Episode 24: Pioneering impact and inclusivity in the fashion industry with Jovana Mullins, Founder - Alivia
06/01/20 • 50 min
Jovana Mullins is the founder of Alivia, a contemporary women’s brand with a unique social impact model. They work directly with artists with developmental disabilities to design collections, showcasing their work while giving back to the community - 10% of the proceeds go directly back to the Center of All Abilities in NYC where the creator receives art therapy. Their mission is to give purpose and voice to the previously unheard while showcasing their talents. They also hope to encourage a larger social movement of inclusivity and acceptance within the fashion industry.
Originally from Kansas, Jovana’s love for art, fashion and social impact started at a young age. She was taught by her grandmother how to sew in 3rd grade, started her own non-profit dedicated to at risk youth in 8th grade, and used her yearly fashion shows in high school as a way to raise even more money for that cause. She went to the Parsons School of Design and her career launched after working for some of the biggest names in fashion, like Diane Von Furstenberg and Matthew Williamson. After working in fashion for over 10 years between London and NYC, Jovana felt that there was a bigger calling for her - she wanted to give back to the community. She started volunteering with Gifted Hands, a place where they conducted art therapy programs for underserved groups. When that non-profit shut down, Jovana took her fashion focused art therapy program to the Center of All Abilities in NYC and the rest is history. From there, Alivia was created. Jovana is truly making waves in the social impact space, from sustainable fabrics and environmentally friendly printing processes to supporting conscious consumers who invest in fashion for more than just a statement piece, but to be a part of a social movement. Jovana’s business model is truly emblematic of what an impact business should look like and any entrepreneur will be inspired by what she is building.
For 10% off use the code TYPACO10
https://www.shopalivia.com/discount/TYPACO10
https://www.instagram.com/alivia__brand/?hl=en
Our podcast theme song is "Pico & Westwood" by Esbie Fonte. For more info, visit https://www.esbiefonte.com/
Jovana Mullins is the founder of Alivia, a contemporary women’s brand with a unique social impact model. They work directly with artists with developmental disabilities to design collections, showcasing their work while giving back to the community - 10% of the proceeds go directly back to the Center of All Abilities in NYC where the creator receives art therapy. Their mission is to give purpose and voice to the previously unheard while showcasing their talents. They also hope to encourage a larger social movement of inclusivity and acceptance within the fashion industry.
Originally from Kansas, Jovana’s love for art, fashion and social impact started at a young age. She was taught by her grandmother how to sew in 3rd grade, started her own non-profit dedicated to at risk youth in 8th grade, and used her yearly fashion shows in high school as a way to raise even more money for that cause. She went to the Parsons School of Design and her career launched after working for some of the biggest names in fashion, like Diane Von Furstenberg and Matthew Williamson. After working in fashion for over 10 years between London and NYC, Jovana felt that there was a bigger calling for her - she wanted to give back to the community. She started volunteering with Gifted Hands, a place where they conducted art therapy programs for underserved groups. When that non-profit shut down, Jovana took her fashion focused art therapy program to the Center of All Abilities in NYC and the rest is history. From there, Alivia was created. Jovana is truly making waves in the social impact space, from sustainable fabrics and environmentally friendly printing processes to supporting conscious consumers who invest in fashion for more than just a statement piece, but to be a part of a social movement. Jovana’s business model is truly emblematic of what an impact business should look like and any entrepreneur will be inspired by what she is building.
For 10% off use the code TYPACO10
https://www.shopalivia.com/discount/TYPACO10
https://www.instagram.com/alivia__brand/?hl=en
Our podcast theme song is "Pico & Westwood" by Esbie Fonte. For more info, visit https://www.esbiefonte.com/
Previous Episode
Episode 23: The value of art, experiences & being present with Kala Maxym, Founder - Five Senses Tastings
Kala Maxyn is the perfect example of both an artist & entrepreneur. She is the founder of Five Senses Tastings, an events company that brings the five senses into harmony with one another. Growing up in a classical household that valued music and travel, Kala always had an inherent sense of freedom which allowed her to easily accept the concept of change. A trained opera singer, she actually went to school to study political science which lead to a job with the US Department of Justice in which she assisted with the modernization of legal systems in Latin America. Consistently walking the line between the intellectual and artistic worlds, her experiences eventually culminated into curating the ultimate experiences for people through her company. In our conversation we discuss the importance of being present, how to convince others that what you are doing has value - especially when it hasn’t been done before, and why as an entrepreneur it’s important to take risks, say yes and it figure it out along the way. We also discuss what wellness looks like for an artistic entrepreneur, how she’s had to pivot during this pandemic and why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. This conversation is filled with helpful tidbits for artists and entrepreneurs alike who aspire to create better experiences for people and who want to be innovative within their industry. Her advice to founders? Be willing to embrace change, get comfortable with pivoting and most importantly, stay humble even when pursuing big ventures.
https://www.fivesensestastings.com/
https://www.instagram.com/fivesensestastings/
Our podcast theme song is "Pico & Westwood" by Esbie Fonte. For more info, visit https://www.esbiefonte.com/
Next Episode
Episode 25: E-learning & eating well with Elizabeth Yarnell, Wellness Entrepreneur & Founder - Digistars
Elizabeth Yarnell creates products that help people live better lives.The daughter of two doctors, health and wellness was always a topic of conversation in her household growing up. However, the importance of personal wellness wasn’t fully solidified until just before her 30th birthday when she woke up one morning and had gone completely blind in her right eye. The diagnosis? Multiple sclerosis. At the time, there were limited options. After having created a career path in video production and journalism, the sudden loss of eyesight made the prospect of her future uncertain. At the time, the data showed that 80% of MS patients would experience significant disability within 10 years of the diagnosis. A diagnosis that many could view as daunting, Elizabeth used it as her motivation towards a healthier life. Her then fiancé, who was a competitive athlete, suggested that what she was eating could have something to do with how her body was reacting. She started experimenting with cooking and strategizing ways to make healthy meals more convenient. After years of trial and successes with her friends and local community, she self-published Glorious One Pot Meals and ended up selling over 15,000 copies herself before selling to Randomhouse. Her second business, Digistars, is an e-learning portal to help strengthen 21st century skills for kids. Our world connects through visual media, and the intention behind Digistars is to equip today’s kids to be successful in their careers as adults. Elizabeth’s life story is inspiring in that it shows how thinking outside the box can get you farther than any box others try to put you in. We discuss the importance of innovative thinking, how technology can positively impact our future and why even when you are passionate about what you’re doing you shouldn’t submerge your whole identity into your work. We also discuss the most common ailment of our time and why sugar isn’t the main culprit. A story of innovation and defying the odds, Elizabeth’s story will inspire you to take the best care of yourself as you build your social enterprise.
https://digistarsworkshop.com/
https://elizabethyarnell.com/glorious-one-pot-meals-recipe-videos/
Our podcast theme song is "Pico & Westwood" by Esbie Fonte. For more info, visit https://www.esbiefonte.com/
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-social-impact-startup-107041/episode-24-pioneering-impact-and-inclusivity-in-the-fashion-industry-w-5557609"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to episode 24: pioneering impact and inclusivity in the fashion industry with jovana mullins, founder - alivia on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy