Growing up amidst the quiet suburbs of Denver, Colorado, Jenn Burback was raised in a bustling household consisting of her parents, two siblings – an older brother and sister – and maternal grandparents all under one roof, Jenn’s upbringing was rich with familial bonds and shared experiences. Despite residing near the city’s outskirts, proximity to ranches and farms provided ample opportunity for Jenn Burback to immerse in rural life, often accompanied by her grandfather to observe horses grazing and roaming the nearby fields. Little did she know that those early experiences watching the horses graze would later turn into the inspiration for her career in fashion.
In her early years, she was initially drawn to ballet but found a newfound love for art during high school, alongside interests in color guard and art classes. Senior year brought a pivotal moment as Jenn discovered a passion for fashion design and enjoyed a seasonal job at a haunted house that fueled her dreams of entrepreneurship. Post-graduation, Jenn found her unwavering commitment to creativity and independence as she began discovering what her adult life would bring her.
After obtaining a certificate in wedding and event planning, Burback realized that while orchestrating personal celebrations was enjoyable, a career in the field wasn’t entirely fulfilling. It was a journey that led Jenn to contemplate various paths, eventually culminating in the decision to pursue a career in fashion. This revelation propelled Jenn Burback to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, California, where she earned an Associate of Arts in Fashion Design, laying the foundation for a promising career in the dynamic world of fashion.
After recently learning about Jenn and her passion for the Western lifestyle and sustainable fashion, I knew I had to sit down with her. I hope you enjoy this interview with fashion designer, Jenn Burback.
Krysta: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Jenn: I find inspiration all around. I can be inspired by something as simple as a color to more complex avenues like music, nature, or architecture. For me, it usually takes one small thing to trigger my creative flow and have an idea come about that I then want to see come to life. Nature and music are probably two of my biggest influences. I can recall moments where a particular song or moment in a song spoke to me. Even other clothing styles, such as streetwear, evening, western, sustainable, and so on inspire my collections or even one-off pieces. There is so much to find inspiration in and then to push to break boundaries between what we think should be to what can be.
Krysta: Can you tell our audience a little bit more about your most recent collection?
Jenn: My most recent collection, “Cloteel: Wild Horses” debuted in November 2023 on the runway at Denver Fashion Week. “Cloteel: Wild Horses” is a visual story, a telling of dark to light and how one might work through challenging times facing mental health, and it was also a personal story of me getting back to my Western roots.
This collection was highly influenced by Lainey Wilson’s song Wildflowers and Wild Horses. I truly wanted to focus on telling the story of how the darkness of night gives way to the light of day. If you close your eyes and imagine you escaped to the mountains to watch a sunrise, where in the dark of night you don’t have the city light casting a glow, making it almost seem pitch black with the night sky being your only guide. Then find yourself gazing at the rise of the sun as the day breaks and hope seems to linger on the colors of the horizon.
I wanted those who see this collection to feel as though they were transported to the mountain prairies in the middle of the night and get to witness the vivid colors a sunrise has to offer. Then, as a designer I wanted my work and business to reflect my purpose to give back to our communities. This past year I focused on raising awareness for mental health through my work and as I move into my next collection that will be showcased this May, I am still focused on mental health awareness. This upcoming collection is based on the idea of, “A Love Letter to Myself” and truly embracing who you are and falling in love with yourself.
Krysta: What is something you passionately wish people knew about the fashion industry?
Jenn: Not everything we see or hear from movies or social media portrays the industry in full. Fashion has so many avenues and individuals creating that it can be whatever we want it to be. I also think we forget how impactful fashion can be from our everyday styles to the pieces we pull out for special occasions. It is not just about creating a look, I think it’s about creating change for yourself and influencing those around you.
Krysta: What or who would be a dream collaboration for you?
Jenn: Being a fashion designer I often find myself daydreaming about the pieces that could be made for specific people. When it comes to designers I have been inspired by, I would have loved to collaborate with the late Lee Alexander McQueen or Tom Ford.
As for mainstream, my thoughts immediately go to Lainey Wilson, especially after throwing myself into her music last fall while designing that collection. When I think about the immediate western and rodeo industry, I think Rocker Steiner has such a unique style, that I think it would be a lot of fun to collaborate with him. I’d also love to work with one of the Miss Rodeo America contestants, as they are all incredible and I am always inspired by who they are and where they are going.
Jenn’s Closing Thoughts
I want those who come in contact with my fashion to feel they are helping the greater good and finding a connection to that through fashion. Whether that be connecting with the pieces I am creating and showcasing or the causes I am actively giving back to. I think it is easy to lose touch with where our products come from. Finding the beauty in the personal touches of fashion is what drives me and my brand. I love being able to create quality pieces that create impact and are designed for something personal and bigger than the pieces themselves.
You can learn more about Jenn and her work at JennBurback.com, or on Instagram and Facebook at Jenn Burback Official.
