Hayley Besheer Santell

While primarily known for her work as the designer and founder of mission-driven sustainable basics brand, MADI Apparel, her background is actually rooted in painting and fine arts. Besheer Santell gained dual degrees in Fine Arts and Journalism from University of Missouri and studied painting and drawing at Florence University of the Arts. The Kansas City, Missouri native founded cause-based company while bartending in New Smyrna Beach, Florida in 2013. Since then, she’s been a champion and industry leader in ethical fashion and conscious manufacturing, and her work as the designer and founder of MADI Apparel has been featured in Forbes, Washington Post, Men’s Journal, the knot and more. She gives credit to her supportive, loving family and her roots in public school education for her big empathetic heart and awareness of racial divides.