Rebecca Van Bergen: Nest

It is no secret that fast fashion exploits people and the planet. It churns out garments with no face, no story, and no soul. But on the other side of that system, quietly and powerfully, Rebecca van Bergen says, 'Not here.' She is the founder of Nest, a non-profit based in New York that supports the responsible growth and recognition of artisans around the world. And what is she building? An organization that puts human dignity and craftsmanship above all.

Her journey began with the strength of women in her own family. Inspired by her grandmother and great-grandmother, both skilled in sewing and craft. Rebecca saw from a young age how making something with your hands is an art form and a language. A livelihood. A way to say I made this. I matter.

With a Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, she founded Nest in 2006, determined to help artisans, especially women and those from marginalized communities, could earn a fair wage, gain recognition for their work, and take control of their futures. Not as charity but as equals.

Celebrating the Craft, Respecting the Maker

Nest exists to change the way we see handmade goods and skilled work that deserves respect, protection, and proper compensation.

In a complete contrast to fast fashion, where workers remain anonymous and underpaid in unsafe conditions, Nest’s mission is about visibility, voice, and value. Every product made by hand carries a part of the maker’s story and Nest ensures that their story is told and honoured.

Today, Nest supports over 300,000 artisans across 127 countries, with programs that are rooted in gender equity and economic inclusion. The majority of these artisans are women working from home or in small workshops often excluded from formal protections and completely invisible in global supply chains.

Changing the System

One of Nest’s most powerful contributions is the Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft program, a pioneering certification that sets global standards for home based and small-scale handwork. This seal ensures fair wages, safe working environments, and business transparency, even in places where labour laws don’t reach.

Nest provides training in craft, business practices, and financial literacy. It connects artisans directly to global brands, for visibility and fair pay. They advocate for policy reform to protect, recognize artisan workers, and to build awareness about the value of handmade products.

Rebecca’s work has earned global recognition, including being named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and receiving accolades such as the Ashoka Fellowship and the Fabric of Change Award (co-sponsored by Ashoka and C&A Foundation).

Rebecca van Bergen, as a non-profit founder, is also a system shifter with an ideology that one cannot talk about sustainability without talking about the people who make our products.

Craftsmanship is a tradition. It’s a skill. It’s generational knowledge passed down in corners of homes, often by women who are expected to stay silent. Nest wants the world to hear these voices, not as victims of a broken system, but as leaders of a better one.

In a fast fashion and overconsumption driven world, Rebecca shows us to slow down, look closer, and ask ourselves who made this, and were they respected for it? She built a 'nest' for a supply chain rooted in dignity and that we can move beyond exploitation to a tomorrow where fair trade and fair wages are not any exceptions, but the basic rule.

And thanks to people like Rebecca van Bergen, the world will get to see the hands behind the making.