: anyone can be vegan or try vegan if you have the correct tools to do so. Tools are knowledge and knowledge is power. I have put a lot of time and effort into researching how to be on the best route for life success, and veganism hits every mark for me. I realize that veganism is not for everyone, climate change isn’t important to everyone, and philanthropy isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, they are all mine… plus I love tea (haha). SaintVegann will always be a brand that exemplifies these complicated ideals by simplifying them for anyone who wants to touch that version of life.

Jejune loves the idea that customers could send their old sweatshirt or you thrift it for them. How did the idea of creating hand bleached merch come about?
I was actually in Brooklyn, struggling with rent and the city life like just about everyone else who is there. Heading out to LA, I NEEDED new outfits but only had a thrift budget. Thrifting was a new concept to me at this point and I then was throwing bleach on T-shirts (in my 5x5 apartment bathroom) and old clothes of mine and wore a full bleached sweat set to the airport Jan 2020. I got stopped in LAX and someone asked if they could buy the set-off of my body. The whole trip I kept getting stopped. I still have that set and I refuse to put any logos on it (hahaha). Once the pandemic started, I came home, sales increased exponentially, and I created a website. Since then, I’ve done four collections with two on the way, several collabs with local and national companies, over $3000 donated, and over 500 pieces sold.

The public is becoming increasingly aware of sustainability issues. What is the hardest process about creating sustainably fashionable clothing?
Currently, I have an ongoing collection of SV called “SV Ups” (SaintVegann Upcycling] that is 100% upcycled clothing. 50% of these proceeds are donated to @blackvisionscollective. It’s been awesome collaborating with brands like @ThriftyRevisions who specialize in thrifting, as I’ve learned so much about the quality of certain brands, fabrics, and colorways. It is hard to dabble in thrifting when you don’t know much about it, so for @VintageByLex, I am also thankful. She’s shown me the in’s and out’s of online “small” business while showing me the quality level of vintage pieces. People always have the option to send me their old clothes to spruce up or donate their clothes to SV Ups. The demand for SaintVegann has increased exponentially well over my head, so I had to turn to wholesaling many of the clothes that aren’t sent to me or apart of my SV Ups program. That being said, I wholesale from brands like Jerzees and Gildan, who embody environmental importance in their packaging, their production in the USA, etc.

How is that relevant to current times?
I think that always having a choice is important, which is pretty representative of SV itself. If you’d like to upcycle pieces for your wardrobe, SaintVegann offers that option, and if you’d like to have a new set of clothing that was hand-bleached with a cruelty-free, vegan method, you also have that option. There’s a range of options that you are given when you come to SaintVegann looking for a lifestyle change, like diet and mindset changes.

What are the most difficult adversities you face being a young woman running a small business?
I currently (and thankfully) still have my full-time job, which is still fully remote. I am very thankful that SaintVegann has taken roots in the online world of the pandemic since I do not have a storefront. The toughest part is splitting the time between every facet of my life, I truly wish there was more time in a day. I am very open with my struggle with generalized anxiety disorder and depression, and I realized I have to remain that way. Taking care of yourself when you have a billion other things to do is the only way you can get done what needs to be, and WELL. The most important part of a small business owner’s life (aside from their amazing, loyal customers) is their support system, truly. I have the best circle of people that support me, help me with anything I ask, and make sure it’s to my standard (which only comes with knowing me for a while). I am so blessed with the path that SV has been set on and I am ecstatic about what’s to come.

Overcoming adversities can teach a lesson and promote growth. What adversities did you or do you face while running a small business and how did you learn from that?
Shipping times can weigh heavily on my mind. In fact, I’ve lost sleep over the irate emails I’ve received asking why a piece is “taking so long.” I get it. But SaintVegann is not fast fashion. I consistently, without fail, have learned that I must remind myself that I am one human, with a life, a passion, and needs outside of SaintVegann. I am so particular about each piece that is made, and I have (always) held myself to a very high standard. Whenever you shop a small business, you have to remember that you are not the only customer, but at SaintVegann you will always be treated with respect like you are.

Jejune loves that you were out protesting with the Black Lives Matter movement and donate 50% of SVups orders towards Black Visions Collective. Can you tell us a little bit about that experience?
I am a 23-year-old Black woman. I have a white mother and a black father, so I have always grown up exposed to the truths of being Black in America, and the responsibilities that being mixed holds. On the topic of racial justice, it is not and never will be an argument regarding what has taken place, which is why it is not an option for me to sit back about it. I will always protest for human rights. That is not negotiable. So far, SV has donated over a thousand to @blackvisionscollective. At SV, I note “always give when you can give” as I was brought up like this. BLVC is an LGBTQ+ organization committed to funding campaigns for black lives in our communities. I cannot be at every protest, every leader, and every campaign, but I can donate to an organization that is.

With the election creeping around the corner, why do you think it is important to vote?
I’m voting because as a Black bisexual woman in America, my life depends on it. If your life “doesnt depend on it” on paper, I hope you’ll vote on behalf of someone’s life who does.

How is that relevant to current times?
Please, please exercise your right to vote. It is the most important election of everyone’s lives to date.

Your website is currently closed. Once it is reopened, what should people expect from SaintVegann?
The website was closed for maintenance as I geared up for the fall season. October 13, the hoodie edit was released and near sold out. November 1, a collab with @ThriftyRevisions will go live, November 15, a new colorway will go live, and December 1, my most favorite collection yet, “Anniversary” will go live.

How are you staying positive during a shelter in place?
There is no better time than now to start working on yourself. Now, we have been literally handed free time (and less obligation for social interaction) on a silver platter. To ignore that is like saying no to free money. I’m staying positive by focusing on the things I’ve never had a chance to focus on before, and enjoying the people close to me that I love.

What is your motto in life?
Forget about winning the race. Actually win.

To learn more about SaintVegann please follow her via the below platforms:
Saintvegann.com
Instagram: @Saintvegann

SaintVegann: Intertwining Veganism & Sustainable Fashion