At first glance Vancouver high school senior Simmi Sen’s activity looks like that of any other academically focused student. There are AP classes throughout high school. Top grades.
But look deeper into her CV — yes, she has a CV — and you see a Deep Learning Performance Dashboard for Cataract Surgery with a research lab at Stanford University. There’s also a newspaper clipping of her participation in an Apple student coding challenge that won her recognition among 350 global students who participated.
But, today, we are talking about another of Sen’s projects. She is founder of Tints, a streetwear brand that speaks not only to her love of art and color but also the growing realization that fast-fashion is no sustainable. She is already working with influencers like choreographer Charm La’Donna and NBA player Brandon Ingram.
We caught up with Sen to talk about her work as a young entrepreneur.
How did Tints come about? Was it a class project, passion project or a hobby? When I was a child, my grandmother would hand embroider artwork on sustainable clothing for me that was personal, unique, and made with love. I wanted to share my grandma’s love with the world through streetwear fashion. But streetwear has a sustainability problem. The market is flooded with countless brands for whom environmental and social responsibility are not a priority. They are machine made and screen printed garments that don’t really resonate with where the future of the market is moving.
Tints saw an opportunity to fill this gap with sustainable clothing made with 100% organic cotton. Each piece is intricately embellished with hand embroidered artwork designed by me. Most of our garments do not touch a single machine or chemical, and preserve the natural color of cotton. If dye is needed, we utilize vegetables and natural pigments. Tints is an employee-driven business, and we are proud to support a team of skillful tailors, weavers, and embroidery artisans. These professions face extreme struggles to make a living today due to the proliferation of fast fashion, and with the growth of Tints and streetwear we will revive this.
What is your ultimate vision for your brand? Tints’ vision is to revolutionize streetwear fashion, infusing it with a blend of artistry, sustainability, and social responsibility to produce one-of-a-kind exclusive products with hand embroidery and embellishments.
Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur? I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur to combine independence, the freedom to innovate, and make a meaningful impact on the world.
Do you ever feel like you are missing out on anything because you are following this path at such a young age? While it can be demanding to juggle academics and work at a Stanford Research lab, I believe that Tints enriches my life. It offers unique opportunities for personal and professional growth, and I'm excited to embrace the challenges and experiences it brings. Yes, I may miss out on some traditional experiences, but the fulfillment I gain from pursuing my passions, making an impact, and continuing my grandmother's legacy outweighs any sacrifices. This is something I truly love and I am determined to make my vision unfold into reality.
Where do you go for advice and support? I was fortunate to be selected for Taco Bell Ambition Accelerator and Disney Dreamer Academy. I was astounded by the network effect of being connected to mentors from Disney and Taco Bell who have guided Tints and who are high-profile individuals in the music and fashion industries. I want to thank them for all the help and support I received.
Are there any business leaders that you look up to or hope to emulate? Tory Burch is leaving an indelible mark on the fashion industry. Learning about her story and how she organically grew her brand is a playbook that I draw inspiration from. Not only do I admire her art and quality of products, I also find her leadership inspiring. I also appreciate how she has made significant philanthropic contributions and uplifts women entrepreneurs.
Simmi Sen
Age: 17
Education: Skyview High School in Vancouver, Class of 2024
Company: Tints
Web: tintsstreetwear.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tints.streetwear
Title: Founder
What it does: Sustainable streetwear clothing sold in stores in Portland, New York City and Los Angeles
Founded: 2022
Accelerators/incubators or pitch competitions: 2022 Taco Bell Ambition Accelerator Finalist: Top 25 nationwide; 2023 DECA Business Growth Plan, 1st place in Washington, 5th place internationally; 2022 Disney Dreamer Academy
Outside funding: $1,500 from the Taco Bell Ambition Accelerator
