The process of navigating your career with hopes and dreams can be tough, but with passion and dedication, entrepreneur Aimon Ali has found a way. As a Toronto native now residing in Cleveland, OH, Ali has made a name for herself as the founder of Fashion Talks Foundation, a serial entrepreneur and a content creator with over thirteen thousand followers on Instagram. One of the most important values for Ali is to break barriers within diversity, equity and inclusion in creative industries to make a difference for women of color. 

When Ali first moved to Cleveland, coming from a diverse city where she did not face certain challenges or experiences while running a business, it was a big adjustment. 

“As someone who is a woman of color, who is a visible minority, I stood out a lot more in Cleveland than Toronto,” Ali said. “All of a sudden, I was the only person— I still am one of the only people that look like me in a lot of rooms that I go into.” 

There are many assumptions made, not only about Ali, but with all female people of color (POC) because of their appearance. A person’s appearance, ethnic background, race and gender does not determine their capability of success, and Ali stands firm with this. 

In the beginning, Ali noticed that the events she was attending in Cleveland were advertised for diverse and inclusive opportunities, but they turned out to be the opposite and lacked a feeling of belonging. Instead of being discouraged, this sparked a new inspiration: Fashion Talks Foundation. 

Fashion Talks Foundation is a nonprofit organization helping creative entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs grow in their business, specifically with people in the fashion industry 

who need assistance in the creative space (social media, marketing, etc.). Ali wanted her events to be “truly diverse and truly inclusive,” to not let anyone else go through the same frustrating experiences she did. 

The foundation focuses on The Runway, an elevated fashion show held in Cleveland every year. Their internship covert gives opportunities for interns to learn and grow in the fashion industry and offers panels to bring creative and new entrepreneurs together to build their confidence while highlighting the importance of DEI. The Runway was launched in 2021 to create a safe space for everyone in the Cleveland fashion community and acknowledging emerging talent and diverse culture. “The event blends high fashion, art, and community engagement, making it a must-attend event for industry professionals and fashion enthusiasts alike,” Ali said. 

Ali’s motivation to start The Runway originated from her past experiences producing runway shows and events in different locations such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Runway shows were not popular in Cleveland when she first moved to the city, especially with the COVID-19 Pandemic causing borders to shut down, so she decided to create her own. This year, The Runway will be celebrating its five year anniversary on June 22, at the Western Reserve Historical Society (also known as the Cleveland History Center) featuring local, national and international designers. 

The internship program at Fashion Talks Foundation offers hands-on experience in the fashion industry from event planning, production, designer outreach, social media, PR and much more. Interns have the opportunity to travel and assist with major events such as New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in New York City and The Runway in Cleveland to network with others and

amplify their career development. There are also various date ranges depending on how long an intern would like their experience to be; it can last from three months, six months or up to a year.

Lily Ivey, Fashion Talks Foundation intern and fashion merchandising student at Kent State University said, “Working for Aimon has been very meaningful, especially because of her efforts in DEI and the fashion industry by uplifting women in the Cleveland community. The opportunity to be able to go to New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is an impacting memory in my career that I will cherish.” To stay up to date, follow their Instagram and apply on their website at any given time. 

Ali said the best advice to students who want to become an entrepreneur is to commit to your business and see how it evolves. “Your business is going to go through things or grow in ways that you could never expect,” Ali said.  

To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to know yourself and your business, including how and why you want to create it. 

“When you are a new entrepreneur everybody loves to give you advice and it can get really confusing, but at the end of the day, those people are not running your business,” Ali said. 

The people who have inspired and helped Ali grow are her

Fashion Talks Foundation board and global advisory council, Lillian Curry, CEO of Cleveland Foundation and Arian May, Board Chair of Fashion Talks Foundation and a representative in the nonprofit industry. Ali’s  favorite experiences in her career include producing The Runway and seeing herself on a billboard in Times Square for being nominated as “One of the 25 Most Inspirational Female Leaders” in 2024.”