Natalia Bertolo grew up in one of southern Brazil's leading industrial hubs for shoes and leather manufacturing. Her father was a sales rep for bags and travel accessories, so she would accompany him to trade shows from a young age.
“It felt natural to develop an interest in fashion. Beyond that, I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of creativity and business; that’s the essence of fashion,” said Bertolo.
“Over the years, I’ve worked across different areas, from product development to buying and operations, and what keeps me engaged is the constant evolution of the industry. Fashion never stands still.”
As the assistant country coordinator at Fashion Revolution, Bertolo was inspired to be part of the conversation about improving fashion. She has worked on projects encouraging industry professionals and consumers to rethink how fashion has been made and consumed. This also led to an evolution in her own sustainability journey from research and advocacy to hands-on initiatives that create real impact.
According to Bertolo, sustainability should not be an afterthought; it should be built into every part of a business. Whether choosing suppliers, managing production, or considering a brand’s long-term impact, she has always weighed how decisions affect people and the planet.
“I’ve been aware of sustainability throughout my entire fashion career. My university thesis in 2011 was titled "Designing Fashion Collections Through a Sustainability Framework," which focused on how designers can make better decisions early in the design stage by considering a product’s entire life cycle.”
Throughout her career, Bertolo has worked to implement these principles within the companies she has been part of and has loved working with brands that saw sustainability as an opportunity for creativity rather than a constraint.
Some of her projects included Curating and Co-organising the Fabric Forward: Reimagining Textile Waste exhibition, which brought together students, designers, artists, and industry professionals exploring innovative ways to repurpose waste materials.
Another was Costume Revolution, a project she created and led in partnership with Splore to raise awareness about festival fashion waste. The project involved running costume swaps, repair stations, and upcycling workshops. It was a fun, engaging way to get people thinking about their environmental impact while celebrating creativity.
“Consumers have more power than they realise. The way they choose to spend their money directly influences corporate decisions. Education is a key factor, and the more consumers understand the impact of their choices, the more they’ll demand better from brands,” added Bertolo.
“That said, the burden of change shouldn’t fall entirely on consumers. Brands have a responsibility to make ethical choices easier. The reality is that most people won’t overhaul their shopping habits overnight, so businesses need to create desirable, sustainable, and affordable products. Design, innovation, and transparency are huge in making that happen.”
Change doesn’t mean losing what makes fashion exciting; it means making it more innovative, thoughtful, and aligned with the world we want to live in.
Another change that Bertolo would like to see is the role of women within the industry. Despite the fashion industry being full of female talent, leadership positions have remained male-dominated. Like most women in a leadership role, Bertolo said she had to work twice as hard to prove herself.
One challenge she encountered was navigating spaces where her expertise was not initially taken as seriously. Over time, Bertolo has learned to stand her ground and trust her experience.
“When starting, it’s easy to doubt yourself or feel like you need to follow a traditional path, but the most exciting opportunities often come from putting yourself out there. I think it’s good to take strides that feel too long for your legs; that’s how you move forward faster.”
Explore the stories of more Women In Business here
