SNEWS Qs: Eduardo Balarezo, Lonesome George & Co.
The subject of this week's SNEWS Qs is Eduardo Balarezo, CEO of the Miami, Fla.-based Lonesome George & Co.
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Eduardo Balarezo, CEO
Lonesome George & Co.
Miami, Fla.
Tell us about your brands and products?
Lonesome George & Co. is a social enterprise organization that combines impact apparel and experiential education to create a mind shift of global interdependence. Our shirts are made out of organic Pima cotton, among the softest in the world. We utilize hand-stitching and other production techniques that ensure our shirts are the highest quality possible for our customers.
What were you, as the founder of the company, doing before this?
I was a financial executive at a global conglomerate before finding my true passion in Lonesome George & Co.
Where did your inspiration come from?
We were inspired by the last surviving Pinta tortoise, which, unfortunately, passed away in June. With his death comes the extinction of an entire species. His legacy inspired me to take action so that situations like his do not continue to occur in our world.
What’s the one best feature of your product?
We think that funding social entrepreneurs is the most important feature of our brand, but our customers love our amazingly soft, organic Pima cotton.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Our biggest challenge so far has been creating the Academy of Agents of Change, which is currently hosting its inaugural class of 23 participants. Although this has by far been our biggest challenge, it has also been the most rewarding part of this organization. To help create Agents of Change for our world is what Lonesome George & Co. is all about.
Who do you look up to in the industry?
We look up to Patagonia because they have really blazed the trail for what a sustainable apparel company can be. They have laid the groundwork for a new generation of businesses that not only creates a quality product, but is socially responsible as well.
Who do you want to compete against in the industry?
We aren’t necessarily competing against other companies in the industry but we’re competing against the idea that for-profit organizations can’t incorporate a non-profit element that measures their proactive, sustainable impact on our world as an equal performance outcome.
–Compiled by Ana Trujillo
