At the core of this talented entrepreneur, there’s a deep concern for sustainability and ethical work practices. Theresa Bastrup Hasman is a Danish fashion designer and businesswoman whose integrity can be traced back to every single one of the items she has carefully produced. Her passion for traditional artistry and transparency drive the force behind her company, Resa Living.

Theresa Bastrup Hasman left her native Denmark more than twenty years ago. Back then, thinking about environmental issues and fair wages was not mainstream. Yet Theresa knew she wanted to create a meaningful career and that she could not leave those concerns aside. This lead her to look beyond the beauty and availability of fabrics and materials as Theresa wanted to find out how these were made, who had made them and how where the working conditions of laborers.

But let’s go back to her life before starting the expat lifestyle. What was Theresa doing back in the late 90s? This is what she said:

“Before I moved overseas I was finishing my degree in design and textile fashion in Denmark – not knowing that I would soon after be moving to Holland to start a job as a children’s wear designer. I didn’t plan to move overseas but given the chance I was very excited to begin an adventure of a job in design in a new country.”

It was not in her plans to move overseas; however, when the opportunity to explore and live in another country presented itself, Theresa embraced it with an open mind. Theresa stated:

“I didn’t plan to move overseas but during my fashion degree in Copenhagen I decided to go to Paris one summer to attend a specialized course in drapery. That was my first taste of living abroad. It was only for six weeks but I loved every minute of it. So, it was therefore not a difficult decision to accept the offer of moving to Holland to work in an international company. Later I moved on to the United Kingdom where my husband and I lived for 11 years.”

Theresa became a young business woman during her first years abroad. This has meant that she has been exposed to an array of opportunities to develop her products and make connections with local partners. With this in mind, I asked her what her most rewarding experience of living as an expat has been. She said:

“It is very hard to select one particular experience – because living in different counties exposes you to so many adventures. The most rewarding part is the journey itself - the chance to meet new and interesting cultures and people. It is the fact that you are so lucky to learn about other counties traditions and customs and to be able to share that with your own family. It is giving us the chance to show our daughter that making friends and making connections is done with an open mind, no matter which country you are in.”

With those opportunities came challenges that are not necessarily linked with learning how to establish a business in a different country. Unsurprisingly, as it happens with most of the expat entrepreneurs interviewed in the blog, Theresa said:

“The most challenging part is saying goodbye to a place that has been your home. That said, social media enables us to stay in touch with friends and family despite being on different continents. It is of course not the same as being in the same room but it means we can maintain contact and meet up on holidays etc. – even years later. I guess this nomadic lifestyle has taught me to be more open minded and aware how important it is to seek out likeminded people fairly quickly when relocating. It is important to find a ‘tribe’ that you can explore a new country with, share experiences with, get support from, and advise.”

Theresa Bastrup Hasman knew she was going to pursue her passion for fashion design. What she did not suspect was that her life would take many turns. In spite of moving to faraway lands, the desire to create and design never left her. She knew she would need to find a way to do what she loved so she always gave it a chance. She explains:

“I moved to Holland in 1998 starting my first design job and from there I moved with my husband to England. In London I worked for a large company as a fashion buyer. During that time, I had a dream in the back of my mind of starting my own design business where products would be made in India in a sustainable manner. So I used my network in India to find suppliers that I knew treated their workers well and considered how they impacted their communities. It was also there I met a supplier and later friend whose father had started a school in a village for girls who otherwise didn’t get a chance to attend school. So I knew that once I would give my dream a go, that I would support the school.

I enjoyed building my small business and though I sold my company after six years, I felt I had learned a lot and was ready for a new adventure. My husband was offered an exciting opportunity at the World Health Organization so we moved to the Republic of Moldova in Eastern Europe. That was the first time I relocated without a job lined up but eager to get to know a new country. Our daughter was young and I had just sold my company so I planned to take it a bit easy. Unexpectedly, I soon found myself doing consultancy for a USAID funded project supporting the garment industry in Moldova. It was very rewarding to work with different size businesses and designers to help them enter new markets and grow their businesses.

This work impacted many women in a very positive way: suddenly they had new opportunities in their own country. Later on we moved to Nepal and met a country of rich heritage and craftsmanship. Shortly after we arrived, Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake where more than 9000 people lost their lives. Those were very uncertain times. I had gotten to know quite a few producers of textiles and craft. And I had seen many women and vulnerable people with so little to survive on. So, I decided the best way to help and engage was to support initiatives to build skills and build good and fair job opportunities. So I could combine my passion for people and product into one by establishing a company making sustainable products produced in Nepal.

I hadn’t planned to give my passion a chance in Nepal to that extend but the situation sort of made me give it a chance. It enriched my time there, getting to know amazing people whose values aligned with mine. Being there I had a chance to directly impact the production, learning and commercial understanding. The products from Nepal are sold in Denmark and New York and I am so happy to promote sustainable design made in Nepal.”

With so many life experiences, including difficult ones like surviving Nepal’s earthquake, I knew Theresa’s story could inspire so many of us. I asked her: What is your advice to those women living the nomadic lifestyle who want to pursue their passions?

“I think that is a question we should all ask ourselves a few times in our life, no matter where we are. We don’t need to use our passion on a professional level all the time. However, giving space to enjoy your passion is crucial, so that we feel in balance with ourselves. I have been amazed by some of the inspiring women I have met who allow themselves to explore their interests and passion through freelance work or by organizing events where they share their passion. One of the great things about moving around the world is that you get exposed to some many new ways of doing things and we can learn from each other by sharing our passion. If we support each other by sharing our passion, learning from each other and being interested in other ways of doing things then we create an environment where there is room for our passions. whether whether

Wether it is showcasing beautiful painting, prints, photography, textiles or food in a format that is open and welcoming like a popup or workshops. The key is that we should encourage and support each other, and our passions then great things can happen and fun collaborations can develop.”

Theresa’s many talents and profound desire to connect and work with other artisans have shaped her business over the years living as an expat. Her ethos of designing with the heart has given her a deeper level of understanding and empathy.

With her support and leadership, artisans have learned new skills in various disciplines; local designers have engaged in more sustainable practices giving way to the popular campaign #whomademyclothes, aiming for manufacturing clothes more ethically and environmentally friendly manner and, local women have been able to advance in their education.

It is thanks to entrepreneurs like Theresa Bastrup Hasman that collaborations with stakeholders are mutually beneficial. With transparency at the top of her game, it is no wonder why Theresa is now able to start once again a successful business, this time in New York.

As part of our interview, the last question I like asking my guests is if they have a spiritual practice or ritual that they incorporate into their daily routines that keep them grounded and connected to their minds and bodies. Theresa shared:

“I live in New York now and though I don’t follow any specific spiritual ritual, I start the day by taking my dog for a long walk. It clears my head and the combination of fresh air and exercise is a nice way to start the day.”

When Theresa is not busy working on her designs or growing her business, she loves exploring different neighborhoods around New York during the weekends, admiring the architecture and street art and trying out new food with her family. Her favorite tea is a Jasmine tea. You can find Theresa on Instagram at Resa.Living.USA , Resa.Living and on fb as Resa Living. To visit her shop go to resaliving.com