Fibers Fund finances Latina designer Cindy Castro New York to scale NYC Garment District manufacturing
New loan supports next phase of growth for creator of Made by Immigrants campaign and Vogue Business 100 Innovator
The Fibers Fund is proud to announce its latest loan to Cindy Castro New York, a responsible women's ready-to-wear brand founded by Ecuadorian immigrant and designer Cindy Castro. This financing, a low-interest, three-year loan, will support the company's next phase of growth, including expanded production through NYC-based garment sample rooms, continued development of domestic natural fiber sourcing, and increased visibility for the fast-growing Made by Immigrants Campaign.
The new loan builds on the Fibers Fund’s earlier TA grant support to CCNY, which helped the company begin identifying new sources for U.S.-made natural fiber textiles to use in its designs. Together, the TA grant and this new loan represent the Fund's integrated capital model in action: patient, flexible financing that meets businesses where they are and grows with them. The investment advances the shared mission of Cindy Castro New York and the Fibers Fund to strengthen regional textile economies, support underserved entrepreneurs, and increase market demand for responsibly sourced natural fibers and locally manufactured apparel.
Photos courtesy Cindy Castro New York
About Cindy Castro New York
Led by Founder, CEO, and Designer Cindy Castro, Cindy Castro New York (CCNY) was founded in 2021 with a vision to challenge conventional fashion through transparency, responsible production, and community-centered impact. An immigrant from Quevedo, Ecuador, Castro built the brand after more than a decade designing for renowned fashion houses including Coach, Parker New York, KaufmanFranco, and Derek Lam, where she witnessed firsthand the environmental and social challenges embedded within the global fashion industry. Determined to create a different model, she launched CCNY to prove that exceptional design, ethical manufacturing, and environmental responsibility can coexist.
Today, the brand operates from its atelier in Manhattan's historic Garment District and produces more than 95% of its garments in New York City. Through partnerships with local makers, manufacturers, and skilled Latino immigrant artisans, Cindy Castro New York is helping preserve domestic apparel production while creating economic opportunities for historically underserved communities. The brand's collections are inspired by Castro's journey from Ecuador to New York and reflect a design philosophy rooted in craftsmanship, longevity, and emotional connection.
Cindy Castro New York is committed to transparency throughout the lifecycle of its products, from sourcing natural, biodegradable, and certified materials to highlighting the workers who craft each garment and exploring regenerative solutions for products after use. In 2025, the brand launched its Made by Immigrants Campaign, which champions dignity, respect, and opportunity for immigrants who are creating change across all industries. Cindy’s work and the campaign have earned widespread recognition, including Cindy’s selection for the Vogue Business 2025 100 Innovators, acceptance to the prestigious Macy’s Workshop accelerator program, and media coverage in Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, and many more. For more information, visit https://cindycastro.com/.
Advancing Economic Justice Through Fashion
The Fibers Fund recognizes that businesses like Cindy Castro New York play an important role in rebuilding domestic textile ecosystems while creating opportunities for workers and communities often overlooked by traditional capital markets. By investing in companies that prioritize fair labor, responsible sourcing, and community wealth creation, the Fund seeks to demonstrate how capital can support both economic success and positive social impact.
According to Cindy Castro, Founder and Creative Director of Cindy Castro New York: "our mission is to create equity for women by expanding representation, opportunity, and choice. This work is about changing the narrative, recognizing and valuing the women who power our industry. With women making up more than 80% of the fashion workforce, every investment in their success strengthens families, communities, and a more sustainable economy.”
Sarah Kelley, Managing Director of the Fibers Fund, added: “The Fibers Fund is proud to support the next stage of Cindy Castro New York’s growth through this new loan. Rebuilding a more equitable and regenerative U.S. apparel industry requires supporting all stages of the value chain. By combining responsible sourcing, local manufacturing, fair labor practices, and community investment, Cindy Castro New York is demonstrating how fashion can serve as a catalyst and market driver for U.S. natural fiber and fabric production. Cindy’s leadership as a Latina entrepreneur, commitment to New York's garment ecosystem, and dedication to transparency align closely with the Fibers Fund's mission, and we’re honored to back her award-winning approach.”
About The Fibers Fund
The Fibers Fund is a catalytic fund to support U.S. natural fiber and textile producers and processors, with a specific focus on economic justice. Fiber crops (such as flax, cotton, fiber hemp, wool, leather, and natural dyes) are an integral part of regenerative agricultural systems, yet the sector has received little attention from investors. Fiber entrepreneurs working to meet the growing demand for sustainable textiles struggle to access capital, and these barriers are especially pronounced for entrepreneurs from underserved communities.
Launched in 2023 to fill these capital gaps, the Fibers Fund offers flexible capital to U.S. natural fiber producers and processors in the form of patient term loans, forgivable loans, and business TA grants, combined with wraparound support. With its values-based governance structure and 100% women leadership, the Fibers Fund was selected as a 2023 Transformative 25 fund, a list of funds “transforming the economy for social, environmental, and economic justice,” and featured on Impact Alpha as an innovative debt fund. To date, the Fund has deployed ~$1M in patient loans and grants, over 60% to people of color-led fiber businesses and over 80% to women-led businesses. Learn more about the Fund’s work, team, and portfolio at fibersfund.com.
Implementing Partners
This Fibers Fund loan will be serviced through its trusted partnership with Broadstreet Impact, an impact financial services company that offers both fund management and fund administration services. The Fibers Fund also continues its valued partnership with Impact Charitable, which houses a special purpose fund that allows the Fibers Fund to take in and deploy philanthropic capital as a component of its integrated capital model. The Fund also maintains close ties with its founding partners, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders and Fibershed.
Opportunities for Investors and Funders
Support for the Fibers Fund and the loan to Cindy Castro New York is provided by a network of funders and accredited investors, including philanthropies, donor-advised funds, family offices, and impact-focused accredited investors. With ~$1M deployed to date and a 3.7 leverage ratio already demonstrated across the portfolio, the Fund is actively seeking to complete its second close in 2026 to expand its portfolio of catalytic loans and TA grants to U.S. natural fiber businesses. The Fibers Fund welcomes inquiries from accredited investors and foundations interested in catalyzing impact for underserved fiber entrepreneurs across urban and rural areas.
Contact Us
For more information, contact the following:
Fibers Fund: Sarah Kelley, Managing Director, [email protected]
Cindy Castro New York: Cindy Castro, CEO and Designer: [email protected]