In episode 146, Kestrel welcomes Taghrid Zorob, the founder + creative director of Rafa, to the show. A women's luxury footwear collection, Rafa is hand-crafted by a small group of artisans in Los Angeles.

"We have to remember that we're all humans and that there's more to life than just stuff that we buy, and consuming should be something that adds value to our life." - Taghrid Zorob, Founder + Creative Director of Rafa

Throughout this chat, Taghrid shares more on what led her to want to build Rafa, especially a particular experience she had connecting with shoe makers in Los Angeles at her previous job. Additionally, she explains more on how she really wanted to infuse Los Angeles into her brand, as it had become a large part of her identity growing up in the city.

The below thoughts, ideas + organizations were brought up in this chat:

• "When I started this company, I really wanted to create something that was quintessentially Los Angeles - I wanted to make something that was beautiful and incorporated all of the great things that we have here."

• The vegan suede Rafa used is made using recycled PET, and is made of 80% recycled materials

• "I think a lot of people forget that all the things that we consume in our lives are made by humans."

• "You have to think about fashion as a part of your personality - it's not just stuff you put on your body, it's how you view the world."

EVENT ALERT FROM INTROThe Conscious Loft, powered by Mochni, will be taking place in Berlin from January 15th-17th during Berlin Fashion Week. Learn more + get tickets here >