Upcycling Your Winter Kit with Kate Harvey of Birdie Blue
This week on Tarin It Up, I’m talking with Kate Harvey, founder of Birdie Blue — a Vermont-based, women-owned brand turning torn ski pants and old snowboard jackets into the most functional, personality-packed bags ever.
We dig into the power of circularity, how upcycling can actually scale, and what it looks like to build a purpose-driven business that’s redefining “waste” in the outdoor industry.
🎧 Listen to the episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.
From Ripped Gear to Reimagined Purpose
What started as a ripped pair of ski pants on a cold Vermont day turned into Birdie Blue, a company giving old gear new life. Kate shares how she went from sewing in her basement during COVID to building a women-led production network across Vermont and New Mexico.
Her mission? To keep gear out of landfills and turn it into something you actually want to use, like totes, dopp kits, and fanny packs made from old ski jackets and US Ski Team banners.
Circularity in Action
Birdie Blue partners with big outdoor brands like Burton, Stio, and Geartrade, proving that upcycling can work for all. From warranty returns to broken inventory, Kate’s team transforms gear that can’t be resold into colorful, one-of-a-kind bags.
“The end goal of continuing to give new life to this amazingly made gear and keep it out of a landfill”
Community and Collaboration
Beyond sustainability, Birdie Blue is built on community. Their home-sewist network allows women in rural Vermont to work flexibly from home, and their partnership with a social-impact factory in New Mexico provides childcare and college support for local families.
It’s not just about reusing gear — it’s about rethinking how business can uplift people and the planet.
How You Can Get Involved
Birdie Blue’s Go Green, Get Green Program makes it easy to recycle your gear:
Fill out the form on shopbirdieblue.com → “Recycle Your Gear”
Receive a free compostable mailer (they cover shipping!)
Send in your used ski or snowboard clothing
Get 15% off your next Birdie Blue purchase
And if you’re in the Truckee/Tahoe area, stay tuned — we’ll be teaming up this winter to host gear drop boxes at local W.O.W. events so you can bring your gear in person.
Quick Takeaways
♻️ Upcycling old ski & snowboard gear reduces landfill waste
🤝 Collaboration > competition — sustainability takes community
👩🏭 Women-led sewist network creating flexible jobs in Vermont
💼 Scaling with purpose and transparency in the outdoor industry
Connect with Birdie Blue
🌐 Website: shopbirdieblue.com
📧 Email: hello@shopbirdieblue.com
📸 Instagram: @shopbirdieblue
Links & Love
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Partner Thanks 🤝
This episode is brought to you by NoSo Patches — made for flare or repair.
Add personality to your favorite ski shell, puffy, or pack. Use code FLAIRINITUP for 15% off at nosopatches.com