Custom Collaborative
Custom Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in New York City providing free 15-week sustainable fashion workforce training, business incubation, and worker-owned cooperative development to no/low-income and immigrant women, funded by foundation grants, corporate donations, and brand sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Custom Collaborative does
Custom Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in the Garment District of New York City. The organization delivers a free, three-program ecosystem for no/low-income and immigrant women seeking entry into the sustainable fashion industry: a 15-week Training Institute covering garment construction, business planning, and sustainability; a Business Incubator providing ongoing mentorship, industrial equipment access, showroom space, and office rentals for graduates; and a Cooperative Development track that incubates worker-owned businesses. Across 15 cohorts, the program has served more than 400 participants in 2025 alone, with a 74% retention rate, 61% of alumni having started their own business, and 100% reporting they feel better equipped for the industry. The participant population is 96% racial/ethnic minorities, 50% immigrants from 29 countries, 68% primary caregivers, and 40% lacking permanent housing.
The revenue model blends five streams: individual and corporate charitable donations, foundation and corporate grants, e-commerce product sales ($48-$450 unit prices on handcrafted sustainable items made by graduates), planned giving and estate gifts, and event sponsorships from fashion brands such as Calvin Klein, Hanky Panky, and Veronica Beard. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with recruitment through word-of-mouth, community partnerships, and required Open House attendance, supplemented by high-visibility runway graduation showcases, pop-up boutiques, and press coverage in Forbes, Vogue Business, PBS NewsHour, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and InStyle. The organization is funded by a diversified institutional base including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Goldman Sachs, Fondation Chanel, and the PVH Foundation, and is operationally lean with 1-10 staff plus contracted program personnel.
Distribution combines an owned e-commerce shop, pop-up boutiques at events and partner locations (PVH, Saks Global, Veronica Beard), in-person training at the 253 West 35th Street headquarters, and a placement pipeline into major fashion employers such as Theory, Mara Hoffman, and PVH. Custom Collaborative is also a registered partner of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, aligning its work with the Sustainable Development Goals. The founder and CEO, Ngozi Okaro, is a recognized individual brand in the space, having been named a 2022 Goldman Sachs Black Woman Impact Leader and a 2020 AARP Purpose Prize Fellow.
Custom Collaborative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Custom Collaborative
- Legal name
- Custom Collaborative
- Website
- https://customcollaborative.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Custom Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in New York City providing free 15-week sustainable fashion workforce training, business incubation, and worker-owned cooperative development to no/low-income and immigrant women, funded by foundation grants, corporate donations, and brand sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Custom Collaborative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Training
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Apparel Manufacturing (315)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fashion & Textile Arts (Sewing, Patternmaking, Knitting, Crochet) (EDAAAGAK)
Keywords
Where Custom Collaborative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Custom Collaborative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals and corporations supporting the mission of training women in sustainable fashion
- E-commerce Product Sales: Sale of handcrafted fashion items and accessories created by Training Institute graduates through online shop, ranging from $48 to $450 per item
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from corporate partners and foundations including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Goldman Sachs, and PVH
- Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities, and other planned giving vehicles for long-term sustainability
- Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship of graduation fashion shows and workshops by brands like Calvin Klein, Hanky Panky, and Veronica Beard
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free workforce development training program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Handcrafted fashion accessories and garments |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Custom Collaborative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Custom Collaborative delivers a free 15-week Training Institute that teaches garment construction, sustainable fashion design, and business skills to no/low-income and immigrant women in New York City. This is complemented by a Business Incubator offering mentorship and equipment access for graduates, a Cooperative Development program that incubates worker-owned businesses, and an e-commerce shop where program participants sell handmade sustainable fashion items.
Product overview
Custom Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a multi-component fashion education and workforce development ecosystem. The core offerings include the Training Institute (free 15-week program teaching garment-making and business skills), Business Incubator (ongoing mentorship and resources for graduates), Cooperative Development (training for worker-owned businesses), and an E-commerce Shop where participants sell their handmade products. Events and workshops complement these programs with fashion showcases, graduation runway shows, and sustainability-focused training sessions. The organization serves no/low-income and immigrant women in New York City seeking careers in the sustainable fashion industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Training Institute A free 15-week workforce development program that provides education and training in fashion design, garment construction, and sustainable fashion business skills for no/low-income and immigrant women in NYC. Participants receive weekly stipends and MTA transit cards to remove participation barriers.
- Business Incubator Ongoing support program for Training Institute graduates and emerging entrepreneurs providing 1:1 counseling, mentorship, advanced training, and access to industrial equipment, showroom space, and office rentals in NYC's Garment District.
- Cooperative Development Program Program that trains people in cooperative principles and incubates their employee-owned businesses, supporting equitable economic development and ownership opportunities for program graduates.
- Custom Collaborative Shop E-commerce store where Training Institute participants and alumni sell handmade sustainable fashion items including bags, accessories, clothing, and home goods, priced from $48 to $450 per item.
- Events & Workshops Educational workshops and community events including fashion showcases, graduation runway shows, sustainability workshops, and industry training sessions, plus pop-up boutiques at venues including Another Tomorrow and partner brand locations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 74% retention rate across 15 cohorts
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Custom Collaborative
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Custom Collaborative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Custom Collaborative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TheorycoreTheory partners with Custom Collaborative through their Theory for Good program, providing apprenticeships and permanent employment opportunities for Training Institute graduates. Penny, a Cohort 9 graduate, was hired as a Mark Maker after proving herself during a six-month apprenticeship.
- Mara HoffmancoreMara Hoffman provides internship opportunities for Custom Collaborative participants, exposing them to sustainable fashion design practices and industry connections.
- PVHcorePVH hosts employee marketplaces featuring Custom Collaborative graduate brands. Jeanice Parker's FOURCEES brand regularly sells at PVH pop-up events. The PVH Foundation has provided grants to support Custom Collaborative.
- Saks GlobalcoreSaks Global provides retail opportunities for Custom Collaborative graduate brands through exclusive employee marketplaces and pop-up events.
- Anthony Galante DesignsminorFashion brand offering apprenticeships to Custom Collaborative participants, providing hands-on industry experience.
- Art to WareminorProvides internship opportunities for Custom Collaborative participants in fashion design and production.
- Veronica BeardcoreVB Gives Back events hosted by Veronica Beard donate a portion of all purchases to Custom Collaborative. Events held at Veronica Beard SoHo location.
- Another TomorrowminorAnother Tomorrow flagship store in SoHo hosted Cohort 15 graduation showcase, providing venue and community support.
- ChanelcoreChanel donated 21 ad screens at The Oculus in NYC to Custom Collaborative for visibility and awareness campaigns.
- United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle NetworkcoreCustom Collaborative is a registered partner of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network, working toward Sustainable Development Goals.
- 75 Million Movement (JFF)minorPartnership with the 75 Million Movement focused on workforce development and economic opportunity.
- The Kota AllianceminorThe Kota Alliance partners with Custom Collaborative on workshops and events, including World Refugee Day activities.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Custom Collaborative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eileen Fisher Renew: Eileen Fisher's take-back and resale program for circular fashion with social mission. Comparable as a sustainability-focused fashion initiative with workforce and equity components, and Eileen Fisher is also a Custom Collaborative funder.
- FABSCRAP: NYC-based nonprofit that collects and reuses textile waste while providing educational programming about circular fashion. Comparable as a small fashion-focused nonprofit combining education, sustainability, and community impact.
- Nest: Nonprofit supporting artisan and handcraft entrepreneurs with mentorship, market access, and business development. Highly comparable in the artisan-entrepreneur-incubation model serving under-resourced makers.
- Manufacture New York: NYC-based nonprofit supporting fashion manufacturing and design entrepreneurs with education, incubation, and production resources. Operates in the same Garment District ecosystem and serves a similar workforce-development mission in fashion.
- The Renewal Workshop: Circular fashion company that repairs, resells, and recycles apparel with social impact. Comparable as a small mission-driven apparel organization focused on sustainability and reuse.
Broad incumbents
- Fashion for Good: Global sustainable fashion innovation platform supporting innovators and entrepreneurs in circular fashion. Comparable as a fashion-sustainability nonprofit driving workforce and innovation outcomes, though at a much larger global scale.
- Goodwill Industries International: Large national nonprofit providing workforce training, employment placement, and social enterprises for people facing barriers. Comparable as a workforce development nonprofit serving underrepresented populations, though much broader in scope and scale.
- Year Up: Large national workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from low-income communities with training and corporate placement. Comparable in the workforce-development-for-underrepresented-populations model, though operating at much larger scale and outside fashion.
- CFDA Foundation: Industry association and foundation supporting American fashion designers through education, scholarships, and programs. Comparable as a fashion industry nonprofit with educational and workforce development programs, though much larger and broader in scope.
Emerging players
- Parsons School of Design: NYC-based premier fashion design school with sustainability and social design programs. Comparable in the fashion-education space but serves degree-seeking students rather than workforce-development for underrepresented populations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Custom Collaborative social profiles
Digital presenceCustom Collaborative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Custom Collaborative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Custom Collaborative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Custom Collaborative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Custom Collaborative
What does Custom Collaborative do?
Custom Collaborative delivers a free 15-week Training Institute that teaches garment construction, sustainable fashion design, and business skills to no/low-income and immigrant women in New York City. This is complemented by a Business Incubator offering mentorship and equipment access for graduates, a Cooperative Development program that incubates worker-owned businesses, and an e-commerce shop where program participants sell handmade sustainable fashion items.
Is Custom Collaborative a public or private company?
Custom Collaborative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Custom Collaborative founded?
Custom Collaborative was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Custom Collaborative based?
Custom Collaborative is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Custom Collaborative make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual and Corporate Donations are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Product Sales, foundation and Corporate Grants, planned Giving and Estate Gifts and event Sponsorships.
Who are Custom Collaborative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eileen Fisher Renew, FABSCRAP, Nest, Manufacture New York and The Renewal Workshop. Broad incumbents are Fashion for Good, Goodwill Industries International, Year Up and CFDA Foundation. Parsons School of Design is listed as an emerging player.
Does Custom Collaborative have an API?
No public API is recorded for Custom Collaborative.
What industry is Custom Collaborative in?
Custom Collaborative's product category is Workforce Development Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAGAK, Fashion & Textile Arts (Sewing, Patternmaking, Knitting, Crochet). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 2300.