Meet Garik Himebaugh | Founder of Eco-Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Garik Himebaugh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Garik, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
2% of clothing makers earn a living wage. I was shocked to learn this and wanted to help people support the 2% of brands that are paying living wages. At Eco-Stylist sustainability isn’t just about eco-friendly manufacturing, it’s also about the human rights of workers.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At Eco-Stylist you dress like you give a damn. We’ve created a community of sustainable fashion brands to make it easy to purchase sustainable clothes. Simply put, a one stop shop for sweatshop free and sustainable clothing.

Finding brands you actually trust can be hard, but we believe it shouldn’t be. We’re most proud of creating a go-to resource our users love and trust.

We’re also proud to support the growth of ethical businesses. Many of our certified brands are small businesses and when we drive sales to those brands we help those brands grow and expand. Vote with your wallet, it matters.

Today Eco-Stylist is 3 years old and it’s been quite a journey getting here. We started with no revenue, no funding, and a very small team. In the beginning we’d pitch to judges who would tell us nobody cares about sustainable clothing. Along the way we won grants, developed revenue streams, grew our team, and completed three startup accelerator programs.

It has not been easy but perseverance, humility, and adaptability have gotten us to this point. With a startup you’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to get things wrong. Your business will be wrong. What matters is what you do about it. We’ve been learning constantly along the way and turning those learnings into action, adapting our business throughout the last couple years.

Eco-Stylist is your go-to guide to finding ethically made, stylish clothing. We make it easy for you to find clothes that match your style and your values.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting Phoenix there’s a few spots I wouldn’t want them to miss. Day 1: start with morning coffee at Xanadu downtown. They roast their coffee here locally and the pour-over cannot be beat anywhere in PHX. Then we’d go thrift shopping, bouncing around to different places like White Dove, Goodwill, etc. We’d finish the day with a night hike of Piestewa Peak, which is a good workout, a beautiful view, and a totally different way to experience the city. Day 2: morning coffee at Xanadu (again) followed by a trip to Black Rock Bouldering Gym where they can try out some rock climbing. The gym is approachable and a lot of fun. We’d finish the day by hopping to a dive bar for a drink.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to the many mentors who have leant me their wisdom, support, and attention over the last few years. I am so privileged to have people who believe in me, and who give me their valuable time to listen, ask tough questions, point me in the right direction, and hold me accountable. I would not be as far without you.

Website: https://www.eco-stylist.com/

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpUm09c6JQewi2LXsnd3rlw