Meet Shujan Bertrand

We recently connected with Shujan Bertrand and have shared our conversation below.

Shujan, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

After 25 years in the industrial design industry, I found my purpose when I founded Aplat, a zero-waste design and manufacturing company. Through 10 years of learning to grow a circular design business, I began tackling the issue of pre-consumer waste and its environmental impact on climate change and carbon footprint within the cut-and-sew industry.

My purpose stemmed from one desire; to eliminate waste in Aplat’s manufacturing process. To be a zero-waste design and manufacturing company meant working closely with three factories and my supply chain partners in San Francisco to ensure complete sustainability within the company. My purpose has grown beyond Aplat’s products to educate and encourage zero-waste design processes for other organizations and brands. 

Our purpose of reducing waste guides every aspect of our work. From minimizing waste in production, choosing partners, and supporting sustainable practices in our industry. Aplat partners with chefs, wineries, local farms, and food producers who share the values. Zero-waste shapes our products, production quantity, and communities. 

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
At Aplat, we constantly seek ways to enhance our designs, use only regenerative textile material, and minimize waste. This year, as part of our ongoing commitment to zero waste design, we have consciously opted not to purchase new raw virgin materials but to upcycle all our leftover off-cuts and reserved fabrics to create a new collection for 2023. The new single-layer collection of totes is sewn 100% from leftover straps, panels, and rolls and is available and very limited qualities. They are lightweight in terms of material and vibrant in color.

I’m also very excited to share that I’m bringing my sustainable design and manufacturing knowledge and experience to California College of the Arts, where I will serve as the next Industrial Design Chair. I’m excited to lead an outstanding group of faculty and emerging designers. My focus will involve the intersection of Industrial design with a focus on human and planet-centered design for a strong circular economy future. Industrial Design is a multifaceted discipline combining product design, materials, sustainable manufacturing, data, AI technology, user interaction, video, brand, and marketing.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My background in industrial design has provided me with an inherent approach and understanding of problem-solving and a drive to enhance the human experience for a sustainable future. Starting and running a company has taught me the importance of being direct, flexible, and compassionate. We focused 100% on manufacturing masks and donating over 35,000 Aplat masks worldwide.

It takes a village to build a company. More importantly, it takes a collective effort to shape who I am as a leader. Community and networking played a pivotal role in my personal growth. Collaboration is at the heart of innovation and creativity.

I encourage those just starting to ask yourself, what problem are you trying to solve? Continuously develop skills for every aspect of the business. The world is constantly changing, so it is crucial to adapt and evolve along with it. Seek help whenever needed, and cultivate a trusted circle of mentors and advisors who can provide fresh perspectives and inspire you to progress in the right direction.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I love partnering with people who want to explore ideas, experiment, and invent new products. I want to partner with others who do business guided by circular design principles and tackle climate change-related issues. I am committed to revolutionizing how companies approach waste reduction across their supply chains and manufacturing processes.

By fostering partnerships with organizations and educational institutions, we can collaboratively develop strategies that promote cleaner and healthier consumption habits, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

I am open to all aspects of creative opportunities for collaboration because together, we can make a positive impact and create a better world for future generations.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Shujan Bertrand Yifan Chen

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