This week we sat down with Natalie Festa, founder of Boro. Recognizing a huge problem in the fast fashion industry (the fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world next to oil!), Natalie set out to tackle this problem, one dress as a time.

What inspired you to start Boro?
I saw a problem in that people around me were wearing outfits only once or twice and then letting them clutter up their closets when they were done with them. I also noticed sisters and friends had a habit of sharing clothes, so I began brainstorming a community solution to scale this habit up.

“There’s the challenge of trying to focus
on strategy and growing the business,
but being distracted by the day-to-day.”

What does your typical day look like?
No two days are ever identical. Running and managing a business, you have to be on your toes, responding to what comes up, but also carve out time for growing the business. It's not an easy task. That comes with the challenge of trying to focus on strategy and growing the business, but being distracted by the day-to-day (classic pitfalls of working ON the business vs IN the business - right now we're doing both). On a typical day, I start at the office/showroom, tend to client requests, and run around with garment bags (whether it's to the cleaners, arranging drop-offs for clients, etc.) but I love the chaos.

What advice would you give to those who are thinking of entering a fashion industry?
Attend the events that you want to, not the ones people tell you to, and talk to the people that inspire you. Tell them about your ideas and dreams, and chances are you'll learn something of value or they'll introduce you to someone important.

Do you have any morning routines or evening rituals to help you stay balanced?
I'm not much of a person with routine, I'm definitely more spontaneous even with my daily schedule. But the one constant in all my mornings is coffee. I usually make it at home to save on costs and always transport it in a reusable mug to save on throw-away cups. To stay semi-balanced, I turn to meditation to re-focus on the breath and keep reminded of what really matters. I also carve out time for myself when I feel like I really need it and that's a non-negotiable.

What's one skincare product you can't live without?
Moisturizer with SPF - all days of the year - must protect from the sun and it's efficient (2 steps in 1:))

Learn more about Boro.

If you liked this interview, you might like our recent interview with Janet Zuccarini, founder of Gusto 54 Global Restaurant Group.