The Brand

VANESSA FATH is a circular, slow-fashion studio reimagining heirloom design for the modern romantic. Led by creative director Vanessa Fath, we create custom pieces that honor memory, emotion, and self-expression for those celebrating love in all its forms.

Through heirloom redesign, vintage styling, and up-cycled materials, we honor what already exists by breathing new life into cherished garments and the stories they hold. Every creation is handmade in-house with reclaimed textiles, weaving sustainability and sentiment into every stitch.

Our brand is a celebration of memories, craftsmanship, and love, infused with meaning and made to be felt.

Vanessa Fath is a designer and entrepreneur devoted to crafting fashion with empathy and intention. She believes clothing is more than what we wear, it’s the story we tell and the identity we build.

Rooted in her American-Portuguese heritage, Vanessa honors family tradition and sustainable innovation in equal measure. What began as a childhood passion learned from her Vovo has grown into a heartfelt practice of circular design where the past and present meet to create something beautifully new.

Each creation is an invitation to reconnect with memory, material, and self.

The Creative Director

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Our History

  • 2019

    BACHELOR’S DEGREE

    While earning her BS in Fashion Design at Jefferson, Vanessa showed at NY Fashion Week, was featured in GQ , interviewed for scholarly journals, displayed work in Macy’s Philadelphia, and studied in Rome, Italy.

  • 2020

    MASTER’S DEGREE

    Vanessa continued her education, earning her MS in International Fashion Design Management while working with luxury brands such as Marni, Christy Rilling, and late photographer Marcus Leatherdale, while simultaneously earning a Graduate Certificate in Sustainability Leadership.

  • 2021

    THE FATH COLLECTIVE

    The three Fath sisters – Ashley, Vanessa, and Christina – joined forces to establish this clothing startup, focusing on community development through clothing swaps, up-cycling, and alterations to instill longevity into our clothing.

  • 2022

    FIRST STEPS INTO BRIDAL

    We created our first custom wedding piece, which sparked a shift we didn't know would later take off. While this wasn't our focus, we consistently had a client base of brides looking for custom, sustainable garments for their weddings.

  • 2023

    VOVO CREATIVE REUSE

    This extension of The Fath Collective focused on beachwear, yogawear, and accessories. Partnerships with vendors in Long Beach Island, NJ brought our products to the beachgoers, and vendors in Philadelphia, PA to the yogis. These collaborations took deadstock garments from the stores, or fabrics from our supply, and reimagined them into new products.

  • 2024

    PROFESSOR FATH

    After moving back to Philadelphia to further her fashion business, Vanessa began teaching foundational studio classes at Jefferson, including senior collection and sustainable branding development. She also coordinated the annual fashion show in its first year back since her own graduation.

  • 2025

    VANESSA FATH LLC

    Within the first year of starting our bridal division, our business experienced tremendous growth, and with that came multiple changes. We all agreed that a rebrand was in order, and our objectives shifted accordingly. We segued into a wedding design house, where we now create meaningful and artisanal pieces specific to each client’s story.