Creative Mom: Bree Chambers Creator of Nesh NYC

Expressing Motherhood has been interviewing creative moms for years now. Mom who haven’t been in the show even. I’m fascinated with their process. I wanted to introduce you to Bree Chambers.

Bree and I met doing a film class together at the University of Iowa. She is a born and bred Iowa girl, having been raised in Des Moines. Bree has a successful line of clothing and is a mom, living in NYC. Meet Bree!

BREE CHAMBERS is a former Iowa girl turned New Yorker. Who studied at the University of Iowa as well as Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design. As a life long yogi, Bree decided to further her practice by taking a yoga teacher training, little did she know this is where Nesh NYC would be born.
Nech NYC encompasses Bree’s passions and lifestyle – from her choices in fabrics, commitment to USA production, and chic functional styling. Like Bree herself the line is active, sophisticated and holistic.

Me: What was your major in college?

Bree: Communication Studies and Theatre Minor.

Me: I know we took film classes together and that’s where we met! We even had an internship lined up together in NYC with the John Woo Production Company and then I headed West at the last minute. What were your goals after graduating? What kind of jobs did you have?

Bree: I did come to NYUC and do the internship at John Woo….then after graduating I decided to move to NYC. I got an internship at Mademoiselle Magazine and that is where my love affair for fashion began. In 2001 I decided to go to Parsons School of Design/The New School and get my AAS in Fashion Design. For 10 years I worked as a Designer or Creative Director for various companies including Cynthia Rowley

Me: How did your creative spark for Nesh come about? I find having kids really inspired me. What year was Nesh born?

Bree: Nesh NYC started in 2011. Olivia was 2 and I Gabe was 6 months and I was totally burnt out. I had been working crazy hours and traveling for work a lot, and I needed a change. I had been practicing yoga for over 10 years and had always wanted to do a yoga treater training, so decided it was time to take a month off and just do it. While at the teacher training I felt so blah wearing tie dye and basically PJ’s. So under a crazy mural of a dancing Ganesha, the idea of NESH NYC was born. There was a void in the market for sleek looking active wear….and I was going to fill that void.

Me: Tell me about Nesh.

Bree: Nesh NYC is truly a collection of active-inspired sportswear that goes everywhere. The Nesh NYC woman leads a full active life – either in the gym, with her kids, on campus, running her company, traveling, or all of the above and she wants to do so stylishly. Nesh NYC seamlessly fuses the best elements of active and contemporary sportswear to create a lifestyle collection that can take any woman everywhere.

You have two young kids, how many hours do you work outside of the home? Do you have help? Are the kids in school?

I literally work 45-50 hours a week at the NESH NYC corp office which is hard, but no other option. My husband has a more flexible schedule and he helps out a lot. I do have full time help as well. Olivia is starting Kindergarden next week, but will have to go to an after school program as well.

Me: Do you have a business partner?

Bree: Yes, my good long time friend Connie Basile is my business partner and head pattern maker and head of production.

Me: I see that you make LA trips, how frequent are those?

Bree: Once a month at this point.

Me: I think so many women dream of starting their own line and you have done that. What made it happen do you think? Do you have a mantra?

Bree: It is something I had been wanting to do for the last 10 years. But having known what I know today about how hard it is, I may have decided differently. Although what I have learned over the last 3 years is priceless.

Me: Is it safe to call you a yogi? How often do you practice? I’m envious of your arm muscles lady.

Bree: Yes I am very much a yogi…been practicing for 15 years. I try and practice between 2-4 times a week. I also run 1-2 times a week 5-10 miles.

Me: Who is Nesh for meant for? Can you wear it doing other sports?

Nesh NYC is meant for everyone. It is actually a lifestyle Brand. We have active fabrics and elements, but it is also great for travel and day to day life.

Me: OK, I’ll be doing the school drop off line soon enough what’s a good outfit for me to drop off the kids, I’ll be hanging at school for 45 minutes with my youngest before it’s time for them to go in. So I’d love a recommendation for a lightweight longsleeve something as well and then hopefully I’ll be off to yoga or a workout a few times a week. I’d love for you to suggest something for me.

Bree: I would recommend wearing our luxe bralette tank, with a long sleeve V-tee and our luxe jogger. It’s comfy and sleek…..take off the v-tee and just wear the bralette tank and jogger for yoga!