Trailblazers for the Planet: Sustainable Choices from Conscious Founders
At VITAL, we move with the planet in mind—every day, in every step. Today, we celebrate the natural spaces where we hike, ski, surf, paddle, and explore by highlighting sustainable innovations that align with our values. How can intentional choices—in our gear, apparel, and experiences—elevate our adventures and protect the wild places we love? To explore this question, we turned to a few of our favorite female founders—women leading remarkable, environmentally conscious brands that inspire us to tread lighter and live with purpose.
Cortney Bigelow, Founder of The Carry
VITAL: Can you share a pivotal moment that ignited your passion for environmental sustainability, shaping your company's mission?
Cortney: Sustainability took on a deeper meaning for me when I became a mother. Every decision—what I wore, how I moved, what I brought into our home—suddenly carried more weight. I began embracing the philosophy of "less, equals more," shifting from impulse buys/shopping fast to intentional investments. That mindset laid the foundation for everything I do today, including the creation of The Carry. If we're going to introduce something new into the world, it has to be worth it—for our planet, our bodies, and our closets. Our weighted vest is designed to do more than just perform—it's made to feel good, look good, and last. Washable, modular, and built to evolve with you, not end up in a landfill.
“Environmental stewardship for me starts with small, intentional choices: supporting local, investing in fewer but better things, and choosing products designed to last. Getting outdoors isn’t just about staying active—it’s a daily reminder of what we’re protecting and why it matters.”
Cortney Bigelow, Founder of The Carry
VITAL: What are your favorite sustainable products/brands and why?
Cortney: As a fashion girlie with a sustainability streak, I'm a big fan of shopping pre-loved. Living in Seattle, I'm lucky to have access to The Refind—an incredible boutique that's become a go-to for curated designer consignment. It's where I find some of my most treasured wardrobe staples.
I also love supporting fellow female founders who are raising the bar in sustainability. L'AVANT Collective has completely transformed my approach to home cleaning with their luxe, plant-based products—they're beautiful enough to leave out on the counter and the only thing I use in my home. And SSKEIN is redefining conscious luxury with their stunning knitwear, made from natural, responsibly sourced fibers. It's cozy elegance with a conscience.
VITAL: Tell us, how do you integrate nature and environmental stewardship into your daily life?
Cortney: As a Libra, I'm wired for balance—and nature has always been my grounding force. As a mom of two and someone who thrives on movement, I take every opportunity to get outside and reset. Whether it's rucking through the hills of my Seattle neighborhood, hiking with girlfriends, or exploring trails with my husband, being in nature is how I recharge and stay centered.
Environmental stewardship for me starts with small, intentional choices: supporting local, investing in fewer but better things, and choosing products designed to last. Getting outdoors isn't just about staying active—it's a daily reminder of what we're protecting and why it matters.
Cortney Bigelow is a wellness entrepreneur, photographer, and style advocate who founded The Carry, redefining strength training with a beautifully designed weighted vest made for women, helping them age powerfully—one intentional, weighted step at a time.
Mary Bemis, Founder of Reprise
VITAL: What was a pivotal moment that ignited your passion for environmental sustainability, shaping your company’s mission?
Mary: The real A-HA moment came when I moved into a small studio apartment in NYC and decided to resell a bunch of my clothes on Poshmark. As I listed items, I kept writing “polyester” over and over again. My sweatshirts, leggings, pants—they all felt different, but they were all made of the same stuff. I Googled it and realized polyester is essentially plastic. That completely floored me.
I had been trying to eliminate plastic in other parts of my life—beauty products, cleaning supplies, food containers—but I hadn’t considered my clothes. It didn’t sit right with me that I didn’t even know what I was wearing every day.
At first, I just wanted to tell everyone. I was horrified by the environmental impact—especially the issue of microplastics—and I felt like more people needed to know. As someone who lives in leggings, I started looking for better options… but I couldn’t find activewear that was plastic-free and stylish. Sure, there were some small, niche brands, but nothing that matched what I wanted to wear.
That’s when I decided to start Reprise.
I was at a moment in life where I was open to big change, craving purpose, and ready for a challenge. I didn’t go back to school for another degree, but I did take night classes at FIT in Sustainable Design Entrepreneurship. It was approachable and hands-on—I learned about sourcing, manufacturing, and sustainable marketing. I also met others who were just as passionate, and that helped me stay inspired. I’m passionate about creating something better—for people, for the planet, and for the active lives we lead. Reprise is my way of making that happen.
— Mary Bemis, Founder of Reprise
VITAL: What are your favorite sustainable products/brands and why?
MARY: Reprise Aspen Leggings - one of the reasons we chose to work with Tencel at Reprise was because I was concerned about the amount of microplastics shedding from traditional sportswear made from Polyester and Nylon. We work with natural fibers to ensure they are safe for both the wearer and the planet.
I shop a lot at Misfit Market, a marketplace of rescued organic produce and other grocery items that might otherwise go to waste, sold at a discount.
I also love Package Free Shop, a marketplace of zero waste items for personal care, beauty, cleaning and home supplies.
VITAL: I love your Aspen leggings and live in them so thank you! Can you share a few ways you integrate nature and environmental stewardship into your daily life?
MARY: Living in NYC it can sometimes be hard to integrate nature into my daily routine, but I love to walk as much as I can, and I often escape for breaks to walk along the Westside Highway before or after work. Nature is what grounds me and puts things into perspective and I encourage our community to seek the outdoors in whatever capacity they can, even if it's just a quick walk around the block.
Mary is the founder of Reprise, a line of plant-based and nontoxic activewear, and a lover of all things sports and adventure, having hiked the R2R with Vital in September 2024.
The practice I most often encourage customers to adopt is simple: repair, reinforce, and care for what you already have. Whether it's a pair of jeans, a piece of furniture, or your own body.
— Jillian Clark, Founder of Roboro
Jillian Clark, Founder of Roboro
VITAL: What are some of your favorite sustainable products or brands, and what makes them stand out to you?
JILLIAN: One of my go-to sustainable brands is Pact. I rely on them for organic cotton basics, especially underwear and comfy loungewear. I recently got a pair of bright green and white striped wide-leg pajama pants that I'm obsessed with. What I love about Pact is their commitment to using GOTS-certified organic cotton, Fair Trade practices, and being Carbon Neutral. They've built transparency into their business model, which gives me added confidence as a consumer. Plus, they're based in Boulder, Colorado, so their love for the outdoors and nature really comes through in how they operate.
Another favorite sustainable switch I've made is from tampons to the Lunette menstrual cup. I made the change in my 30s and wish I had discovered it earlier. It significantly reduces waste, and I've found it to be more comfortable, discreet, and hygienic than disposable products. Hands down, it's one of the best sustainable choices I've made!
VITAL: I definitely plan to check out these brands. Jillian, tell us how do you integrate nature and environmental stewardship into your daily life, and what practices do you encourage your customers to adopt?
JILLIAN: When I left Los Angeles two years ago, I didn't fully realize how much I was craving the natural world. The hustle and noise of the city had dulled my senses, and it wasn't until I made the scary leap that I realized my body and mind were asking for something slower, quieter, more rooted. Now, I live in the country where I can breathe in forest air, hear birdsong, and watch wild animals roam freely. I still run my company, but my days look very different. My breaks between emails are barefoot walks in the yard, filling the birdfeeder or turning the compost. My weekends aren't spent consuming to decompress, they're spent mending, resting, and reconnecting.
I'm still in the process of resetting my nervous system to its natural rhythm, and the only thing that truly works is being immersed in nature, its oxygen, its stillness, its pace, its vibrational energy. There's a Latin phrase: Uva Uvam Vivendo Varia Fit, "a grape ripens in the company of other grapes." We are shaped by what surrounds us. By choosing to be surrounded by nature, I've chosen healing.
The practice I most often encourage customers to adopt is simple: repair, reinforce, and care for what you already have. Whether it's a pair of jeans, a piece of furniture, or your own body. We've been conditioned to believe we must always consume more to be more. But the most powerful act of rebellion might just be refusing that mindset. Choose to fix instead of replace. Learn new skills. We live in a time where nearly anything can be self-taught, YouTube, online communities, digital workshops. There's never been more access to the tools for living a more sustainable, intentional life. Trust your ability to adapt and grow with the changing world. It starts with one stitch, one habit, one small act of care."
Jillian Clark is the founder of Roboro, a textile waste agency and creative reuse consultancy working across industries, from fashion and film to healthcare and wellness, to end textile waste through upcycling, mending, and behavior-driven solutions.
Our Commitment to Mother Earth
At VITAL, as fitness adventure curators, we deeply honor the environmental ethics of Leave No Trace in all our hikes and adventures. The trails we traverse, the mountains we climb, and the waters we paddle are not just backdrops for our experiences—they are living ecosystems deserving of our utmost respect and protection.
We take pride in supporting companies with authentic sustainability commitments, from innovative founders like those featured above to established brands like Patagonia and Osprey—and this is just the beginning of our journey. When planning our adventures, we carefully select properties and destinations that tread lightly on the planet, investing time and energy to research the people and places we visit to ensure we respect local history, impact, and needs.
We believe we are all just guests here on Mother Earth, and the best hostess gift we can give is respect and care. Our commitment extends beyond Earth Day—it's woven into every trek we lead, every partnership we forge, and every adventure we create.
As we continue to explore this beautiful planet together, we invite you to join us in making choices that honor and protect the wild places that inspire us, heal us, and bring us together. After all, our adventures are only as extraordinary as the natural world that makes them possible.
Here's to many more mindful journeys ahead.
Libby Harrington, Founder VITAL Ventures