BRANDY BENNETT
“I restarted noflightback summer 2020 when I needed to make $ during the pandemic. It started with just my vintage on Depop, then I started sewing pieces! I made a couple of upcycled sets and they sold so fast. It inspired me. When my daughter needed a sunhat I looked for 60s hats on Pinterest and found some styles I thought I could recreate for her!”
— BRANDY BENNETT, FOUNDER & DESIGNER OF NOFLIGHTBACK
When a trend like bucket hats comes around and isn’t going away, we love to look for artists crafting their own versions in a sustainable way. You can shop the latest trends [quilting, bucket hats, patchwork] while supporting small woman-owned businesses like Brandy’s. We admire her commitment to craft as well as creating a better world for her daughter - a world where no scrap goes unused! Hope you enjoy our chat below…
Noflghtback, what is the inspiration/story behind the name of your business?
No flight back was chosen a long time ago! After high school I really had no idea what I wanted to do (who the heck does?!) my dad really encouraged me to travel so I bought a 2-way to France to do the wine harvest with my aunt’s recommendation. All went swimmingly I loved it the culture everything. I mended a few things, and made a few things, left and went back to my coffee shop job in CA. The following year I did it again (with no flight back) with the same winery and ended up staying a little too long! No flight back was just a turning point in my life. And that’s why I use it!
What first attracted you to vintage fashion, and how did it inspire you to start a business of your own?
I’ve been collecting vintage since I had money of my own and could go to the thrift store by myself. My Grammy, cousin and I would go to the “special store” every camping trip as kids to get sweatshirts and stuff for camping and I just always though it was so cool.
When I started going by myself I would find the craziest stuff. Just to have. Maybe hoarding a little. When I lived in Sacramento on my own for the first time in 2012 I was so stoked to wear crazy ass shit. Looking back I realize I had so much anxiety about literally everything. Clothes were a conversation starter.
I restarted noflightback summer 2020 when I needed to make $ during the pandemic. It started with just my vintage on Depop, then I started sewing pieces! I made a couple upcycled sets and they sold so fast. It inspired me. When my daughter needed a sunhat I looked for 60s hats on Pinterest and found some styles I thought I could recreate for her! In 2018.5- 2020 I was making lots of bb overalls. So kinda started for making upcycled bb stuff?
What is your favorite part of the sourcing/design process and why?
Sourcing comes from my storage unit! And people who find me on IG.
My storage unit is 1/3 vintage clothing and 2/3 vintage textiles including quilts. A lot of the quilts I use for hats are pretty much unusable as-is, falling apart. So using them for hats and other small stuff gives them a new life.
My favorite part is definitely finding stuff I forgot I had. I get so excited thinking of what I can make!
You have a great use of color and print mixing in your pieces, how do you go about selecting what works best for the silhouette you are designing?
I honestly just do what I think is cool and looks good. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t haha
Of all the textile manipulation techniques you could include in your work, why quilting, what makes it special for you?
My mom is a quilter. It’s definitely hard for me to cut some quilts to use as fabrics. Quilting is so beautiful and dope. Hours upon hours went into creating these things that were made to warm people and that is just a lot in itself.
How important is sustainability to you?
We live as sustainably as we can, with a toddler. Sometimes I think damn this is expensive but if it means the earth with stay cool for Maggie and her kids if she wants them ya. It’s an investment in Maggie future is how I see it. As with my brand. I don’t know how many bins of scraps I have. Also from other quilt clothes makers. I use their stuff to make scrap hats and sell at a lower price point.
How do you continue to stay inspired, especially now with the ongoing pandemic?
My toddler. She’s crazy. Playing with her and getting work done while she sleeps. She is my drive. I want her to know you can be successful, happy and do what you love, even without a degree. I am following my dream to hopefully inspire her to follow hers. My mom pushed me to do NFB full time and I am so happy she did. I will do the same with my cheeto.
Do you have any upcoming collections, pieces you would like our readers to be on the look out for?
My SOFT STUFF COLLECTION! Everything in this collection has chenille which I personally have always had a thing for.
Also working on a cool collab with a friend that hasn’t even been mentioned yet... those will be hats!
thoughtful questioning by our newest contributing Editor Cassiel Davis
“A lot of the quilts I use for hats are pretty much unusable as-is, falling apart. So using them for hats and other small stuff gives them a new life.”
check out Brandy’s amazing upcycled creations HERE
“I honestly just do what I think is cool and looks good. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t.”
“My favorite part is definitely finding stuff I forgot I had. I get so excited thinking of what I can make!”