thesalting:  best advice for a young fashion brand? 

john bartlett: create one amazing item and then build from there. and repeat the styles for much longer than you think. it's important to keep a consistent message and not change with the trends

ts: what drew you to fashion & launching your namesake brand?

jb: I always loved clothes and how I could create different personas, even at age 5. clothing allows for self expression and informs people about who you are or want to be. It's an incredible tool for communication. I launched my own brand after my best friend died of AIDS in the early 90's. I felt like I had nothing to lose and threw caution to the wind.

ts: favorite memory/ moment from your time running john bartlett?

jb: when my dog, sweetie, now departed, jumped off my then partner's lap and ran after me on the runway when I was taking a bow.

ts: did you enjoy having the john bartlett shop in the west village? 

jb: I did but I would do it totally different now and keep it much more minimal and focused.

ts: what designer/ brand most inspires you today?

jb: I love Ganni, Stella, Pangaia, Save the Duck, and Patagonia. they are all using next gen or sustainable materials and are moving the needle in creating earth aware designs.

ts: favorite book? 

jb: Dancer From the Dance by Andrew Holleran and Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

ts: 3 favorite movies? 

jb: Grey Gardens, Deerhunter, Sound of Music

ts: favorite color? 

jb: today it's aqua green

ts: favorite season? 

jb: summer

ts: what inspired you to launch your podcast 'dog save the people'? 

jb: I am big into rescue and dogs. They have changed my life I wanted to create a podcast that celebrates how dogs make our lives better and have gotten to interview some magnificent and beautiful people.

ts: what brings you joy?

jb: my family, my sobriety, a good vegan pizza!

ts: first concert? 

jb: Paul McCartney and Wings

ts: how do you erase hate in your everyday life? 

jb: that's a tough one. I try to approach each day without judgement and I meditate every morning for 30 minutes. 

ts: our timing is perfect as you embark on a new chapter in your career: please tell us about your new role at parsons school of design?

jb: my new role is Director of Fashion for Executive and Professional Studies. I will be working with people who are looking to do a deeper dive into luxury management, design innovation and to partner with Parsons on creating customized and curated programs for their brands and teams. Having had the three years at Marist College working with undergraduates, this is an exciting new arena and space to explore.

ts: this feel like an exciting new frontier: did you contribute to the concept and what are your hopes for this venture?

jb: my hopes for this new chapter are to help customize experiential learning for professionals and entrepreneurs and to harness the incredible talent at Parsons and the New School to assist executives and others to enhance their careers with new tools and updated perspectives. The area of Executive Education is fairly new for Parsons so I will have the opportunity to help create new programs and to customize the curriculum in a way that addresses the needs of today's professionals.