Meet Bobby Mass | REBL Vegan Clothing

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

Hi Bobby, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
Back in 2008, when our two daughters were teenagers, we visited a farmed animal sanctuary in upstate New York and took a tour to learn about the animals being cared for there. As parents we always stressed compassion and kindness. Seeing how happy the chickens, cows, pigs, turkeys and others used for food were, we left there understanding our impact on the food system and how it is produced. From that point forward we committed to being vegan. We educated our children on what we learned and they understood the positive impact of our lifestyle change. As a fully vegan family, we attended veg fests, animal rights marches and continued to visit other animal sanctuaries. In 2016, our family decided to advocate through our newly formed clothing business named REBL (Rebecca, Ellen, Bobby, Leah). Our messages are all positive and vegan-themed. While we do this for the animals, the environment and our health, our clothing is designed to never shame others who have not yet made the connections. We believe in encouraging others and showing by example that a vegan lifestyle is a compassionate and sustainable way of living.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our brand evolved from our knowledge gained from previous careers. Bobby co-founded a healthcare textile company and ran that business for three decades. There he learned how to design and market products for sale, build a structured business with systems and guidelines and build solid and lasting relationships with employees, customers and vendors. Ellen co-founded a design and museum exhibit company and also ran that business for over 30 years. She is formally trained as an industrial designer and has developed skills in all sorts of areas including graphic and media design as well as other behind the scenes skills such as bookkeeping and business management. When launched, the REBL clothing company was able to successfully navigate all the details of starting and running a new business mainly because of our previous experience. We used our own savings to start the business. We used Shopify for web and online sales. We work with clothing manufacturers and screen printers to choose the most ecological products. Surely, there have been challenges but, hard work and enthusiasm usually prevails. We are proud of our products and our mission to encourage others to live with more compassion.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Breakfast should always include some Moxie bread, and any of the amazing coffee shops around. After that, the Wild Animal Sanctuary is always fun for all, teaching that ALL animals deserve dignity and freedom. And everyone loves seeing lions and tigers and bears! Oh my! Then maybe lunch at Gladys, our favorite truly PLANT-based place, with creatively curated veggies and fruits as the stars. We may take a stroll on Pearl Street as we are from Boulder, and eat at Leaf or Dushanbe Tea House for dinner. Always worth seeing who is playing at eTown or the Boulder Theater, or maybe Roots Music Project. There is always something going on.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to Jenny Brown, the co-founder of Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. She was the tour guide who made us realize that animals have feelings and that they should be friends, not food. In addition, we would also like to give a shoutout to all the vegan advocates and good people we have met along the way.

Website: reblusa.com

Instagram: @rebl.vegan

Facebook: rebl usa