Meet Zech Francis: A Man Making a Splash

Passion and inspiration are contagious, it's been proven time and time again that they create a ripple effect on humanity.

When we hear someone's personal story and their passion for helping a cause it motivates us to take action.

At Buckle, we believe in being a part of that ripple effect using our sources to create a better environment, community, and future. So when we met someone that inspired us, we had to introduce him and share his story.

Meet CEO and Founder of Oshen, Zech Francis, a guy who's using his resources and passions to solve a world crisis.

Q: Can you give us an overview of what Oshen is all about?

A: Oshen is the world's first fashion brand committed to fighting the global water crisis. The brand has a very simple message: with every purchase, you provide ONE YEAR of clean drinking water to a person in need. It's really exciting to create a brand that not only creates high-quality clothing but also has such a powerful message.

Q: What sparked your passion for creating Oshen?

A: My passion for creating Oshen was sparked after personally donating to the non-profit, Thirst Project. I started to look into how huge the global water crisis is. The statistics are truly stifling, and it's crazy to think that something we take for granted here in the U.S. is such a rarity in other parts of the world. There are hundreds of MILLIONS of people alive today that don't have access to clean, safe drinking water, and it's creating huge health problems in communities all over the globe.

Q: What's the importance of having access to clean water?

A: I can't stress enough how imperative it is that people all over the globe have access to clean drinking water. I could literally go on and on about how imperative this cause is, but I'll highlight this one statistic that will blow you away; by providing a person with clean drinking water, disease rates can drop by up to 88% overnight, and child mortality can drop by up to 90% overnight!

Q: How can someone contribute to this cause?

A: Oshen partnered with my good friends over at Thirst Project to make contributing simple! With every Oshen purchase, you give ONE YEAR of clean drinking water to a person in need. It's that simple. 100% of our donations go to building water well projects in countries that desperately need clean water, so every purchase goes a long way. People can also directly donate to Thirst Project!

Q: What is one of your favorite experiences that you'll never forget?

A: Some of our team went to Swaziland recently on a clean water well project and seeing the photos from the local community were truly touching. To see the faces of kids light up with excitement over clean water was humbling. All of us, myself included, definitely don't grasp how fortunate we are to have been born in a country where clean water is so accessible.

Q: How would you encourage someone to become proactive in the health of our planet?

A: I would encourage everyone to find a cause that's bigger than themselves that they can contribute to. Whether that contribution is financial, or you volunteering your time, it's important now more than ever to give back to our planet. You don't have to quit your day job or give away your life savings to make a change. If we're going to make this planet better it's going to be a sum of all parts, and every single positive action has the potential to leave a long-lasting impact on the earth.

Q: What are five easy lifestyle changes people can make to better the planet?

A: I truly don't think you need to completely alter your lifestyle to change the world. It's going to take a huge concerted effort to make a massive impact so even the smallest changes in your life can make a lasting change if others are doing the same. For me personally, I try to really think about the things I consume so my personal five lifestyle changes would be:

1. Turn off your water faucet when you're not actively using it.

2. Use less plastic, whether that's wrappers or utensils, I try to think about where the things I use are going to end up after I'm done with them.

3. Donate your time or money to a charity, or a cause that you care deeply about.

4. If you see trash in a place that you love spending time in, pick it up.

5. Overall, try to think big picture of how all of your actions are going to impact the planet and you'll inevitably make a change.

Q: How are you celebrating Earth Day this year?

A: This year I'm making a point of donating to three of my favorite charities, one of them, of course, being Thirst Project. I'm hopeful that Oshen will become a household name and that I'll be able to leave my small positive mark on this world by doing what I'm most passionate about; designing the best clothing possible.

This earth day we challenge you to make a splash and help protect our planet. Whether it's as simple as purchasing a t-shirt, picking up trash in your community or planting a tree, that one small ripple will grow into a wave.