11 Ways These Sustainable Fashion Entrepreneurs are Persevering (during COVID19)

It’s a tough time for everyone right now. I know for myself personally, it’s been a roller coaster of emotions. One day I go from feeling hopeful and productive and the next day I’m feeling worried and unmotivated.

As a small business owner with a new brick & mortar shoe repair shop in downtown Los Angeles called Goods & Services, we’ve had to close down our shop due to not being considered an essential business.

Never in a million years did I predict that a few months after opening our doors we would have to close them.

Goods & Services Shoe Repair Los Angeles

While this has obviously impacted our sales for walk in repairs, we are now focusing on growing the e-commerce side of the business as well as creating new content for our YouTube channel. We (myself and my husband) are choosing to work on our business instead of in it for the time being.

And while it can be scary to think of what’s the come, I refuse to go down the rabbit hole of negative thinking. I find comfort in knowing that we are not alone and there are millions in a similar boat.

In an effort to highlight some amazing fashion entrepreneurs and the sustainable companies they’ve created, I reached out to my community from Dreamers // Doers and Female Founders Collective to learn more about their struggles, and how they are persevering during these conditions.

I learned that we are truly all in this together. Each brand’s struggles and what they are doing to either pivot their business or get creative was inspiring and motivating as a small business owner myself.

My hope is that when this is over we can look back at this blog post and be thankful. We’ll be thankful for the struggles, and understand that by supporting each other and being grateful, we will have risen above everything and it has only made us stronger.

Cayla O'Connell Davis, Knickey

How has COVID19 affected your business? Our factories are currently closed, halting production on our new collections as well as the highly-anticipated restocking of our core colors in several sizes. As a small team, we have had to make significant pivots internally to keep our team safe during this uncertain time, as well as continue to manage the business and ship product to our customers.

What are you doing to survive? We have launched a new content series on our Instagram called, #KeepItComfy, where we feature positive and uplifting insights from our community. It includes things as simple as sharing someone's morning routine, takeovers from thought-leaders, tutorials on cleaning out your #TopDrawer, and celebrating small joys in this time of social distancing.

NICKI PATEL, MILO + NICKI

How has COVID19 affected your business? We are solely direct to consumer, and did a soft launch of our new collection (seasonless capsules), but are feeling the effects on our orders as well as sustaining our artisan partnerships in India.

What are you doing to survive? We are currently offering free international shipping + extended returns, also for our next collection we are doing a slower launch with pre-orders, and we are doing a 20% donation of all proceeds to Project HOPE.

JEN LEWIS, PURSE & CLUTCH

How has COVID19 affected your business? We were right in the middle of taking wholesale pre-orders for our Spring Collection from Chiapas, Mexico when boutiques started closing shop. Without our wholesale customer bolstering us, we're not able to provide the amount of work we'd hoped to for our artisan partners.

What are you doing to survive? Considering asking our online retail customers to place pre-orders, I'm offering a special session of my virtual apprenticeship program for early-stage social entrepreneurs, taking a walk every day while listening to a podcast that has nothing to do with Covid-19!

NICOLE ROBERTSON, SWAP SOCIETY

How has COVID19 affected your business? We've had some customers cancel due to losing their jobs as a result of COVID-19, and swapping activity has slowed. We have also had to reduce our staffing and completely re-work our logistics because of the stay-at-home order.

What are you doing to survive? We are forwarding all incoming shipments to my home address so that we can continue to process incoming garments for our members, and we have figured out a way for select team members to list clothes on our site from their homes. This workaround allows us to continue to operate and not have to shut our doors, and for this, we are extremely grateful.

TAMARA LAINE, A.LYNN DESIGNS

How has COVID19 affected your business? We are a new direct to consumer brand based in New York City. All of our team has felt the impact in various forms this virus has had on friends, family, first responders and local businesses, so we have been looking for more ways our community can help others.

What are you doing to survive? We are a New York-based company, and our hearts are with everyone impacted right now. So, A.Lynn is giving our community 30% off purchases when you donate $20 to AmeriCares on our site. There is nothing more important than providing help and comfort to those in need. At A.Lynn we are committed to making shopping a purposeful experience and that is why we are enabling people to donate to Americares, which is working hard to provide desperately needed medical supplies to first responders.

DEANNA COOK, LIYA Collective

How has COVID19 affected your business? LIYA is a new brand, and we were planning on launching our first collection in Spring 2020. Due to the current situation though, we understand many of our consumers aren't in a position to purchase non-essential goods at this time.

What are you doing to survive? Because we have many other small businesses in our supply chain that rely on us for income and have been helping us build-up to this launch, and because much of our audience has spoken out about their desire for a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos, we've decided to proceed with our launch through a pre-sales campaign. Our collection will be available for pre-order on April 15th as scheduled, with the understanding that we'll enter production when it is safe to do so.

Laura Unruh, Lou Earl Shoes

How has COVID19 affected your business? I've been unable to get new styles from our factory in Italy as they are closed. I've also had to get creative in raising funds and acquiring investors due to the uncertainty surrounding the economy. Overall, we’re doing our best to accept what is out of our control and take this time to be creative and discover opportunities that lie within this situation.

What are you doing to survive? This time has forced me to pause and reflect. I've been able to think about other creative approaches to continue to grow my business while virtually bonding with the small business community as we help each other navigate through this time.

Shannon Ashford, Tom Foolery

How has COVID19 affected your business? We have shut down production of our latest manufactured run and sales have tanked.

What are you doing to survive? I have started making jumpsuits and t-shirts myself so that we have new products to sell. We are donating 30% of the proceeds to tuition bills for sewing students in Kenya. (A sewing college we partner with).

Masha Titova, TITOVLABEL

image: TTOV

How has COVID19 affected your business? With Covid19 closing down all retail stores, we are anticipating a huge dip in wholesale sales. We also are only able to ship through our online store twice a week.

What are you doing to survive? We are offering custom services to be able to use up some deadstock fabrics and offer something unique at this time. And with more time on our hands doing custom is more feasible. To gain traction to our website we are offering a free undie with purchase to spark some joy. We also have made masks for a local hospital with extra supplies we had.”

Priya Virmani, Privee by Priya

How has COVID19 affected your business? I work 1:1 with clients. I clearly cannot be in closets or stores. The worst part is this being the beginning of Spring I cannot support consignment donations or purchases.

What are you doing to survive? I am providing spring cleaning tips, virtual closet edits. Virtual shopping though the worst part is that there is very little activity in the retail world.

Maria Luisa Mendiola, MIGA Swimwear

How has COVID19 affected your business? “We launched our Resort 2020 collection last December and we were about to finish production, but now our factory is working with reduced hours due to COVID19 (understandably so). This delays our time to market.”

What are you doing to survive? We don't think it is the right time to push product, so instead, we have pivoted to highlight what humankind stands to learn from the disabilities, disfigurement and chronic illnesses in the times of COVID19. People that belong to these communities are used to living with uncertainty about their health, have experienced long periods of isolation and unemployment and are incredibly resilient. My hope is that after COVID19 these communities are finally recognized as pivotal parts of our society and given the accommodations that they need (because we all currently need them).

HOW TO, cofounder interviewsLauren FortuneApril 9, 2026covid19, sustainable fashion designers