NELA GRAU

My name is Nela Grau, and I am the founder of Sekond Brand.

Sekond is a sustainable and circular economy company in the textile sector. We tackle the issue of overproduction by repurposing surplus garments and fabrics through upcycling, transforming them into new products and accessories (you can visit our website to see transformation examples: www.bysekond.com). This approach not only reduces textile waste but also helps mitigate the negative environmental impact of the fashion industry, promoting more circular and conscious practices.

Our goal is to offer an alternative that extends the life cycle of textiles, ultimately reducing the need for new production and, therefore, lowering pollution in the textile industry. Additionally, we help brands profit sustainably from their excess stock, preventing clothing from ending up in landfills or being incinerated, as often happens today. Beyond sustainability, we also aim to increase social awareness by creating job opportunities for vulnerable communities, involving them in the production process.

I have always been passionate about nature and sustainability, which led me to study Biology in the United States (University of New Orleans). I pursued a second master’s degree in Neuromarketing at the Complutense University of Madrid. Despite learning a lot, I felt that none of the jobs related to my studies truly fulfilled me. Since I had always been drawn to startups and entrepreneurship, I decided to give it a real shot.

I am quite an extroverted and open-minded person—curious and restless by nature. I also consider myself very active: I have played volleyball my whole life, and I love yoga, snowboarding, skateboarding, scuba diving, climbing… In general, I am passionate about almost any sport, especially adventure and extreme sports.