How A Model Promotes Sustainability | Summer Rayne Oakes, Eco-Model & Samasource Ambassador

How does a fashion model make a difference? We had a delightful chat with Summer Rayne-Oakes, eco-model and Samasource Ambassador earlier this week. In this interview, Summer shares a message with Samasource supporters and explains how she became involved in Samasource and why she supports this phenomenal organization that empowers refugees in Africa by providing digital work opportunities.


Summer’s transition from entomologist and environmental scientist to cause-related eco-model serves as a great reminder that we each have a role to play when it comes to making a difference. Across sectors, from law to business to fashion and beyond, we can all have an impact in whichever industry or sector we participate in. For tips on sustainable fashion, check out Summer’s new book, “Style, Naturally”, and to support Samasource via your mobile iPhone, be sure to download the free iPhone app, “Give Work“. Thank you, Summer!

The Full Transcript:

KATRINA: Hi Summer. Can you please introduce yourself and share with us how you became involved with Samasource?

SUMMER RAYNE-OAKES: My name is Summer Rayne-Oakes, and I am an eco-model. So what that means is that I’ve aligned my all of my work exclusively with  more environmentally and socially relevant companies. I was introduced to Samasource through a mutual friend named Silvia. And she presented Samasource’s platform to me which I think is just brilliant. It makes you wonder why some of these things don’t happen sooner.


I work in an area in Mozambique in Africa, and you’re always looking to build the highest of value products or services that you can in areas that don’t have a lot of resources. And the fact that Samasource is able to tap into some of these communities, whether it’s in Kenya or whether it’s in Pakistan, and be able to offer a high value service through technology, I think is absolutely brilliant.


What’s important about what Leila (of Samasource) is doing is that it can really complement different industries in this area, because you can’t just focus on one area of expertise and rely on that, [to do so would] make a culture very vulnerable. So I think that the fact that we’re adding on this whole different layer of technology is really cool.


And as individuals and as companies, you want to be able to do good, and now this gives us another option that we could do good in a different way where you could “samasource” it out if you want to test a product or have a call service or whatever it may be. And I think that as more and more people recognize that they could do good by doing this, it will help the whole platform even more and grow it outwards. So come out and support Samasource, it’s such an innovative idea. Thank you!

Summer Rayne-Oakes, Eco-Model and Samasource Ambassador:

About: Summer is an entomologist turned eco-model, committed to promoting sustainability through fashion and media. Summer serves as Ambassador of Samasource, a social enterprise that brings dignified, computer-based work to women, youth, & refugees living in poverty. Website: www.summerrayne.net | www.samasource.org

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