Fig nine is a Montana-based, woman-owned business founded by Jacqui Broberg with a focus on sustainable, biodegradable, and size-inclusive clothing. Recently relaunched, their first product, The Wrap Dress, is now available on Kickstarter.
Fig nine Wrap Dress Styling Session
This post on fig nine Wrap Dress styling was sponsored by fig nine and I received product for review. Concept and styling by me.
The Wrap Dress is made with a biodegradable hemp/cotton blend fabric and biodegradable finishings.
It is double-layered – one side is solid and one is striped – and is completely reversible. It comes in multiple colors (see them here) and has a separate wrap belt for added styling options. The dress is produced ethically in Montana.
The Wrap Dress is just the beginning. fig nine as a brand and concept is committed to building a more sustainable and accessible fashion industry for all.
Read on for styling notes and an interview with Jacqui!
Classic and Belted
For this look, I styled the dress with a traditional, cinched waist. For definition, I opted to add a contrasting (secondhand) braided leather belt instead of using the provided fabric belt. I added fun flatforms in a complementary color. In the first photo, I rolled the sleeves just a bit for visual interest.
Unbelted with Tucked Sleeves
For this look, I was aiming for an easy feel. I let the dress drape naturally at my waist instead of adding a belt and accessorized with a head scarf and brown accents. To achieve a shorter, bubble-sleeve look, I tucked the sleeves inside of themselves, all the way to my shoulders. Once positioned, they stay this way without falling back down.
Open and Draped
I think this look is my favorite. I reversed the dress and then belted it to preserve the drape, exposing the striped interior. I also added a big cuff at each sleeve (to keep the cuffs looking neat, I recommend safety-pinning them in place).
A note on sizing: I am 5’7″, 34″ bust, 30″ waist, 42″ hips. I’m wearing a size medium. Because I have narrow shoulders and a smaller upper body, the Wrap Dress works best when I take out some of the bulk in the sleeves by rolling or cuffing them. When worn as a dress, I also added a safety pin at the neckline. On apple or hourglass shapes, the straight fit and longer sleeve would work great.
Buy the Wrap Dress through fig nine’s kickstarter here! It’s already over 50% funded.
Fignine Interview with Jacqui
1. What is your background? How long have you been sewing?
Jacqui: I have been sewing since 2009. I started out by going to a little technical school in Denver, where I joined a fashion collective and participated in numerous fashion shows where I could create little 4-5 piece collections.
In 2010, I moved to LA and studied Fashion Design at FIDM, then moved to the Bay Area after graduating and spent the next several years in the bridal industry and working freelance design jobs. Right before we moved to Montana in 2017, fig nine was born and it’s been a slow, conscious climb ever since.
I always wanted to be the one making every piece, and that’s what I did up until a couple weeks ago when I finally found a production partner! Exciting (and a little bit scary) stuff, but really a necessary factor in making this a sustainable business on all levels.
2. What was it like sourcing fabrics? How did you narrow down for biodegradability and quality? And is the fabric fully biodegradable?
Sourcing fabrics is one of the hardest parts of development process. It’s tedious and time consuming; you have to order swatches from numerous suppliers to compare, considering your design and how it will work with the shape and drape of the fabric. It can be tough to determine how a fabric will work on a garment just by looking at 2×2 swatch.
I knew initially that I wanted to use either hemp, cotton, or raw silk, so that helped to narrow down my search quite a bit from the beginning. My main concern in sourcing was finding a supplier that could ensure that the mills they source from practice fair working conditions, so that was a question I would ask up front to help narrow the search as well.
As for biodegradability, I knew that between these few options I started with I would find a fabric that would fit the ideal. All fabrics are biodegradable, it’s just a matter of how quickly they biodegrade. The faster that happens, the lesser the impact on the environment. The hemp/organic cotton blend fabric I ended up going with is capable of biodegrading in a matter of a few years depending on the conditions.
3. What was it like planning and launching a product during a global pandemic? How did that impact your process?
The timing of developing the Wrap Dress during the pandemic was interesting. I think for me it felt like I needed to take this extra time and utilize it to the fullest. So I enrolled in a business accelerator program and started to think more seriously about fig nine as a business and what I wanted it to be. It felt a little bit like it was now or never, but that pressure ultimately was a good thing.
4. What are your long term plans for fig nine?
I see a bright future ahead for fig nine. As this little community grows, I think we can build some great goals for social impact and accessibility.
I’m currently learning more about adaptive fashion and I’d love to be able to offer an option of the Wrap Dress that is accessible to the disabled community in the near future. Thoughtful collaborations will remain at the forefront of how we work, as well. Connecting with people is really what drives me and I see a lot of strength in this community as we continue to make connections with like-minded folks in the sustainability community.
Thanks, Jacqui! Shop the Wrap Dress
