Britta Cabanos

I was 15 years old, growing up in a small town in Minnesota when I first heard about the Fashion Institute of Technology exchange program at North Dakota State University. My mom is a crafter, and I grew up sewing and crafting alongside her. I didn’t know designing clothes was a career option- but once I learned about it, from that moment on, getting into FIT and living in New York City became my dream for the future. I arrived at my FIT interview, having flown alone and taken the subway for the first time. I was a small-town girl, nervous and sweaty, with my heavy black portfolio in one hand and a bag of taffeta and velvet dresses in the other. FIT was my entry into fashion and launched my now 30-year career in the apparel design industry. I stepped off the subway into the city and never looked back.

After graduating from FIT, I worked for prominent names like Nike, Perry Ellis, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, and Jantzen. Eventually, I launched my swimwear line because being an entrepreneur always felt like my calling.  I managed to get an appointment with Victoria’s Secret, showed up with my suitcase full of swim samples, and sweated through VS  asking me a zillion questions. Still trying to figure out how I did it, but I got a big order, and one of my suits landed in a full-page centerfold of their swimwear catalog. After that, I sold my suits to Canyon Beachwear and boutiques nationwide.

Next came some life changes- kids and a job offer that required a move across the country that was too good to pass up. We wanted to avoid raising kids in NYC, so we took the offer and made our way out to the Pacific NW. I loved my job and continued there for many years. After some further life changes and needing more flexibility, I became a design consultant, which eventually led to co-founding a design consulting studio named Creative Capital Design. CCD is now 11 years old and provides Strategy, Design, and Development for athletic apparel and outdoor brands.  

These days I’m no longer climbing the corporate ladder to be the next prominent designer at a renowned brand. Instead, I’m focusing on what’s most rewarding: my passion for mentoring, sharing, and creating a supportive community in the apparel industry.

Ingvil Gaasland

As a Consultant at Bouvet, Ingvil Gaasland merges innovation with sustainable solutions. With over two decades of experience, her expertise ranges from digital project management to developing user-centric and award-winning products. Ingvil champions diversity and inclusion, evident in her active engagement in Bouvet’s diversity task force and as a board member of the Oslo EdTech Hackathon. Ingvil’s commitment to sustainability and innovation aligns with her work in building partnerships for educational advancements and volunteering for Girl Geek Dinners, promoting women in tech. Ingvil’s vision for a sustainable future and belief in the power of dialogue drives her role in the Nexus Council, where she collaborates on initiatives for a connected and abundant world.