Cindy Castro New York is a sustainable luxury brand, producing locally in the city with responsible fabrics and a commitment to garment workers’ rights. The company was founded by Cindy Castro, who grew up in Ecuador and came to the U.S. as an au pair before putting herself through design school. She went on to break into New York’s fashion world, taking risks and building a label that reflects both her values and her vision. Today, she’s running her own brand, navigating the realities of entrepreneurship, and celebrating recognition as one of Vogue Business’s “100 Innovators.”

In this episode, we sit down with Cindy to learn more about the risks she took to invest in herself, how she centers sustainability, and the importance of kindness in an industry that often thrives on competition.

If you’d like to learn more about Cindy’s work, follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/cindycastro_nyc/ or visit cindycastro.com/.