MALIA LAZU
Age 35
Occupation Executive Director and Cofounder, Future Boston Alliance
Residence Roxbury
Does fashion play into the vision of Future Boston Alliance?
I believe Future Boston's celebration of the design community will continue to grow. There is so much design work in this city. It doesn't make sense that we're not filled with boutiques and that we're filled with chain stores instead. One of the reasons why we started Future Boston was because Greg [Selkoe, CEO of retailer Karmaloop and a Future Boston Alliance cofounder] was losing talent.
Do you find that, for better or worse, there is a stereotype about how activists dress?
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[Laughs] We have a bad rap when it comes to fashion. A lot of it is well deserved. But activism can be sophisticated.
So you're blazing a new trail? Activist style should be your next project.
Oh, trust me, they need it. I am so done with this idea that looking busted shows that you're doing good work. I have knocked on doors in heels, baby. You still have to be fabulous.
— Christopher Muther
Interview has been condensed and edited. Send comments to magazine@globe.com.