While most of us were learning how to bake sourdough bread during the pandemic, Jersey City locals Cindy Rau and Natalia Ocampo launched an apparel line.
“We always had a passion for design, fashion, and artisan crafts,” says Rau. So when the pandemic hit, Rau and Ocampo reexamined their professional lives and came up with the idea for Allies 4 All, an eco-friendly apparel line based in Jersey City. Allies 4 All also makes it a point to donate 5% of profits to local nonprofit organizations, such as Backpacks for Life.
“With Allies 4 All, we are combining both of our passions while embracing a new chapter in our lives as business owners,” says Rau.
(Pictured above is the Chilltown SnapBack for $15)
What was it like to launch a wellness/apparel company in the midst of a pandemic?
It was challenging because we needed to be patient. There was a lot of uncertainty, and we couldn’t plan ahead for a while. However, the pandemic allowed us to chase our dreams. The pandemic has made many people question where they are in life, and my wife and I haven’t been an exception to that. We spent so much time at home having long conversations about what we wanted in life. And this is how we came up with the concept for Allies 4 All.
What is eco-friendly apparel and what inspired you to take this direction?
Eco-friendly apparel is made out of recycled fabric or PET (recycled plastic) bottles. We do our research on our vendors to ensure quality and loyalty to our eco-friendly standards. This includes practicing environmental measures such as cutting down on water and energy use. Even the dye or vinyl we use on our t-shirts are not made from harmful chemicals like chlorine, carbon, and ethylene.
It’s not news that our planet is suffering the consequences of our mistakes from the past. Products lead to waste and waste is one of the major causes of global warming. 85% of clothes in America end up in landfills or burned. The estimate of clothes that get thrown out every year is about 81 pounds per person. By using recycled fabric we are helping decrease the damage caused by clothing waste.
How long have you and your wife been JC residents, and what made you fall in love with JC? We’ve lived in Jersey City for over 10 years. We love the diversity, the culture, the arts, and the festivals that unite the community together. We have been extremely grateful to meet with other local vendors and people who have been supporting us.
You can shop Allies 4 All online via their website or follow them on Instagram (@_allies4all) for updates on their next pop-up.
