BLUSH SPICE ON SUSTAINABILITY IN FASHION, CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND FRIENDSHIP

“One time we went to a music festival, and we had our looks on, whatever – anyway, we went to a psychic and she said I was dead inside,” Sabrina says of one of her and John’s many adventures. “Ironically, the experience inspired a bunch of designs.”

It makes sense that the pair, who describe their sustainable fashion brand, Blush Spice, as an extension of their friendship, would draw inspiration from even the most peculiar instances shared. 

The two met during college through different creative projects. In 2018, Sabrina showcased her “Sweetheartz” collection at Sacramento Fashion Week and used the handle @blushspice on Instagram to expose her work digitally. It didn’t take long for the Instagram page to transform into a full-on brand, with Sabrina as its founder and John as its creative director. The mood of that first collection has remained intact since Blush Spice’s establishment three years ago: pink hues, flowy silhouettes, and sparkles. 

Unlike most brands that categorize themselves under the fashion umbrella, the California and NYC-based brand runs on inspiration rather than a strict, four-season cycle. Blush Spice’s collection of items spans as far as its creators’ minds can reach – from tote bags and candles to embroidered hoodies and stickers – they even plan to launch a newsletter soon. The duo shares that although they do not produce items as often as they’d like, they have been able to stick to their two mantras by doing so: having fun and taking care of themselves. 

“The models are really inspiring and help the design process, too,” says John. “We ask them, How does this make you feel? How does Blush Spice make you feel?”

Sabrina and John also keep sustainability and socially aware practices at the forefront of their brand. Each month, a portion of the company’s overall profits are donated to a different organization or cause seeking to uplift the communities it serves.  

“It’s kind of a learning process, and a lot trial and error,” says John. The process also involves communication; for example, keeping in constant contact with manufacturers and assessing manufacturers’ practices on-site. 

Blush Spice recently collaborated with Fairfield Change (FFC) – a community-based organization committed to creating material change in Fairfield, CA, and the greater Bay Area – in response to last year’s slew of protests against police mistreatment of BIPOC communities. 

“I went back to my hometown, Fairfield, for quarantine,” Sabrina says. “It’s directly in between Sacramento and San Francisco, and it’s a pretty much a melting pot.”

She felt frustrated during the summer months because those around her traveled to the two cities that sandwiched her own, instead of demanding change directly from home. The collection features several pieces printed with familiar phrases like “ACAB” and “Fuck 12.” As with all Blush Spice apparel and accessories, a portion of the proceeds from this collaboration support FFC.

The two feel that fashion goes deeper than its surface-level purpose; instead, it is an art form that brings people together. Whether it be with nonprofits like FFC, models, creatives, or friends who have offered to set their ideas on the table, Blush Spice has grown into an entire community. 

“The community is the reason we do it,” Sabrina says. “Creating authentic, genuine relationships is just as important to us as the fashion aspect, if not more.”