Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Nina: I am a repeat social entrepreneur, currently building the future of how we create and consume, starting with luxury fashion, at Fashionkind: the digital marketplace where luxury design meets positive impact. I am proudly born and raised in Philadelphia, where I live with my husband Connor and am excited to be building my company. In addition to all things fashion/impact/tech/luxury/artisan craftsmanship/investing, I am completely and utterly obsessed with my two rescue pups, Lennon and Vela, and being an aunt to nine (!) nieces and nephews.

Q: Share with us a little bit about your skincare journey?
Nina: It took me some time to figure out a skincare routine that worked for me. I tend to be on the dryer side and my skin is quite sensitive, and for a while I was plagued by tiny little not-quite-pimple bumps on my forehead. Traditional acne creams were too irritating for my skin and left me red and flakey (ick!). Rescue Spa introduced me to my first chemical exfoliant, Biologique Recherche P50 1970, and I was shocked by the results my forehead completely cleared up! To this day, a chemical exfoliant is still my desert island product. After cleansing and exfoliating, I apply a non-clogging moisturizer (BR Creme Dermopurifiante - I am obsessed!) and finish with eye cream and sunscreen during the day. All in all, it’s a pretty simple routine, although I am constantly tempted to try any and all new products that come to the market. I am a sucker for good marketing and branding.

Q: What is a piece of advice for someone who is looking to live a more sustainable lifestyle, but doesn't know where to start?
Nina: Don’t strive for perfection - there’s no such thing. First and foremost, start by identifying what “sustainability” means to you and why you want to make a change - don’t just do it for the sake of doing it! Then select something specific you’d like to change and start there. Know that any change takes time, so reward the progress, continue to come back to your “why”, and don’t get caught up by the idea that it has to be all-or-nothing. I promise you that it doesn’t!

Q: Were you always this passionate about sustainability? What is one of your favorite facts or pieces of information that motivates you to want to affect positive environmental change?
Nina: Impact has always been a driving force in my life. You’ll notice I use the term “impact” or “positive impact”, because the word “sustainability” feels like it has lost its meaning given how much often it is used and how prevalent greenwashing has become. For me, impact feels more holistic, encompassing both social and environmental opportunities. It also feels more positive to me. From a professional perspective, I’ve been a leader in impact fashion since 2008, when I launched a humanitarian fashion brand while I was at Penn. I went on to pursue finance at Glenmede, where I founded, built and launched their impact investing platform. The idea of marrying positive impact with business, as well anything I pursue personally, has consistently been my North Star.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of running a sustainable business, and what impact do you hope to have on both the industry and the planet?
Nina: Championing and showcasing the incredible designer and artisan communities around the globe that we help support is the absolute greatest honor and gift. It is nothing short of amazing to witness and experience the pieces they create and the way they so intentionally and skilfully bring each design to life. It will also always make me smile to see the pure joy our customers feel when they find us and when they add to their Fashionkind collections. For them, Fashionkind is not only the place they go to discover emerging designers and unique pieces that they’ve never seen before, but it is also an opportunity to connect with people, places, traditions and cultures around the world. It is extremely special to hear how connected customers feel to what we are building and how needed what we are doing is in the market - for designers and consumers alike.

Q: How can consumers make a difference by supporting sustainable businesses, and why is their role so important in driving change?
Nina: When I think about this, I keep coming back to this simple idea: if businesses are doing it right, consumers will support them because of the unique value-add they offer them - not because they are “sustainable.” I really think that is the key. For us, everything we do is driven by positive impact, AND that focus on positive impact directly results in the most unique curation of designers and artisan communities from around the globe. So, while some customers come to us because of our focus on positive impact, that focus on positive impact alone is not enough if the products aren’t also incredible pieces of fashion. Customers come to us because of the value-add we provide them (which they may or may not even know is propelled by positive impact): a shopping experience driven by discovery and connection, where they find special pieces that reflect their personal style and set them apart in a market that has become overwhelmingly homogeneous.