Emily Current ’99 and Meritt Elliott ’99 have been business partners for almost two decades. They were born and raised in Northern California, and met as students at UCLA, bonding over sociology exams and a love for vintage jeans. Sitting next to each other at graduation, they vowed to remain friends and to one day creatively collaborate. Their journey as entrepreneurs, brand builders, stylists and designers has led them to their most proud achievement to date - a fully realized women's wear collection, aptly called, THE GREAT. Champions of supportive female friendships and the spirit of creative fearlessness, Current and Elliot are known for their authentic, kind and optimistic approach to both design and life.

Matt Sarafa ’20 is a 23-year-old Los Angeles-based celebrity fashion designer and reality television personality best known for his appearances on “Project Runway: Junior” and “The Real Housewives of Beverly HIlls.” As the youngest designer to have ever shown his collection at New York, Paris and LA Fashion Week, Sarafa has come a long way since he started designing at the age of 7. He is running his own company, and dressing some of the biggest names in Hollywood, such as Tyra Banks, Doja Cat, Big Sean, Iggy Azalea, Lisaraye McCoy and many more. The Matt Sarafa Brand has been featured in media outlets, including Vogue, Forbes, The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and countless others.

San Diego native Briajah Payton exp. '23 has always been surrounded by hustlers and trailblazers. As a young Black woman, she knew she was going to have to work 10 times harder and smarter than most people do to get to where she wants in life. Payton has always wanted to be involved in fashion, and found herself frustrated when shopping by not being able to find anything she wanted to buy. So, she began to create an idea of this brand called MSUND, which simply means “misunderstood.” The clothing brand isn’t just a brand, but a movement meant to uplift, shift and inspire people. They are a movement for the person who chooses to take control of their life and does not allow others to dictate anything they do, staying true to themselves. MSUND wants to provide ease and confidence to everyone, by making them feel their flyest.

Tosa Gladys Two Heart (Lakota) '12 is a fashion designer who is inspired by her Lakota cultural designs and personal aesthetic preferences. She acknowledges her mother, grandmother, community and ancestors for giving her these beautiful designs, which are a part of her daily life. All artwork is original and created by Tosa, who does art and fashion as a means of expression. Her goal is simply creativity and good vibes to share with others. Tosa Two Heart is a brand that features original artwork on apparel, accessories and gifts for ikce oyate, the everyday people.

Saints is more than just a boutique, a barbershop or an art gallery. They are a community of creators with purpose and good people. Their mission is to cultivate a space where they can empower creatives to express themselves freely across different mediums and platforms, blurring the lines between art, fashion, music and design, and fundamentally adding meaningful value to the culture.

Mālama ʻāina is a traditional Hawaiian concept and way of life at the heart of our brand. It essentially means that if we take care of the earth, the earth will provide and take care of us in return. Climate change and the plastic crisis are two causes we're passionate about and have seen the impacts of firsthand. At Kaiona Swimwear, we're determined to provide eco-friendly alternatives to the destructive world of fast fashion by only offering bikinis made from recycled materials that are built for moving in and out of the water and will last for more than one season.

Maker and designer Jenny Noto ’01 was taught to knit and crochet by her grandmother, but could never get past a scarf and was constantly adding/subtracting stitches. She eventually taught herself how to crochet, mainly to make amigurumi. However, she also wanted to learn how to knit. Noto vowed to learn before her firstborn turned three, and almost made it. She’s been knitting since 2019, and hasn’t stopped. With support from friends, she focused on knits, and started writing patterns. Noto’s first pattern was released on Nov. 17, 2019. If she is not knitting, you will find her wrestling with her two little boys, or her nose buried in a book.

Made of the finest Italian leathers, Tieks are the most versatile ballet flats in the world. Crafted for comfort and wearable all day, every day, Tieks are made from 100% premium, soft leather and take about three days and over 150 steps to make a single pair. They feature a foldable split-sole design and non-skid rubber patches for their signature Tiek blue color, which allows the shoe to flex with your foot as you walk. This unique design, combined with a cushioned back and insole, allows the shoes to fold and fit easily into a purse or suitcase, so comfort and style are always within arm’s reach.

Corporate lawyer turned shoe peddler Michael Paratone ’03 has been running Mohinders since 2012, all while trying to convince his wife and two daughters to join him on as many spontaneous adventures as possible. Mohinders are beautifully designed and incredibly durable shoes. The company works with 10 different groups of master shoemakers, all cooperative members based in Athani, India. Most are families who come from generations of master shoemakers, and work in neighboring workshops near a shared cooperative office and meeting space. Mohinders believes in providing support for heirloom leather shoemaking, upholding respectful design and low environmental impact.

Ponto is a sustainable footwear brand built with the changemaker in mind. They are committed to helping the world live more mindfully by fostering a purer sense of self, a cleaner planet, and a more livable tomorrow. Made almost entirely from recycled materials, Ponto’s first silhouette looks like work and wears like leisure. Their shoe bottoms feature a bio-based foam that is the world’s first plant-based foam produced with algae biomass and their shoe uppers are constructed using recycled leather. Ponto donates a portion of proceeds from each purchase to protecting the oceans, and have partnered with The Ocean Cleanup Project. They are arguably the largest scale and most technically innovative ocean cleanup effort in history, and remind customers of their potential to make an impact on the world.

Two friends, Amairani Gonzalez exp. '21 and Monica Cruz Montejano, took a trip to their hometown in Michoacán, Mexico, and witnessed the amazing huaraches the artisans made. They decided to bring that piece of their culture to Oxnard, Calif., and share these beautifully handmade shoes. Gonzalez and Montejano firmly believe that this is the best way to help their hometown grow economically, by partnering with the small family-owned manufacturers of these huaraches.

Gogo Lush launched in 2011 as an online boutique that features high quality & handmade jewelry. Every piece in our collection is carefully selected by our team to give the latest trends in today’s fashion world. An array of our jewelry is handmade to order, allowing attention to every detail to be our top priority. This allows the customer to be able to request slight alterations so that your jewelry is customized just right for you. Need an extra small size or larger size? No problem! This is precisely why we guarantee each order is made with care and love!

Viki Eagle exp. Ph.D '21 identifies as Sicangu Lakota and half Japanese. Her mother is from Tokushima, Japan, and her father’s family is from Rosebud, S.D. Her inspiration may draw from creation stories, experiences in Japan or fun stories she experienced. She has lived in Tokyo briefly and attended Sophia University. Viki can sometimes speak and read Japanese on a good day. On other days, she might be able to pronounce a Lakota word correctly. Eagle creates authentic Native American jewelry inspired by her cultures to create Japanese-Lakota inspired jewelry. Each piece is created with a story and vision from her cultural upbringing. She also works with her mother (Misa) to create new ideas that can blend these cultures into jewelry.

Teachers by day, artists at night, Leavitt & Asher is a passion project turned business established by best friends Heather Leavitt '15 and Rebekka Asher '15 in 2019. What started out as simple beaded jewelry has grown to stunningly complex wire-wrapped pendants and more. Their mission is to share unique, affordable jewelry with people of all shapes and sizes. As two plus size women, they were unable to find bracelets and rings in their size until they started creating their own unique wearable pieces of art. Leavitt and Asher are dreaming of a brick and mortar store someday, inviting local artists to contribute by selling their artwork and teaching classes.