After 7 years of training and 18 long months of building and running her own company, you’d think Scandinavian designer Signe Rødbro of BySigne would have very little time to reflect on how far she’s come in her career so far. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that she cites “personal positive feedback” as the highlight of her career, above any monetary success.
“We have a lot of amazing customers contacting us just to say thanks or to tell us how happy they are with the clothes. I am equally stunned and flattered every single time. It definitely means the world to me that people get what I do, and that they like it”.
Here at YCB HQ we love her designs -from dresses to sweatpants – and are particularly tempted by the classic wearability of every piece. However these everyday garments are more than just ordinary, “I take basic pieces and pay attention to all details and a lot to comfort, hoping to be able to make them to perfection. I have a strong visual profile and try to create a whole universe through all of our media that also goes into the clothes”.
Although style is a major factor in the design process, the BySigne label is heavily influenced by their drive to produce clothing made from sustainable sources. The in-house production in Denmark ensures absolute ethical security where they work with organic cotton, bamboo, natural dyes and low impact methods of whitening called oxybleach.
“It feels good to create something that you can vote for all the way through, and I love being able to share the story about everything that we do honestly and openly”.
Signe certainly sets a high standard for other brands. “The fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the entire world, so I believe that we all need to be aware of sustainability in one way or the other at some point” Signe tells us. But how much harm are we doing as consumers?
Signe insists that although she’s passionate about the subject she won’t be on her high horse for too long. “It’s not about lecturing or preaching, it is something that came naturally when setting up my brand as I have a huge conscience. It feels good to create something that you can vote for all the way through, and I love being able to share the story about everything that we do honestly and openly”.
Does working with such an environmental agenda make designing more difficult? The 25 year old designer doesn’t seem to think so. In fact she’s hoping that her pieces are accessible to everyone, even if she does have a very vivid inspiration in her mind, “My current muse is a mysterious, independent and creative character from a 70s movie (…) there is some sort of grace and magic around her, but in reality, I truly hope that I design for anyone that likes our garments and style. I wish to make basic, comfortable & healthy pieces for any type of person”.
Her personal hero piece of the collection is the SS17 strap-top, as she finds it “really works for me in most situations”. Working from her personal studio all day means comfort is a priority where she works hard to tweak her new designs.
“The fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the entire world, so I believe that we all need to be aware of sustainability in one way or the other at some point”
She sports an incredible work ethic for a designer so young, “I will most likely just be at the studio all day and night working, I go home and have a late dinner, go to bed and get back up and go the studio the next morning” but somehow remains grounded and grateful for her journey so far. “I value them highly, they are truly some of my best days, getting to do what I love, in the space that I have created for it. I could not ask for much more”.
With the current trend for minimalism and everything Scandi, it’s easy to see why the BySigne brand is so popular!
We can look forward to the AW launch which will be in stores in September, with a theme which Signe describes beautifully as a “Paris-in-the-fall colour palette”. We can’t wait to see it!
