Every Piece By Sustainable Fashion Brand Fortiv Is One of a Kind

In the world of sustainable fashion, finding or making eco-friendly materials is great—but when it comes to an industry where overproduction and waste is rampant, sometimes the most sustainable move is keeping these valuable resources in circulation.

Whether that means upcycling clothing or using fabrics that would otherwise sit in a warehouse, “it’s often about finding ways to resist overproduction and instead being resourceful and intentional with the materials we use,” says East Vancouver designer Michelle Larsen.

Larsen’s brand, Fortiv, does just that, offering custom clothing made from factory offcuts and reclaimed fabrics from warehouses and textile recycling initiatives. She sews each piece herself, and because her material sources are limited to reclaimed fabrics, the final products are unique. “Most of the things that I create are one or two of a kind,” she notes. The designer first launched her business in 2018, and it became her full-time gig in 2020.

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Her whimsical wares are full of movement, often incorporating multiple textures and colours for a look that’s both statement-making and easygoing. And, recently, she’s started offering her sewing- savvy customers an opportunity to connect even more deeply to the process, selling digital sewing patterns along with her ready-made and made-to-order tops, skirts, pants and dresses.

“Ever since I began making clothes, it’s been as much about the art of designing and pattern making as it’s been about the craft of making,” says Larsen. “Being able to take people into the process of making one of my designs and inspire people to sew really aligns with my values as both a designer and maker.”

Thinking back to when she was first learning to sew—carefully crafting pillowcases as a 12-year-old—she keeps the instructions fun, detailed and motivational. “Patterns are a way for me to share my love for the process of sewing with other makers,” she shares. Fortiv patterns embrace the creative, adjustable techniques that Larsen herself loves to sew (for example, drawstrings) and allow room for multiple options (her Tulip dress can be finished two different ways). Needle little help? Larsen offers regular in-person sewing workshops, too.