Fashion Dreams to Tech Genius: How Garmai Matthew is Revolutionizing Streetwear with Zero Waste!

What happens when fashion obsession, the urge for sustainability, and a knack for entrepreneurship collide? You'll want to take notes from Garmai Matthew—whose jet-setting journey from Cleveland to New York and beyond is the stuff of legend. Rocking her creative spirit from the rust belt to CU Boulder's vibrant halls, Garmai fuses creativity, tech brilliance, and purpose-driven passion like no one's business!

Starting out at Kent State, one of America's fashion powerhouses, Garmai skillfully juggled her West African roots between the pull of passion and the push for practicality. Her family, with success in mind, nudged her toward a degree ensuring real-world readiness, prompting a leap to the University of Colorado Boulder, where she thrived with a degree in Distributed Studies.

At CU Boulder, Garmai's fascination with global fashion and sustainability became her guiding star. Eager to unravel China's mysterious hold over fashion production, she tackled Mandarin, wanting not just to speak the language, but to feel its sustainability pulse. Her adventurous spirit led her to an enlightening study abroad stint at Hubei Normal University, where the concept of zero-waste fashion—using every inch of fabric—opened her eyes to sustainable magic.

Blending this knowledge with her West African heritage, Garmai launched a standout ready-to-wear brand that rocked the fashion world with zero-waste flair. Securing funding from CU Boulder’s New Venture Challenge, she ventured to West Africa and collaborated with local tailors, sewing sustainability into the cultural fabric—resulting in a sell-out collection online!

But it's not all glamour; Garmai knew that creativity alone wouldn't pay the bills. Enter the tech scene: a serendipitous moment at a tech fair led to a gig at Yelp, a rapid ascent to sales manager wrapping her in the skills needed for business triumph. New York then called, where she joined Wix.com, helping businesses shine in the e-commerce galaxy and discovering how to blend fashion finesse with tech wizardry.

Power move alert—Garmai's spark spun into The Swap, a chic clothing rental platform dedicated to democratizing streetwear, because who doesn’t want to flaunt brands like Off-White without splurging? Solving fashion dilemmas, The Swap caters to budget-conscious millennials and gives fresh streetwear brands a big break. What's not to love?

To Garmai, The Swap isn't just a business—it's a revolution! Imagining swap boxes that serve as streetwear ambassadors across cities like Denver and Los Angeles, she's all about introducing local flair to broader audiences.

Garmai’s entrepreneurial spark was truly ignited by CU Boulder’s New Venture Challenge—using this platform to boost her business savvy. She recounts moments of almost bailing out but powering through, fueled by conviction and cultural roots that wowed judges and steered her journey.

Her golden advice for budding entrepreneurs? Be resilient, confident, and don’t fear failure. Take those pivotal steps, ink your goals, and bet on the greatest investment—yourself. With her star rising and an MBA from CU Boulder's Leeds School of Business on the horizon, Garmai’s saga is a dazzling embodiment of passion, purpose, and undying perseverance.

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