Loriza Ibarra

Founder and Creative Director, reFIND Shopping

BS’19 Business Administration, Concentration Innovation & Entrepreneurship

  • Founder and creative director of reFIND Shopping – a virtual marketplace where sustainable brands can build intentional relationships with shoppers, share their missions, and foster communities to grow their businesses.
  • Featured in Voyage Dallas, Spectrum News 1, Unfiltered Fashion Talks, and Fashionable Austin.
  • Featured panelist at South by Southwest (SXSW) during a pop-up on sustainable fashion and technology.
  • Named in People of the Year 2020: Ones to Watch by Tribeza

What problem(s) did you set out trying to solve? 

The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, affecting people and the planet. When I began my journey of entrepreneurship I had three passions: fashion, technology, and community. I started doing my research and learning how incredibly difficult it was to find clothing that I could feel good about purchasing, that wasn’t being developed at the expense of endangering the lives of the people making it and the planet’s resources.

I also realized that all the products for sustainable fashion came with a higher price tag which made it hard for this community of slow fashion to grow due to the exclusivity and accessibility in not only price points, but sizing and resources for consumers and designers to make more educated decisions. 

When did you realize you were working on something with business potential? In other words, at what point did you know this was something you wanted to focus a lot of your time and energy on? 

I started my business by putting the community first. I did this by meeting my community that was interested in sustainable fashion wherever they were on their journey. Sustainability in general can be overwhelming, and hard to understand due to the broad and overuse of the word itself. I started creating content for my online community that was digestible information that broke down the negative impact of the fashion industry and the importance of becoming a more intentional customer. I started seeing the interest and that customers were looking to do better and be better consumers, they just simply couldn’t find transparency from the brands they wanted to support. Consumers wanted to shop for brands that aligned with their values. After hosting many community events around my local community and nailing down a community partnership with All Birds, I realized the momentum was there, the interest was there, and consumers wanted a one-stop hub for all things sustainable fashion. 

Describe your startup experience in three words. 

Keep the momentum. Ride the waves.

What resources at the university did you take advantage of and how did they help you on your entrepreneurial journey? 

I took advantage of the entrepreneurial courses, which completely transformed the way I thought about building a business. It prepared me for the difficult questions I had to ask myself about my business and to know when to pivot. More than anything I gained so much experience doing mock pitches and getting into the details of what can make a business venture successful. In addition, I did the GalXc Accelerator and that was so pivotal to my entrepreneurial journey. It not only gave me a space to be around like-minded individuals, but it allowed me to see that I had a seat at the table to become a successful entrepreneur. I learned so much about the mental aspect of getting rid of limiting beliefs and also concrete ways to set the foundation of my business. 

What insight would you give to a student trying to launch a startup while in college? 

I would say to pursue something that you genuinely are passionate about. The effort you put into it and the way you communicate your startup to others will translate more effectively when you are truly passionate about whatever problem you are trying to solve with your startup. In addition, get really clear about what it is you are starting and why… Things will get hard and the journey will ebb and flow in waves of success and failure, so making sure it is something that is innate to your nature makes it much easier to not give up and keep pushing. 

What advice do you have for students about using their time, relationships, and opportunities at UTD to prepare for this kind of journey? 

The advice I would give any student is to take this time to test, test, test! Try new things, get creative, and don’t limit yourself to anything. It doesn’t have to work the 1st, 2nd, or 50th time, but eventually, it will and you will know if it is worth pursuing and pushing towards being successful (however you may define that). Ask all the questions, reach out to professors, alumni, companies, and make every conversation fruitful. There is a lesson to be learned in every conversation or person you pass. It won’t be long before you realize that every single encounter was for a reason. Move steadfast towards what you naturally gravitate towards and take advantage of every opportunity. You might think at the time that the opportunity might lead to nowhere, but you’ll never know unless you try! Don’t give up, because you don’t truly fail unless you stop. Keep the momentum. 

Has anyone in the UTD network been important to your journey? Why? 

There have been a few for different reasons. Steve Guengerich (“Steve G”) was my very first professor at UTD and it also happened to be my first entrepreneurship class. Having Steve G. as my first professor set the mood for my whole experience at UTD. I learned so much from his classes and more than anything he gave me the confidence to pursue my ventures. Leah Frazier really shined a light on what it meant to be a female entrepreneur in this day and age. She was the facilitator for the GalXc Accelerator and she brought in so many great speakers and always kept in touch beyond the accelerator. 


Charles Hazzard was a professor that I had during my time at UTD that really believed in my potential. He gave me advice when I needed it and helped me find clarity and even connected me to other mentors. But more than anything all of these professors gave me a space for my voice to be heard and to be seen in a way that gave me the confidence to step out into the world and really embrace my talents and potential. 

What advice do you have for students who want to pursue a venture in your industry?

When you get really specific about what your venture is, you figure out the communities are small. They are small but they are EVERYTHING. When pursuing any venture I think the MOST important part is to find that community and enter with an open mind to listen, collaborate, and be innovative. 

What’s one thing you know now (regarding entrepreneurship) that you wish you knew in college?

I know now that it is okay, to pivot, change, and do countless trials and errors. This does NOT define YOUR ultimate success or your WORTH! Keep going. Keep the momentum and shoot your shot always! 

What’s next for you/your company?

I’m currently in the process of growing my community, building a team, and fundraising so that I can make a larger impact in the sustainable fashion community. We are focusing on accessibility within the sustainable fashion and look forward to bringing real solutions so that everyone can participate in sustainable fashion. We will be a hub for intentional designers & fashion enthusiasts to influence change. So many exciting things on the horizon!