Born and raised in Germany, Brigitte Schwenner’s first interest in fashion came as a child in the second grade when she told her teacher that her father used small nails to close his trousers. It was then she realized she wanted to change all that. Not knowing if she would be able to master the art of sewing, it was this humorous account of her dad that gave her the inspiration to try.

At the age of 17, Brigitte left her hometown to study chemistry. After finishing her studies, she worked at the University of Münster. Not one to stay put, Brigitte left Germany twice for Japan. Her first move took her to Tokyo where she worked at Tokyo University. She also worked to improve her English skills by giving lectures to members of a well-known biochemical company. Her second stay in Japan took her to Kobe where she spent a year experiencing more of the Japanese culture.

Brigitte has always been very socially active in the city of Wuppertal, Germany, where she lived for many years. Her level of engagement increased when the city’s children’s hospital was closed and a new one was needed. As a result of her involvement in this endeavor, she was awarded honors from the city’s Lord Mayor and from the Head of the Department of Child Cardiology at the hospital.

Brigitte’s transition to the United States was a bit unusual and with it came personal challenges. Arriving in New York in August 1999, Brigitte had given up everything in Germany and decided to start a new life in the U.S. It was a difficult time for her, but friends supported her and kept her going as she found her way.

Having had previous experience in sewing and design, Brigitte decided to pursue a career in fashion and quickly created a portfolio. She studied Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City where she was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design Summa Cum Laude. She also worked under François Bouchet during two internships in the sample room of Carolina Herrera, New York City.

In 2006 Brigitte established her own women’s wear couture business. Her garments reflect her straightforward thinking and the influence of modern architecture. During this startup period, she retained her love of Chemistry and has recently published a patent on a nano-micro scale massage fabric. Brigitte has additional education in Business Law, Merchandising, and Entrepreneurship.