We had the good fortune of connecting with Killian Hagen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Killian, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
In May of 2020, Bruce & Olive started making masks for the community. We knew we couldn’t only make these for profit, we had to give back at the same time. I’m passionate about helping our homeless, people of color, and queer communities in Austin, and after doing some research, I found two local nonprofits that I felt shared the company’s values and were directly impacting people in need. For each one sold, we donated one to these two organizations:

–allgo: a non-profit focused on social justice, cultural arts, and health and wellness for queer people of color. It provides resources and relief to queer and minority communities, including grants.
–The Other Ones: a non-profit focused on transitioning Austin’s homeless neighbors into an engaged community through shelter, opportunity, and support. Our masks are supplying those who cannot afford masks with them, and helping keep our community safe from the spread of covid-19! We also have made multiple donations to DAWA, an Austin-based nonprofit that sends out monthly grants to black artists, musicians, and caretakers in the Austin area. Outside of these donations, all of our products are eco-friendly and sustainably made. In particular, our main line is made with organic cotton and tencel, which have multiple benefits including:
Organic cotton: 
-Water: Organic cotton requires 11X LESS water to treat. Low-impact, water-based inks and/or pigments with no heavy metals are also used for color dying.
-Easy on the skin: Organic cotton is hypoallergenic.
-Durability: Organic cotton fibers are longer and stronger than conventional cotton.
-Pesticide-free: Organic cotton farmers don’t use any pesticides or heavy chemicals like formaldehyde.
-Carbon Dioxide: Organic cotton emits 46% less CO2 than regular cotton.
-Work safety: Handpicking organic cotton is safe for workers because of the lack of chemicals used to treat it.
-Fair trade: 65% of fair trade cotton farmers are also certified organic.
Tencel: 
-Naturally moisture-wicking: Tencel is composed of nanofibrils—literally very, very small fibers—which are hydrophilic, a quality that makes the fabric better at absorbing moisture. This allows for a high absorption rate—50% more than cotton—which gives it natural breathability and a light, airy feeling.
-Naturally wrinkle resistant: Tencel’s unique moisture absorption ability makes it less prone to wrinkles.
-Naturally Odor-resistant: because Tencel is naturally resistant to bacteria forming and has a high moisture absorption rate, it’s also anti-bacterial. The lack of synthetic materials in it and most of our line means odor-causing bacteria doesn’t get trapped! You can wear it over and over without it smelling bad 🙂
-Easy on the skin: Incredible wicking abilities keep your skin dry while holding the moisture in the fabric. Its incredible softness and smooth surface doesn’t rub or chafe either. These factors combined with its resistance to bacteria growth make Tencel a great choice for those with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema!
-Environmentally Friendly: Lyocell’s closed loop production process means that the solvent N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide is recycled time and time again to produce new fibres and minimise harmful waste. Lenzing Group says the solvent recovery rate is 99%. Plus, the material comes from trees!

What should our readers know about your business?
My business, Bruce & Olive, is a line of eco-friendly basics for men and women. I created this line because living in south Texas, it is hard to function for the 8 months of the year that it is pretty warm. I wanted clothing that I could live in year round, day to night, for a multitude of activities. Still have a semblance of style in the warmer months, but wear clothing that worked for me and my body. The more I had read about the fashion industry, and all of its associated waste, I knew a real impact would be made from clothing that not only feels and looks good, but is also good for the earth and for you. With that in mind, every piece is made from eco-friendly materials, and I pay particular attention to the entire supply chain and manufacturing process to ensure that is always top of mind. Of course Bruce & Olive can be even MORE sustainable/eco-friendly, but it is absolutely top of mind for each piece, and I’m proud of the suppliers and manufacturers I have assembled for a consciously-made product (and the material is UNBELIEVABLY soft too). The company is named after my parents, Bruce and Olive Hagen, who tragically both passed away from cancer between 2009-2015. Since they passed away, I had been looking for a way to dedicate something meaningful to them. They lived full, adventurous, and rich lives, and the clothing I designed for Bruce & Olive was for those who live the same way. The spirit of my parents matched the spirit of the brand and the way I and my friends live, and the intention behind the clothing—to liberate you from choice and stress with clothing that has broad application. With the added fact that it’s a mens and womens line, naming it “Bruce & Olive” seemed to be a no=brainer. Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Austin tends to boil down to three main activities in my opinion (pre-covid that is): Outside, Food & Drink, and Live Music. With that in mind, if someone was here for a week, weekend one it would have to be:

Friday: 
-Dinner Friday Night at Licah’s Cantina, easily my favorite restaurant in East Austin serving interior Mexican food.
-Two-stepping at White Horse to follow
Saturday: 
-Walk to Texas Coffee Traders for some morning coffee (they’re SO friendly and supply so much of the city with coffee)
-Tacos at Grandma’s Tacos, or Tamale House East (amazing, beautiful patio)
-Renting a boat on Lake Austin and sailing around with stops to anchor and enjoy some drinks. That is one of my absolute favorite things to do with visitors, because they can’t believe they’re in Austin! Taking off from Walsh Boat dock with my boys over at Keep Austin Wet, you’ll see amazing greenery, the 360 bridge, and unbelievable houses. It’s like you’re in Europe somewhere.
-Dinner at Hula Hut, and then probably an early night. BUT, if you can rally, heading over to Barbarella for the hip=hop patio with uLovei
Sunday:
Coffee and tacos at Try Hard Coffee Drive to Pedernales Falls for a Hike, and follow this with a trip to Jester King for their Sour Beers and Pizza
Monday: 
-Coffee at Figure 8
All night happy hour at Lambert’s downtown in the bar upstairs
Tuesday:
-Morning walk around town Lake
-Smoothie at Juiceland on Lake Austin BLVD
-Coffee break at Revival Coffee
-Drinks and a show at Cheer Up Charlies + food at the Late-night
-Dancing at Tuesgayz at Barbarella (LGBTA+ night with AMAZING music and so much diversity)
Wednesday: 
-Coffee at Brew & Brew
-Melody Dance Fit class at 6:30, followed by a late dinner at Justine’s
Thursday:
-AM coffee at Fitch
-Dinner and drinks at Little Darlin
-Two stepping at The Broken Spoke
Friday:
-Coffee and Kolaches at Little Brother on SoCo
-Stroll allll the way down South Congress Ave checking out the shops and maybe stop for live music at Guero’s
-Dinner and drinks at Perla’s
-Show at Continental Club!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ll give my shoutout to my friend Jimmy Sansone, high school friend and founder of The Normal Brand, who helped me understand this industry and navigate my way through it in the first couple years (and still!) as I had a million questions and no idea what to do. He also started at the same place, so it’s been amazing to have an example of success, and a mentor in that along the way. I was so amazed at his career pivot to fashion—and making it incredibly successful—that I’ve always believed I could do it too. Any time I reach out to him, he’s more than happy to jump on a call and help me out however he can. I’ve really appreciated and been grateful for his guidance along the way.

Website: www.bruceandolive.com

Instagram: instagram.com/bruceandoliveco

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bruceandoliveco

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC90n1tZXuHWvktw3gsA4tjg

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/bruceandoliveco/

Image Credits
@brennajoyphotography (https://www.brennajoy.com), @redridinghoodproductions , @cassandrajkphotography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.