Ngozi Okaro

Ngozi Okaro @the.ngozi.okaro is a social entrepreneur who is making a positive impact in the fashion industry through her leadership of Custom Collaborative. Her organization creates opportunities for no/low-income and immigrant women to participate in sustainable fashion, empowering them with skills and resources to build successful careers.

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IRK: Tell us your “Why” 

I started because I wanted women to have avenues to good pay, doing what they loved. Also, because I thought that people should have access to clothes that fit.

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IRK: What are you most passionate about with respect to taking care of people and the planet? 

Oh, people and planet have equal bearing for me, but I am really passionate about protecting animals and their habitats. None of them caused the climate problems, and they are probably having a hard time figuring out what went wrong and how to adjust.

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IRK: What are some conscious actions you implement in your daily life?

I reduce plastic as much as possible. Upcycle until only down cycling is possible — like remaking clothes and then when the remakes fall apart, using them as cleaning cloths! I try my best not to purchase new clothes. And most important, my work means that I get to introduce dozens of people into environmental sustainability, so they can create their own practices and spread the word.

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IRK: What’s your hope for the future of the planet? 

Wow, that’s a big question. I hope that the people who cause or allow the most harm wake up to the reality of how tough climate change has been and is going to be for so may people. My prayer is that we will then be able break our addiction to fossil fuels, and plastics, and at least end private jet and unnecessary space flights.

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What Sustainable Development Goal do you align with the most? https://sdgs.un.org/goals 

SDG 12