Meet Jillian Clark

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jillian Clark. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jillian below.

Jillian , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I often credit my work ethic and discipline to my classical ballet training. I started ballet at age four and trained and performed into my mid-20s. My teacher, Edra Toth, a former principal dancer with the Boston Ballet, used to tell us, “Ballet is the opposite of instant gratification.” And she was right. You don’t develop flexibility, strength, or the ability to retain complex choreography overnight. You earn it slowly, by showing up day after day, committing to the smallest details, and trusting the process.

Ballet taught me that progress isn’t always visible, but consistency is everything. Over time, repetition becomes habit, and those habits shape your discipline. That mindset has carried me through every bold step I’ve taken since.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My work spans a variety of industries and sectors, but the common thread throughout is exploring the question: What do we wear, and why do we wear it? Clothing is deeply personal, yet the choices we make affect the world around us. Fashion is the second most polluting industry on the planet, surpassed only by oil.

I founded Roboro, a textile waste agency, to address this impact. Our mission is to keep textile waste out of landfills and combat climate change. The inspiration came while working as a costume designer for television and film, where I was struck by the sheer volume of waste produced on set. I wanted to be part of the solution, not the problem.

Nearly ten years later, Roboro has evolved significantly. We’ve rebranded, restructured our business model, and I’ve traveled internationally to learn from global leaders in sustainability. I even relocated after the historic Hollywood strikes affected my work. These experiences have strengthened my ability to adapt, grow, and persevere in the textile waste management sector. I’m confident that this consistency and resilience will continue to drive meaningful impact.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. The most difficult skill I have learned and the most rewarding is trusting myself. Learning not to let the opinions or advice of others dictate my journey has been an ongoing process. I still wrestle with imposter syndrome at times, but I now have a confident understanding of what it means to trust my instincts.

2. Embracing my unique outlook on the world and my approach to problem-solving has been transformative. My curiosity, my desire to understand myself, systems, and why things are the way they are, used to make me feel insecure. These deeper, philosophical questions are not always the type of conversation that naturally fits into casual social settings. But I now recognize that this curiosity is precisely what makes me excel in my work. It may make some people uncomfortable and inspire others, but it is an essential part of who I am.

3. Be adaptable and flexible. Life rarely unfolds exactly as planned, but learning to adapt allows you to navigate almost any situation with grace.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, we are always looking to collaborate. At Roboro, we partner with brands, designers, municipalities, recyclers, and anyone working with soft goods or textile waste. We help give clothing, textiles, and other materials a second life in ways that are both sustainable and creative.

We’ve worked with clients such as Chappell Roan, Amanda Seyfried’s company Make It Cute, and recently partnered with Apple+ to accept clothing donations from a wrapped television show. We’re also collaborating with a new organic pet toy company, and we are excited to explore partnerships with the hospitality and healthcare sectors to upcycle and recycle discarded linens.

Our goal is to add value to perceived waste in unique and beautiful ways. If this resonates with you, I would love to connect and explore how we can work together to create meaningful, sustainable solutions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.roboro6.com
• Instagram: @roboro_official
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-k-clark/