Meet Renee Power, the visionary founder of A Bronze Age, a contemporary clothing and accessories brand blending timeless silhouettes with modern versatility. Since 2016, Renee’s designs have emphasized craftsmanship and thoughtful detail, creating pieces that feel both nostalgic and refreshingly new. We spoke with Renee about her brand’s journey and design philosophy. —Noa Nichol
A Bronze Age is known for redefining timeless silhouettes for the modern woman. How do you balance creating designs that feel both nostalgic and contemporary?
Balancing nostalgia with the contemporary is an interesting thing when designing clothing because often, the distinction between the two is very small (if it even exists). Aesthetics that come to the forefront of everyone’s minds; whether that is the design team or the customer, surface from a place of reconnection. Everyone is drawn to a story; we make style choices based on what we know and love. Balance becomes something intrinsic, not an active decision. Our upcoming collection, SS25, is a perfect example of this, with each design coming from the story and nostalgia of my Grandmother’s cabin. When I think of spring and summer, I think of childhood and admiring my Grandmother and her wholeness with life. When we began designing spring, it felt automatic to pull from that nostalgia, to design garments that bring me joy in the present. I wanted to give people a story – that is how one balances nostalgia with contemporary.
What inspired you to launch A Bronze Age in 2016, and how has the brand evolved since then?
I began A Bronze Age as a creative project, a space where I could put my creative energy. It was an organic decision, almost a necessity for myself. I wasn’t trying to solve some big problem or prove anything to anyone; I wanted to create something that brought me joy, which looking back now, has done so 100 times over. A Bronze Age was born from one design at a time, which served as fuel to continue onto another design, and another. I wanted to propagate one thing, water it, let it grow, and once that had sprouted and grown roots, I could move onto the next design. This is still the case now. We craft and plan with so much intention. Despite growing vastly from where we were in 2016, the foundation of A Bronze Age remains intact. Accessories were what opened the door for us, allowing us to find homes in so many amazing retailers both across Canada and internationally. We are so fortunate to be carried in over 35 retailers in Canada, and 17 internationally!
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in fashion. How does A Bronze Age approach sustainability in terms of materials, production, and business practices?
Approaching sustainability is an ever-evolving process for everyone. We are learning so many things as we continue to grow as a business. One thing we developed when A Bronze Age first launched was our made-to-order process, in which our garments are produced based on demand. This has allowed us to stand on a smaller hillock of waste, which is vital because textile waste continues to grow on an international scale and is something we hold close when designing and developing. Additionally, we are able to design and produce on a local scale. All our production takes place within a 20km radius of our Vancouver office. I include this with sustainability not only because of the localisation of product transportation, but because I believe sustainability exists in how we interact with people.
Sustainability goes so much further than the methods and items we use; it extends into our support of our local communities and families.
Your label offers customizable pieces, which adds a personal touch to the shopping experience. What inspired you to offer this service, and how does customization fit into your brand’s ethos?
Customization plays into our sustainability goals as well. We want our garments to last and for people to build a closet of pieces that they will turn to time and time again. By allowing customized shopping, we can help create pieces that are one-of-a-kind, that become an extension of the customer. Who doesn’t want to wear a unique piece of clothing over and over? I know I do.
Bags are one of your standout accessories. Can you tell us more about your design process and what makes an A Bronze Age bag unique?
We cherish our bags and their design process deeply. Our Kiku bag, a continuous bestseller, is inspired by the Japanese art of furoshiki. Additionally, many of our bag designs are developed and sampled with the help of my Aunt, who has been with us since we launched accessories in 2019. We pride ourselves on handcrafting our accessories, allowing each customer to have their own unique, meticulously crafted handbag!
What are some of your favorite trends or influences right now, and how do they inspire your latest collections?
I’m sure many fashion designers feel the same when it comes to trend-burnout. I think there is so much going on around us, so many themes, so many resurgences of styles and garments. I’ve found my influences to be quite all over the place that, recently, I’ve found myself drawn to the simplicity of everyday life. Maybe that isn’t an influence or a trend per se, but as we continue to evolve as a brand, I’ve been finding so many influences and inspirations in the act of living. I am inspired by things that extend joy and whimsy into my life, and I’ve definitely seen this captured in SS25. We had so much fun on Bowen Island shooting the collection; everyone felt so present in nature while we did it, which I think is truly what inspires me, and the team, currently.
As a founder and designer, what has been the most rewarding part of building A Bronze Age? Are there any challenges you’ve faced that have shaped the brand?
One of the most rewarding parts of building A Bronze Age has been the connections. There are few words that could encompass the friendships and partnerships I have had the pleasure of growing as A Bronze Age also grows. Recently, during our trip for the CAFA Awards, we experienced so much joy seeing fellow designers and creatives be recognized for all their work. You build a circle of people that understand exactly what it is like to face the challenges and uncertainties of running a small business.
Additionally, I think having a wonderful team to collaborate with each day is a treasured part of A Bronze Age. There are so many challenges with being a small business that it becomes hard to list them (simply because the challenge can be just existing), but to come in to see a team who can provide solutions, feedback, critiques, compliments, support, and more, is a lifeline and the biggest pleasure of growing A Bronze Age.
What can we expect from A Bronze Age in the future? Are there any exciting upcoming launches or new directions you’re particularly excited about?
SS25 is something the entire team is really excited about! There’s an evolution with A Bronze Age that we have been working on that really defines who we are and what we want to bring into the fashion scene. We have worked so diligently on our upcoming campaigns and it feels like a metamorphosis of identity and style. SS25 specifically steers us into a new direction, as if reaching the adolescence of A Bronze Age since our beginning in 2016. We are so excited for everyone to see it!
Need to know: Which ABA bag are you rocking on the regular these days?!
Definitely the Amy Bag – I recently wore the Amy Bag in Tomato to the CAFA 2024 awards and it truly fits everything I need for a night out but also in black is so surprisingly versatile to wear casually during the day!
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