Cindy Castro spent the early part of her fashion career, amazed by the amount of waste the industry created and how they treated workers. So when she decided to launch her ready-to-wear women's lines,

she knew she wanted to be mindful of the impact on the environment

and the value of the labor that brought her visions to life.

The result is Cindy Castro, New York, brand I Love,

in part because the woman behind it is so talented and so clear about what matters.

Cindy, hi.

Hi, Alicia. So great to be here.

Tell me about growing up in Ecuador and sort of, is there a moment that is clear to you where you realize if I want to pursue the things I want to pursue, then the best course of action is for me to move to the United

States. It didn't happen like that. So growing up, I think I just realized there was a lot of

inequality in my country. Because I come from a small town, I did see a lot of poverty. And when my sisters went to college, we're

three sisters, we are each seven years apart. So I barely live with my first sister. When they went

to college, my dad sent them to the capital of Ecuador, we would travel. And I just remember just seeing

so many kids in the streets, so just

many moms. And that's the main thing for me, like what impacted me was just inequality. And my

dad telling me, you need to go to school because you need to be able to provide for yourself. You cannot wait for a man to

provide for yourself. I came to the U.S. as an opair. My plan was just to be here for a year and to kind of like

see what else it's out there. Okay, but then what happens? I met my husband, Henry, and he's actually the one who encouraged me to study fashion.

I had told them about the whole thing that, you know, I've always wanted to do fashion,

but that's something that my parents couldn't afford.

So he was the first person in this country to help me to do community college,

do how to apply for loans and credit cards and things like that. So I was able to stay and do that

because of him. I love all these feminist men in your life, Cindy. Yes. We're ushering you in the right direction.

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