Haute Talk With Rowaiye Olanrewaju | Reimagining Fashion Waste

What happens when clothing donated with good intentions becomes another country’s waste crisis?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy sits down with Rowaiye Olanrewaju, founder of the Larry Rowbs Foundation. With a background in economics, international trade, and fashion entrepreneurship, Rowaiye brings a business-minded approach to addressing textile pollution and creating economic opportunity across Africa.

Rowaiye explains how traveling through several African countries changed the direction of his fashion career. He saw how large volumes of inexpensive secondhand clothing and poor-quality fast fashion were hurting local businesses while leaving communities responsible for garments that could not be resold or reused. Rather than beginning with a factory, the foundation chose to focus first on education and awareness so people could better understand fashion’s effects on their health, environment, and local economy.

The conversation explores the foundation’s plans for a clothing recycling facility, free sustainable-fashion training, and small production centers that could create jobs within local communities. Rowaiye also introduces an educational video game designed to teach younger audiences about textile waste and the e.don Movement, which uses the Don-K character to start conversations and raise support. He and Lexy discuss why better-quality clothing matters, the limitations of traditional donation systems, and why staying quiet allows harmful practices to continue.

Socials

Instagram: @thelarryrowbsfoundation

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

Transcript

Rowaiye_Lex

[00:00:00] Welcome to the.

Speaker 2: Welcome to the Lexie Show Fashion that gives a damn. This week I am joined by the founder of Larry Wabs Foundation. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Roe Ellan Rewe. J, how are you doing? 

lexy: Your academic background in international trade and economics seems like a unique combination for a fashion entrepreneur.

So how have these fields kinda shaped your approach in building, um. Organization and, and navigating the business side of sustainable fashion. 

rowa: Okay. Um, that's a very good question, but before I actually ask that, um, thanks for, uh, me, for having me over here. Um, I would like to drive that question back. If you look at most sustainable or activists or people that are trying to look into the fashion industry, or lemme say, uh, I call 'em the advocates, uh, most of them are actually, um, getting tired.

Of the system. Why? Because, um, getting in the business world is one thing and, uh, fighting for something is also, is one thing in, in this, in this area, that we are right, that is very hard to get funds. Kind of project we don't even understand, [00:01:00] like you're trying to change something entirely. So because of this idea of business that I've been, 'cause I grew up in a business world, um, like, you know, family and all that as well as been into business, um, it was able to let me know that, you know what, um, if you, if you wanna raise funds through this, do something, do something, add it up so they can get the main goal.

So, uh, the, the economies, um, and the international trade that I actually studied has given me a, a lot of good, um. Hope, a lot of good connection, a lot of good ways of interacting with people. So that of course, I mean, if I meet you and I tell, you know what, this is what we want. This is what we wanna do, and it's gonna benefit you and also benefit people.

Those are the terms people want to listen to, and I've been able to use that so that to bring people into this project. Um, so, um, I, I, I'm gonna say even when you look at, uh, some of the concept that we have in the foundation, uh, it's something that I, I. I drew up out, out of being an economist. Um, like for example, you say like, oh, uh, sustainable fashion.

Yeah, everybody knows that, but how can you make us deploy more sustainable? That's one part of the economy pathway. It, because you have to tell people, [00:02:00] okay, um, if we do this, we achieve this, we get this, we get this, you know, you have to have a, a, a, an, uh, a, a deep record and so on and so forth. So, um, I would say.

Being an economist or studying international trade as a ma um, as my masters or MMSU has really helped me in this project in so many ways. Um, talking to people, uh, doing the right thing, seeing how to raise funds, and so on and so forth. Thank you. 

lexy: That is amazing. I love that. And so, can you tell us all like the history, how you, how, like what, what made you want to found, you know, Larry Robes and, and how you got to where it is now?

rowa: Okay. Why I studied, you'll be very, it's actually gonna shock you. I, I started because I wanted to make money, 'cause I wanted to pay for my school fees when I was in India. Um, I was very stubborn. My thought I wanted to, wanted me to go to, to Dublin, Ireland to study in Ireland. Uh, but I wanted something, uh, more unique.

I wanted to be in the production board. Uh, so I, I went to India and he said, you know what you, boy, I'm not gonna support you for going to India. So. I had to pay for mask fees. And, um, like, like I [00:03:00] said, I grew up in a family where business was the only thing we, uh, we knew about. So I had to figure out a way to pay for mask fees and I, I saw fashion as one of the best ways.

Uh, so I did that for like, uh, five, six years. I paid mask another, but one good thing that I made me or had to change the brand into something that's gonna be more impactful was because I wanted to bring a factory from India. To Africa. 'cause I was, I feel like traveling to India all the time, you know, to, to, to, to produce and bring it to Africa.

It was, it was being, um, I didn't really like that concept anymore. So, um, because of this factory, um, proposal that I was, I was having, I, I went to like six African countries and I'm must tell you, uh, what I saw, um, was not something I, I was expecting. Um, you know, the, like I would say the, the textile, lemme focus more on the textile industry.

The textile industry of, of Africa has actually been really, uh, messed up because of the influx of youth clothes coming to Africa. So why should I buy your brand when I could go [00:04:00] to downtown and get something of $2, $3? So most local or local or, or brands are not making money and they're closing because of that.

So I feel like. I think it's time I do something rather than just making money. So that was what the whole concept of Laro Foundation started from about the Laro brand has been in since, since 2012 when I was a student. Thank you. 

lexy: That's amazing. That's super cool. I think that 

rowa: exactly. 

lexy: I think, I mean, I think that's a very fair way of like, wanting to start a company is like I have, or an organization or whatever is like, I wanna make, I wanna make some money.

I think that's 

rowa: honestly 

lexy: a very honest response and I think that I appreciate that because I feel like I, it's, it's true. But, you know, um, we can, we can make money and we can do so by doing, by, by, you know. Tackling a great cause. And so your foundation really tackles the issue of textile waste, which is huge in, in a huge problem in the fashion industry.

So can you explain how your foundation is really helping to like reduce this waste? 

rowa: Okay. Um, I. If we, if, if we [00:05:00] talk to a lot of people about, okay, what is the first concept? Yeah, we wanna have a factory or recycling FA factory, we can collect all these clothes of cycle, blah, blah, blah, blah. But let's go down to the statistics of the people who understand what is actually going on around them.

Um, it's very, very low in Africa. In fact, if I bring 50 people and actually do, you know, sustainable fashion, they don't even understand it. So what does that tell you? That if we have a factory here and, uh, we ignore the part of education and creating awareness, it's just like we are still making money. No social impact.

So what La Rose Foundation decided to do is, um, before we put any brick on ground. We, we, we started focusing more on the educational part. So that's more like talking to people, letting them know that, okay, this is the right from the wrong. And, um, one of the most, uh, one of the greatest initiatives that we came up with are two, we wanna develop a video game That because we are not, that Gen Zs are more of, you know, video, video games and all that.

Um, [00:06:00] and I, I, I wanna believe it's not gonna be an an, an addictive game, but. It is gonna educate people, millions of people, about what's going on around them. How fashion is very, very important, and how fashion can actually pollute a lot of things that they don't know. And secondly, the donkey, uh, initiative.

Uh, we have, uh, a donkey initiative. Um. Donkey has been an, uh, uh, has been a very good animal supporting humanity for several years. So we decided like if we use this concept, um, to solve the problem of, of the fashion industry by creating awareness, um, uh, when it goes viral. So we decided to collaborate with an organization, I mean, called our solo in Australia.

So these are the ways where we are, we are actually seeing how we can tackle this issue. But at the moment we've not laid any brick on growing. Right now we are focusing on educational parts, increasing more awareness at the moment. Thank you. 

lexy: Yeah, I think that's, I mean, so important, and that's what I'll always tell people when I'm talking about sustainability is like the first part's, like [00:07:00] just getting educated and like talking about it.

And I think that with fashion and textiles, I mean, we're definitely talking about it a lot more than we once were. Yeah. Um, but there's still so many people. I remember I had a conversation with. One of my closest friends who was like, what? What is sustainable fashion? Like you're always posting about this and I literally don't know what this is.

And I was like, I'm actually so glad you asked this. Like 

rowa: exactly, not 

lexy: just like seeing my posts and being like, yeah, ha, so cute. But like genuinely being like, what does that mean? Like, explain it to me. And so I think that that first part is so important and just like doing the research and once you feel like you, you know, are educated on the topic, then taking those steps.

Of being more sustainable and seeing how can we can reduce waste and just, uh, education in, in all fields, whether it's sustainability, fashion, industry, whatever, is always a great first step. Like, do your research. 

rowa: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. And now, um, we, we, we, I, I feel, and I know, I don't wanna say, I know by the time we we're about to start.

All or [00:08:00] projects, I mean the recycling facility and initiative or millions of who actually actually understand that it, it's not just about, um, it is not just about clothes. It's not about shoes any along. It's about how we can make this life and the her better and the bit make cleaner than now what we're seeing right now.

Because I will tell you the fact when you go to the river, it's polluted. And if you know that we are all interconnected, what happens in the north happens in the, in the south is one way or the other, it's a movement. So the river, you pull it over here, there's a way, one way is gonna also come to you or to the other side.

So it's very, very important. We educate people and they, we are not, we are not giving up on it. Thank you. 

lexy: Yeah. I think that's important too, is not to give up. 'cause I think that that's a conversation I've been having a lot lately. Lately in lately in terms of sustainability. Where it's like when you look at the little things that we're doing in our day-to-day or whatever, like in comparison to how much.

Industries and companies all over the world are [00:09:00] polluting. It feels like you're doing very little, but I think it's always important to, to not give up and remember that again, the more we talk about it, the more we educate ourselves and others about it, the more like it's a ripple effect. And so it might feel very tiny now, but it'll ripple into something bigger and bigger until, until we can change the world to a better place.

rowa: Definitely, definitely. 

lexy: Well, um, the foundation focuses on turning fashion waste into biodegradable products. So what are some of the key benefits of using 100% recycled materials in fashion, both for the environment and for consumers? 

rowa: Yeah. Come again. Uh, what, what, what, what, what's the or one benefits of, can you come again with the question?

lexy: Yeah. What are the key benefits of using like 100% recycled material in fashion for both the environment and for consumers? 

rowa: Okay, that's a good question. Um, if you. We don't want to use those thing of one time, um, you know, one store that one time production. 'cause if you use something that's more sustainable, uh, apart from people can actually reuse over and over again, you just have to add one or two things.

If you decide maybe you want to dispose it. It's not gonna be, it's not gonna be harmful. Um, I did a, a test, uh, I can't remember, I think it was, uh, last year. I can't remember the exact time, but yeah, it was [00:10:00] last year. I, I had to put different materials on ground for, for like six months. And I've seen people doing that also.

And, uh, if I tell you something or things that, that, that, that was on up or polyester, were not, were, were not, didn't give us a good result. So. If you have a material that is not, that's just like usually right now and that is done. I don't think it's something that we would want, want to have at this at this time.

Because apart from the policing environment, uh, how many resources do you think we have at the moment that we want to waste? We might think you have everything. You might think you have all this, um, or whatever, or you have a lot of courses and all that, but if you are using the right. Material. Everyone, even the next generation can also use it and still meet something behind.

Uh, for example, uh, I remember while, while we were growing up, um, people would actually do trade by butter. You have plastics, you get, you get some new clothes. But those things are not happening anymore because the moment I have my clothes. They're not of eye quality anymore. So who was gonna take [00:11:00] that from me?

Even my kids, even my mother. I remember my mother when my, when my, when my grand, my grandmother passed away. My mother was happy 'cause she got a lot of good clothes from her. But can that actually happen anymore? No, it's not happening anymore. And I don't know about that, but in Africa people don't even want to get your clothes anymore.

Maybe juries or clothes. No. So it's very important that we, uh, we keep this culture in tradition of. High quality, sustainable, um, uh, products or by, uh, degradable uh, products to produce what we want. Because it's only gonna help heart and it also gonna help the people, uh, be it gift, be it and the culture, be it the tradition.

And also, thank you. 

lexy: Yeah. I mean, I think that's something that, I went to this vintage sale and I was like. Talking to my friends that had gone with me where I was like vintage. When like my kids are gonna be experiencing vintage, it's gonna be like all fast fashion and all like Sheen and Forever 21, and it's not gonna be like true, good [00:12:00] quality vintage.

Mm-hmm. Like we're not gonna want those. Clothes. And so I think it's so interesting 'cause it's like, it literally will stress me. It will send me into like a spiral when I'm at these like vintage sales and I'm like, I need to buy everything because one day vintage is gonna be sheen and I can't, I can't have that be the case.

Like where's the stuff gonna go? I want it. Like, and so I think it's really interesting that. Like we're, we're really setting the system up with the more we produce this, these poor quality clothing, because then it's, first of all, it's not even gonna last long enough for my kids to one day be like, oh, mm-hmm I got this at the thrift store.

Like it's, it's like, oh, I washed it once and it deteriorated. And so now I don't know what to do with it. I'm throwing it out and it's gonna go to a landfill. Um, but if it happens to make it through the wash or whatever, and it gets. Taken to like a Goodwill or something, a thrift store or whatever, um, charity shop.

And, um, then it's like, well, I don't, I don't even like. I think people are gonna really buy that. 'cause again, it's like [00:13:00] bad quality. Mm-hmm. And so we're setting up this system of like just producing more and more bad quality things. Um, and then it's just inevitably like ending up in landfills and, and creating a worse system for our planet.

So that's another, that's just. That's something that I'm like, oh, what's the point of my sustainability? Like, is it even good? But, but then I have to remember that it is, and every little thing counts, and we're all making a difference. So 

rowa: definitely, definitely, definitely. 

lexy: Yeah. 

rowa: Well, we all, we all gonna keep trying, um, we're gonna do the right thing.

When we create a, a social impact project like this, I, I feel people you need to make it, you need to make it more, to be more interesting. That's why we're actually focusing on the game part, uh, because, uh, people get bored so fast this day. So another way that I say, you know what, let's do something that is very unique.

Let's let people feel like they are loved. Let's people feel that if they're among the, a group of, you know, so it's also one way that we can actually solve this issue. Like I said, education is very, very important. Uh, [00:14:00] increasing more awareness is very, very important also. 

lexy: Yeah. So how does the foundation plan to make fashion education more accessible to those who might not have, you know, resources for more formal training?

rowa: Okay, so lemme break it down a bit. Um, our first major concept is to start a recycling facility. Now second facility and up scaling for, uh, we, we, we can also, uh, upskill the products, um, the profit we get from that. Uh, we intend to start, uh, of, uh, a sustainable fashion school where people can come in and learn for free.

So what's the concept of this? 'cause people say it's free, uh, blah, blah, blah, but people take it serious. Yeah. They're gonna take it serious because you can't just come in from nowhere. We, it is like, we're just going pick like 2, 2, 2 people from different part of the world. So we're talking to your government that, Hey, we want your best candidate to come to the.

'cause it's gonna be free. Now when they finish, [00:15:00] finish or studying, we're not just gonna let 'em like, Hey, go back to your community or go back to your country. No, we're gonna support them by building a small scale facility because they have to go through the process. You know? Um, you can manage a business already.

You know how to produce from nothing to something, which is very rare in Africa right now. You get to see people or they're only on to so finished product. They can't go to the farm. Like in those days where our mother would go to the farm, get cutting, make it, turn it into something. Really, no, it's not done anyway anymore.

So these are the things we wanna bring back mm-hmm. To the system. So when they finish, they should be able to employ workers. So the major three, the major thing of this is this, uh, three major, um, reason why we're setting up this project. One, to reduce environmental pollution cost by fast fashion. Two. To make fashion to be more sustainable and the three to boost any, uh, any or community or country that we, we intend to pull this project into [00:16:00] to boost the economy.

Now, if you ask me how is it gonna be easy for a layman to have access to education, one of it is the video gamer. It's gonna be free, but let's leave video game, let's say, okay, I don't have a phone. How can all people can have access to the, to this? We were gonna be, we're gonna be going to all these small community to give them a deep training.

Supporting all these local schools, like small schools, technical schools in the villages, deep villages. Give them what they really need. And when I say what they really need is not just telling them, oh, you know, you do this, you do this. No, no, no, no. You wanna set up, even if it's also, uh, like there was one, there was one village I went to met, um, they had almost hundred, what's it called?

Hundred hundred students, but just one machine. That's totally bad. I had to note that down like this next day I'm gonna start looking into that. 'cause personally I'm using, I'm, I'm the one using my own [00:17:00] money for this project at the moment. The money we are getting is not, they know what it is in, in getting funds for Singapore or fashion.

Everybody's just sweet talking. Everybody's just greenwashed. They're not doing the right thing. If I, I told someone something on, I said, if I tell the world that, hey, I wanna feed these kids, people are gonna say, oh, okay, let's donate money. But the food that I'm giving kids, the author or the less ed people, what if I tell them is actually contaminated because of the fashion industry?

Mm-hmm. You see how it tri how tricky it, it is. People support a project. Just very, very important. But what about the grassroots projects? The play that's actually causing a lot more issues. You're giving a, a child a good food, but the food is actually contaminated. So are you helping the child? You are killing the child slowly.

Uh, sorry if I'm using some words, you know, um, I'm always very deep when I'm, and I'm having a conversation. So those are the ways we are gonna be going, uh, to the villages. Um, the video game and the [00:18:00] school, um, even the factory, while we need the factory force is students are gonna come into this factory to learn the practical part of it, not just the theory.

So, uh, it's a long term project and, um, I'm so dedicated and, uh, see, you can even see every time we change out the dates, I'll say No problem. I'm waiting. I'm waiting. So. 

lexy: Well, I appreciate you for that. 

rowa: Yeah, it's okay. It's okay. And, and if, if, if we go down, this is not even part of the question you asked me.

I tell people we can't stop. This, um, this or, or donated clothes from coming to Africa. We can make it as a privilege by chaining it to something. So, um, who are the people bringing this into? Africa is not bad to donate, but the system of Africa for like, for the past 50 years has always been donation. So if the go, if the government tells and says that, you know what, we wanna stop people from bringing this JUCO to [00:19:00] Africa.

Are, are you saying it? Who are the government? Are they know the people like you and I? So it means some people are going behind doors, they get this donated close, they bring it down to Africa to make money off it. So it's a business. 

lexy: Mm-hmm. 

rowa: Which you can do your business, but why do you have to lie to people that, oh, I'm helping.

I'm helping. And secondly, if I've been to a lot of, um, not just RIF stores, uh, normal stores in Africa, in, in the market, and you see just panties.

There's nothing bad about plots. There's nothing bad about trousers, panties about used panties. Mm-hmm. You can see how, how, how, you know this, this human that is, so these are the things we need to lecture people because if you're bringing something bad to me and I've lectured the person, like, what you wanna buy is not good.

You, the seller is not gonna make money off it, so everything is gonna stop. [00:20:00] Yeah. That's it. 

lexy: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's something that. I've talked in previous podcasts about that. I always find like so interesting where it's like, you know, I, I can go on my rants about and fast fashion and what's gonna be accessible and stuff, but I think that.

What's so important is like cultural sustainability and it's like, well, not everyone necessarily cares about what's micro trends and what's, you know, not everyone has has the access to that, and so I think that's what is just so important. As well. And like what you're talking about is just making these things more accessible, like getting them, I think something that I've talked a lot about too is like, how can we incorporate this?

And that's similar to what you're doing, but in, into like early education into schools. Because I always remember when I would come home and like my mom would be like. You know, what'd you learn at school today? And I would always get so annoyed and be like, Ugh, mom. Like, stop [00:21:00] asking me. Like, I don't wanna answer.

Like, I don't know. I learned stuff. Mm-hmm. Um, but genuinely, I think had I learned, you know. That the fashion industry and this and that and like, not even the fashion industry, but just if anything about like, you know, not throwing out so much stuff, how to recycle better, how to make other foods outta food, like scraps and food waste and um, you know, how to grow plants from my house and just things that are technically.

Sustainable, but they're not even, we don't even have to phrase them as sustainable 'cause they're just ways of living life, like 

rowa: making 

lexy: your own garden and learning how to sew and whatever. And so it's like. If I came home and I told, you know, my mom that maybe that's then educating her about something that she didn't know.

Maybe she didn't know that the fashion industry was super, um, unsustainable. Maybe she didn't know how to, you know, make her own garden. She, she did know how to make her own garden. In fact, every mother's day we would be forced to go and plant in her garden. And it was, she was like, it's the one day year.

I can make you guys do what I [00:22:00] want. Um, and so, um. But like still, I think it, again, it has that ripple effect where it's like, when we talk about this and when, when you're learning about it at a younger age, and when we're talking about this like later in life, it's not this like revo, like for me it was like this revolutionary thing when I was like, oh my God, like all of my shopping habits, whether it's at the grocery store or at a thrift store or wherever.

Are unsustainable and unethical and whatever, and it was like a holy crap, I'm doing everything wrong and I need to switch everything I'm doing. Where if you start at a younger age and you get educated earlier on, then it's like that's just a way of life. Like, and then it's not even like, it's not even I'm being sustainable.

It's just like, oh, my house. We always save our. Pickle jars and use them for other stuff. Like, it's just, again, a way of life. So I think that's really, really important work and I think making it, making it accessible is so important. And what you're doing is, is just amazing. 

rowa: Thank you. Thank you. Thanks so much.

Thanks so much. And um, uh, we hope. And, uh, we hope to get in touch with the right [00:23:00] people. Um, I, I don't know if you've actually noticed what I, what I, what I, like I said from the beginning, the, the, the movement is, is fad away. As, as that last year or two years ago, everybody was talking about sustainable fashion, how to making, even people were actually grew watching, but now we know the people that are still doing it.

They're very, yeah, I met people, met. Hundreds of people I spoke to about, talked to a lot of people I knew. I mean, when I talk to most, the most of them, they don't have the funds. Mm. And like I said, it's not every way that's gonna be so business oriented to go for how to raise because you have to be passionate about what you're actually doing.

You know, you are not getting paid, I'm not getting paid in this. I'm using one business to sort this project. So, um, it's gonna be very good if we start having the people. Getting access to the right funds. Mm-hmm. The right people, just people who just wanna make money, you know, to do this. It's very, very important.

Um, uh, and uh, that's one of the reasons we, we didn't even ask for donation. Um, at a certain point because I feel like [00:24:00] why should we keep doing that same pattern over and over? So we came, we came up with a project like the donkey I told, I told you about it is more sustainable. It's something that everybody's gonna benefit why we are actually actually building the recycling facility.

True it. So I wanna say much about that, but if there's a way people can start thinking of, you know what, let's do something about this fashion industry. Let's do something about this fashion industry. You'll see a lot of changes. A lot of it. Oh, things. 

lexy: Yeah. No, completely. Um, so can you tell us more about, uh, and unless we've talked about this, but, um, the Eon movement?

rowa: Yeah. So the Eon movement, um, I, I, I think I've chipped, I mean, I've said something about, but I, let me go, let me a little bit more. Yeah. Uh, the ed movement, um, is a, is a movement for changing things. Um. Actually so passionate that people are so passionate about. So it's, um, it's a project that actually came up. From Solo, solo Australia. They, they've been in the industry of, uh, rescuing kids, uh, from child trafficking and all that. And, you know, [00:25:00] this is very common in the fashion industry. So through the Eid movement, uh, they, we were able to carve out.

The donkey initiative. The donkey project. And now what is the donkey? Like I said, donkey is a donkey. So if you look at the issue of donkey, uh, as a great and wonderful animal, it has helped inhumanity for many years carrying our problems on back. So we decided we wanna make a, a limited or limited edition.

This collectible in donkey, which people can actually buy and have it a whole limited edition. We are not trying to do a lot of it. Mm-hmm. So when you have, when people not, so you, you, you get me. Right? And when I said you are gonna create awareness through it and education treat. So it means when people, when it goes viral.

People are gonna be more concerned about what is the, what is this donkey all about? What is the main mission? That's where they'll start understanding why sustainable fashion? Why are we talking about [00:26:00] sustainable fashion? They wanna learn more through it. So the donkey is where people can actually buy.

They can have it in a house, they can make profit from it. When the prices start going up, because you know, when it's limited edition, you can't get this anyhow, so we are, we are, we are actually working very hard with all the producer to make sure we don't get people are I, I trying to, I, I, like I imitating it or reason the fake part of fake donkey.

Secondly, we actually realized that most small brands, like I said, don't have access. Or to a lot of funds to, to sell themselves out. You know, you see a lot of good products, but they don't have the money for advertisement. Mm-hmm. So we said, you know what? You can come forward, we're gonna put your name or the brand on the clothes of the donkey.

So what does that mean? It means when people see this product. They see that you're part of this project. It's a good sell for the, for the, for the [00:27:00] brand. And it's just, it's not just limited to, uh, fashion brands alone. So far, you're doing wonderful thing on the hers. We like to put your name on the logo.

We like to put your logo on the clothes. Secondly, brands or social impact investors can act, actually make money off this. How is that possible? It means if you say, you know what, um, I wanna buy 500 donkeys and I want my name to be on it, on the brand. We're gonna take the money, we'll sell to individuals, lemme say edition, then we give you money.

Give it back your profits, you give your interest and give it back your, your profit and give it back your capital back. So that shows you that we are not asking for donations because we found out asking for donations are mob is, has actually stored a lot of things down and uh, people are not so much concerned because they can see it.

Fashion is something, is not something you can actually see. You know, you have to, the, the, the, the issues in the fashion news is not something you can actually see. You have to be in the [00:28:00] system. To know what is actually going on. So when you tell people, donate, why should I donate? You know? Mm-hmm. Those are things facing, so those are where we want to use the donkey.

So the end go of the donkey, the profits we make from that is what we're gonna be using to start the recycling facility also. Mm. So you can see we didn't just get the money. We decided to use the money. We tried to create awareness. We decided to create educational system, then report it in the in ECT facility.

Mm-hmm. 

lexy: Yeah, I mean, I think that's so important. I think it's really great to see how, you know, you have a great. Thing already. That's like all for a good cause. And then you're taking the proceeds from that and putting it back into another great cause. Exactly. And I think that that is what, honestly, I wish I saw more of.

And I think that, I mean, you brought up the point where it's like, why donate? And I always say when, and I was literally having a conversation with my, my own blood, my sibling, my brother, and I was on the phone with him and I like, were. I'm very big into sustainability. I'm a vegetarian, like all this stuff, and he's like a big meat eater.

Like, we like get in arguments about like oat milk versus like regular milk, like really stupid stuff, but like, like, well that's like a common conversation we'll have. And he was getting really interested because I was composting my food scraps and I was, you know, making my plants. Using my compost and putting it back into my plants and helping my plants grow better and like, whatever.

And it was just like similar to like, I'm, I'm doing a good thing and then I'm putting it into that good thing as well to like how help, its, its life. Um, and he found that really interesting 'cause he was like. He's really big into health and like researching health and like whatever. And I think that when I talked about like sustainability and I talked about doing it for the planet, I talked about this like it's not that he wasn't interested in in it.

I'm sure he would do whatever he can to help the planet, but I think it was less. Of his area of interest versus when I started talking about like the health impacts and how it can help like his garden and food and whatever, that intrigued him more. And so I always say like, making it sustainable or making it personal.

Making sustainability, personal. Mm-hmm. And like meeting them where they're at. And so if it's like, okay, if you're interested in [00:29:00] health and you want to talk about health, like let's talk about how. Sustainable things you can do with food scraps and what, and vegetarianism and veganism and whatever can help and impact your health.

And so, I don't know, I feel like that's helps to spread the like. Or like, I don't know. I think meeting people where they're at is just really important and I think that 

rowa: it's definitely, 

lexy: yeah. Great, great to put that, like, why, why am I doing this? And like, why should you do it to intrigue people? 'cause I think that when we educate people and what they're maybe more interested in, then they're more willing to learn and adapt and whatever.

Um, versus just like, you need to be sustainable 'cause the planet's dying. Like that's not always gonna 

rowa: Yeah. 

lexy: Um. Well, what's next for you? What do you have on the horizon? Any new projects you wanna talk about? 

rowa: Um, no, no new projects, but next, this year is gonna be a very big, is gonna be a big bomb. Um, it's, it's a, this is a project not just for me, it's a project for the next generation.

Um, like I said, there are a lot of people, a lot of government will say, yeah, we've banned [00:30:00] those things of you're bringing things to Africa, but every day, every second trucks are still coming in. So, um, next year, uh, I believe, and I know we're gonna get this funds, and when we get the funds, it's gonna be easy for many people, man.

I'm just saying this for the first time, it's gonna be easy for many people, people who are, especially people who are greenwashing because Lexi, I'm not trying to be, I'm not trying to be hard on things, but I didn't know this industry was so tricky. You know, um, dedicating is like you're dedicating your time.

Look at what you're doing, right? That's a wonderful thing, but you're not, now imagine you're not having access to what you're supposed to be doing, and they'll tell you, wow, you doing wonderful thing, but sorry, we don't want that. We want something else. And those people have this money, they have those resources, they can do it.

They know you're so genuine. They've seen your record. Because they, they will not [00:31:00] benefit from this. It's against what they have been doing. So it's, everything is gonna change. I believe that. And yeah, I wanted to start hearing that. Keep it on man. We are coming for you.

lexy: Well, I think, you know, I mean this won't come out until the new year, but I think it's great to have conversations as we go into 2026 of like. Yeah, you know, what, what can we do differently? What can we do going into this year and what, what, you know, like, I think as everyone does kind of, but like New Year, like, let's set these goals, let's have these resolutions.

And I think that, you know, getting, getting that and, and. You know, all my goals are gonna be about sustainability. I'm gonna see if I can like, have like minimum 10 conversations with people that I think they walked away learning something with me. Like I think that what you're saying is like a great, great goal and, and something to look forward to for this up upcoming new year.

Um, and, and I'm excited. It's 

rowa: not a threat. It's not a threat, but enough [00:32:00] is enough. Mm-hmm. Enough is enough. Oh, let me, real quick, I I, I was talking to a lady three days ago and um, she was like, oh, I like she a lot. Oh, I was listening to her. You like she a lot. That's good. Why? Because the pretty good outfit.

So I sat her down. I said, have you ever washed your clothes? She said yes. What happens? She said, uh, sometimes it just, you know, it doesn't go well anymore. Okay. You are, well, well, what if I tell you I know the, one of the CEO of she, I've spoken to one of them and all that, and this was what happened. So I explained what has been happening.

You get mm-hmm. This quality outfits, you bring it down to Africa or you use it for one or two two times and it's hot. I said, I've been in the fashion industry. How, how can you even manage to make a product of $3, $5? How is that possible? Mm-hmm. So I asked a person, do you think it's easy? I said, if you sit down and you say, let's say you, maybe you, you make meat, like you make a crochet.

Mm-hmm. Do you know how many hours it's gonna take you [00:33:00] to make that? So do you think you'll sell that for $5 or $10? She said, no. 

lexy: Right. 

rowa: You got already? 

lexy: No, literally, I will, I will talk to people about that when I'm just like, guys, it's like basic math. Like it, it doesn't even take that much to think about it.

I don't like mm-hmm. If they're selling something on their website for literally 20 cents, which I have seen before. Mm-hmm. Like for a company to do, well, they have to make profit. So in order for them to make profit off that item that they're selling, what they're mm-hmm. They want whatever percentage they want, 10 of those cents or something.

So then they still need to pay everyone on that supply chain that got it shipped over, that created it, the garment workers. And so it's like for them to, for anyone to get paid on that supply chain, they're, they're literally getting pennies, like genuinely getting pennies. And so I'm like, I don't even really need to like.

Do that much explaining like it's basic simple math. It's like how do they earn profit off of a $5 item? Like that is a ridiculous [00:34:00] thing. Um, and so I think that is a great point and I agree. I really hate Shannon and I've said multiple times that I'm. My goal is to take them down at some point, um, hypothetically and, and in, in verbatim that they're not gonna come for me for in 

rowa: wording that they're 

lexy: not gonna come for me for.

Um, but also some, what 

rowa: I'm gonna tell you, make sure your website is, is, is growing cool because they've tried to attack the people have tried attack attacking our Sam several times. 

lexy: Yeah. They're, yeah. 

rowa: Mm-hmm. 

lexy: That's why I'm like, in the nicest way ever. I don't want your company to exist anymore, sheen. 

rowa: Um, but I 

lexy: always like to end my podcast with

rowa: come again,

lexy: um, what are your top tips for someone who are just starting their sustainable journey? 

rowa: First, uh, uh, uh, I, so what you can buy that you can use. For long, don't even bother buying it. Mm-hmm. Two, do what you preach. Mm-hmm. And three, if you have the heart and someone starts misusing you 'cause you feel there are a lot of resources, how are you gonna feel?

Those are deep questions. I always tell people, just because you're seeing all these materials very free. The water is everywhere. How are you gonna feel? So it is very, very [00:35:00] important that you don't have to be a ma. You don't have to live like a poor person, but Jews just get what you know is enough for you.

It's very, very important because, um, we have a culture here in Africa. If you don't live, you don't live big, you're nobody. If I put on a CLO today and tomorrow I use another I, I use, I don't use another. Clo. Hey, he is a poor man. So all those things, uh, was, was, was actually affecting a lot of people. You know, be minimal.

Be, be, be minimal. Don't, but doesn't mean you should suffer. No, but what you have, what you know, you can just, like I said, what you know, you can actually, well sustain what you know, you can actually, um, you don't have to over adminis, over pain or of like, because you want to, you want to, you eat food, you eat this, you eat that.

No. So those are the things I, uh, always tell people and I always want to preach it out also. And the last thing I always want, what the best [00:36:00] tip? Do not keep quiet. Mm-hmm. We are all here because someone kept quiet when they saw something. They say, oh, oh, it's nothing uhhuh nothing. It is something. 'cause every day, one way or the other, someone is being affected.

So if you keep fighting, just ignore it. Yeah, you're against the work, not against, not, not, not, not, not, not for the, not for the world, not for the people. Thank you. 

lexy: No, completely. I mean, I was talking about with someone who works, um, against big oil, and she was saying that like back in the, I think seventies or something.

They, maybe it was way earlier than that. I have no idea, but I, that seems. Like it was mentioned at some point, but that they had the information about like what was really gonna happen to our planet because of the oil industry. Um, and they chose and they like to, it was totally projected, every single thing.

Um, and they, instead of choosing to like, go in a more sustainable route or not do what they were doing, they were like, well, this is gonna make us a lot of money, so let's still do it. And they just kept quiet and like hid it and. Then it came out that like they knew this whole time. Um, and so, I mean, you're completely right.

We have to, we [00:37:00] have to be loud, make noise, um, and the more noise we make, the more you know, we'll hopefully be heard and we can make a difference. But thank you so much. This has been such an amazing conversation. Where can people find the foundation or view on social media or anywhere else? 

rowa: So, um, we on, on, on Instagram, we are the RO foundation.

Um, and our website is ww.ro foundation.org. Um, on, um, what's called on, um, TikTok, same thing, the RO foundation. And, uh, yeah, we, uh, we don't have much to show. Because we don't, um, we are more, we want action, not just words. Mm-hmm. So we decided, you know what? We just want because yeah, it's supposed to, we wanna be more organic in most of the things we are doing and are very genuine.

So we don't just put things out anyhow. Uh, I told the members, let's do what we do. We post it. Mm-hmm. Not just talking, looking and talking. No, we don't want do that. So very certain things are gonna be showing things are gonna be coming up. Um, sorry for everyone. Uh, really disappointed a lot of people.

It's [00:38:00] been very hectic, but we're not giving up. Um, we are gonna raise the money. I believe that. You know how it is and you've been in it, you know how it is, right? You raise money, you're gonna raise the money for this project, it's gonna come up, and I believe that 

lexy: you guys are gonna raise the money as well.

rowa: Definitely. Definitely. It's gonna happen, man. Definitely. Yes, I know. Thank you so much, man. 

lexy: Well, thank you so, so much. Everyone, go check them out on social, stay in touch, see what they're up to. 

Speaker 2: While you're at it, you can follow me on my socials, my Instagram, TikTok, and YouTuber.

All my name at Lexi Silverstein, that's LEXY. So I like the color, S-C-E-I-N. And remember to live a good life and look fucking good doing it.