As an experienced fashion stylist, single mother, and woman of color, I realized that other women across the U.S. were in the same position as me: struggling to feed their children, put gas in the car, and get ahead in the workplace. I wondered, could our increasing need to make fashion more sustainable help lift single mothers and their children out of poverty?

Inspired by these personal experiences—and the knowledge that 14% of children in the U.S. live below the poverty line—we sought to find a way of combining our specialist skills with our ethical priorities.

After trials and market testing, progress was promising. We decided to expand the operation and launched the Luxe & Learn reseller platform in 2023. The first female-owned resale marketplace that helps empower those with the most to support those with much less. With a small clothing donation, they can help fund educational and enrichment programs for children in high-poverty schools.

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Tina Caruth-Valles
Co-founder & President

Kathleen Perkins
Co-founder & Advisor