Threading Change is an ambitious and fully youth-led international organization.
We need industries to step up, polluters to pay up, and all hands on deck.

Scroll down to see the dedicated team behind the scenes making it all happen.

Meet Our Founder & Executive Director, Sophia Yang

“Without equity, there is no circularity. These words guide my work every day.”

Sophia is the Founder & Executive Director of Threading Change, the world’s leading for youth, by youth ethical fashion organization, working at the intersections of climate, gender, and racial justice in alignment with the necessary transition to a circular economy. Threading Change specializes in facilitating creative events, convening unlikely allies, and initiating valuable industry and citizen connections to co-create a global and local fashion industry that is equitable, youth-driven, and climate-resilient.
Originally born in Northern China but raised in Calgary, Alberta, Sophia draws on her multitude of diverse work and volunteer experiences, alongside her upbringing as an immigrant child as the drivers for her holistic approach and perspective on the protection of our environment. As a dedicated climate justice changemaker, Sophia has worked for over a dozen notable environmental organizations ranging from federal government agencies (Parks Canada, Natural Resources Canada), NGOs (Nature Conservancy of Canada, Society Promoting Environmental Conservation, Prince's Trust Canada, CityHive), industry (CNRL), and academia (UBC, SFU). Sophia currently also dedicates her time to working as a Senior Corporate Campaigner at the award-winning ENGO Canopy Planet, collaborating alongside the world's leading fashion, booking publishing, and consumer packaged goods brands to ensure that Ancient Endangered Forests are kept out of supply chains, with a robust focus on implementing Next Generation fiber solutions.
Sophia is the recipient of numerous awards both local to Vancouver and globally. She received the City of Vancouver's Greenest City Leadership Award in 2022, Corporate Knights’ Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders in Canada list in 2021, the No.9 Contemporary Art & The Environment and Harrowsmith Magazine's inaugural Youth Changemaker Award in 2023, Starfish Canada’s Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalists award in 2017 and 2018, has attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP24 & 25) twice as a British Columbian Youth Delegate with BCCIC, COP27 as part of Environment and Climate Change Canada's delegation, led the Threading Change Youth Delegation to COP28, and DJs as 'KALEIDO' in her spare time.
Threading Change was born because Sophia wanted to help raise young people’s voices in one of the world’s most polluting industries—the fashion industry, doing so for our planet, and people.

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Programs & Education Team

The Programs & Education Team specializes in planning, facilitating, and evaluating all of Threading Change’s Canadian and global programs. Whether it’s clothing swaps, policy jams, webinars, or workshops, our dedicated team will ensure that you will participate in educational, creative, and impactful learning experiences.

Education & Policy Director

Vinya (she/her) was born and raised in Singapore but currently lives in Vancouver. She is truly passionate about making the world a cleaner, greener, and happier place. In her free time, you will find her volunteering with the homeless, attempting to make her clothes, meditating, reading, and doing yoga.
As someone who has always been an advocate for sustainable and circular fashion, she was thrilled to learn about Threading Change. All of TC's mission and vision aligned with her own and she did not hesitate to join the TC family and contribute towards a cause that she is deeply passionate about.

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Creative Content Manager

Sara McQuaid (she/her) is a writer, activist and teacher currently working in Montreal, Quebec. She has a Honours Bachelor degree in History from Trent University and a Master's Degree in History from KU Leuven. She has been fortunate to have worked and taught across the world in Finland, South Korea, Vietnam and Belgium, where her love for international cooperation and development blossomed.
Her appreciation for contemporary challenges and love of fashion has inspired her to shift into the sustainable industry. Sara's aim to shape history by helping to change the future of fashion into one that is fossil-free and equitable.

Programs Manager

Isabelle Sain (She/Her) is an artist, educator, and sustainable fashion advocate. She uses a variety of platforms to activate partnership building, sustainable design, and textile innovation. Isabelle graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion and Textiles at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a specialization in sustainable fashion design and various opportunities including an exchange semester at KEA University and obtaining a Sustainable Fashion Management certificate from EIIS. Among other roles, she is the Fashion Revolution Canada's Regional Coordinator for Toronto. She acted as a visual arts educator and program consultant to TCDSB, Harbourfront Centre, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. As a sustainable fashion specialist, Isabelle has directed various programs and initiatives aimed at environmental initiatives and coordinated a network of sustainable fashion practitioners in Toronto. She has collaborated with organizations like Remake, Fashion Takes Action, and the Contemporary Textile Studio.
Her work explores fashion and art to establish connections that define shared experiences. She represents the tactility of these physical, political, and social experiences through experimental workshops and interactive installations. At Threading Change, she has conducted research projects and developed educational programs centered on investigating the future of fashion with an emphasis on youth-led movements and engagement. Isabelle blends the lines of art and industry to create innovative design solutions for textile and fashion production that revolve around growing our collective responsibility to climate justice.

Development Team

The Development Team is the glue that holds our organization together through their operations, finance, and business development expertise. They know how to fundraise, curate relationships and partnerships, expand our collaborative network, and have fun while doing it.

Development & Impact Director

Deirdre Fehr has a background in business, finance, and sustainability, having obtained an Honours BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. Within the last six years, she has worked within many interrelated sectors including; banking, the provincial government, and financial consulting. For the last several years, she has worked in the social finance and the local food sector.
Her passion to make an impact through her work led to positions at the Fair Finance Fund and the Northern Foodways Development Network, where she had the pleasure of supporting many social enterprises in their journey to financial sustainability, providing business technical assistance, and helping develop their strategic and financial plans. She is driven to support sustainable causes, believing that they are the backbone of creating happy and healthy people and communities."

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Network Mapping Assistant

Klara Huebsch (she/her) was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. She moved to Vancouver in 2015 to attend UBC, where she completed a BSc. in Global Resource Systems with a specialization in Ecological Economics, as well as a Master of Management from the Sauder School of Business.

Klara’s greatest intellectual interest is an exploration of systemic solutions to the race-to-the-bottom dynamic within business operations, by which short-term self-interest undermines the commons in the long-term through externalizing the true cost on society and the planet. She believes in the world-changing potential of collaboration within business to share knowledge and innovations that accelerate effective solutions to our social and environmental challenges. Her recent work for the B Corp Consulting company The Leverage Lab further inspired her work in the sustainable business field.

Operations & Administration Manager

Aish (she/her), an economist and writer turned environmental advocate, brings a wealth of diverse experience to the realm of sustainability. Currently mastering Green Business and Sustainability Management at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, she is at the forefront of youth-led environmental initiatives, championing engagement and education. Passionate about a circular economy and clean technology, Aish's work with TC reflects her commitment to social and environmental justice. Aish's multifaceted background, from Kuala Lumpur roots to academic and activist pursuits in British Columbia, fuels her dedication to a sustainable future.

Communications & Engagement Team

The Communications & Engagement Team are the creative masterminds behind all of our stellar content across all of our channels and programs. Reach out to them if you have any content questions, collaboration requests, and anything communications-related.

Communications & Engagement Director

Rebekah is a Global Development student, passionate about creating real-world solutions to complex issues. She advocates for pivoting current systems towards a more just and sustainable future. She’s applied her knowledge and skills in various projects, such as in urban planning on Granville Island, circular economy, and local outreach initiatives. Her passion for fashion was born out of a love for its storytelling capability and through her work in the sustainable fashion sphere, she seeks to advocate for more stories of justice and equity in the clothes we wear.

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Communications Assistant

Isabella (she/her) is a recent graduate of Queen’s University, where she completed a Bachelor’s of Science, majoring in Life Sciences and minoring in Global Development. Her undergraduate thesis, titled “An Assessment of the Current Strategies for Addressing the Global Textile Waste Crisis: Biomaterials & Student Engagement,” reflects her commitment to sustainability initiatives. Isabella is passionate about advocating for a more equitable fashion industry and has a particular interest in sustainable textile innovation. With prior leadership experience as Co-President of Queen’s University’s premier sustainable fashion club, she is dedicated to fostering youth engagement in sustainability initiatives.

Communications Assistant

Luiza (she/her) is a recent graduate from The University of British Columbia, where she completed her studies in International Relations and Law & Society in the spring of 2023. She brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her passion for sustainability and global citizenship. With a foundation in Economics, Political Science, and History, she recognizes the interconnectedness of socio-economic and environmental challenges, particularly within the context of circular economy and sustainable fashion.
Her expertise in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) aligns seamlessly with her commitment to driving positive change. Drawing from her experiences living in South Korea, Mexico, France, Brazil, and Canada, she deeply understands the nuances of diverse cultures and the importance of fostering intercultural understanding in sustainability efforts. Fluent in Portuguese, French, Spanish, and English, she leverages her language skills to bridge knowledge gaps and promote sustainable practices among global communities. With a keen interest in sustainable fashion and circular economy models, she seeks to innovate and advocate for solutions that promote ethical production, consumption, and waste reduction on a global scale.

Africa Regional Director

Chemitei (she/her) is an environmentalist and slow fashion educator who enjoys storytelling through writing and content creation. She has experience working in environmental education as a trainer in sustainable waste management; working with different initiatives to engage primary school children on how to upcycle waste to art, and empowering the local community youth groups in Nairobi on climate justice and advocacy.
She currently leads Threading Change’s African regional work. Chemitei dedicates a lot of her time highlighting the reality of the fashion industry in Kenya and urges everyone to be mindful of our clothing habits. Her goal is to share African stories and encourage youth development through creative innovation in sustainability and fashion.

Africa Coordination Team

The Threading Change Africa Coordination Team is responsible for leading, managing, and planning creative events and activations in the African continent that amplify Threading Change’s mission and values. Our Coordinators are creatives, researchers, policy analysts, event planners, and textile artists full of experience and knowledge.

Africa Creative Lead

Toni (she/her) is a creative designer seeking to be an active voice for the future of innovative and sustainable solutions. She is currently studying towards a degree in Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Cape Town. With a passion for environmental sustainability, waste management, and artistic mediums, she strives to create content centered around circularity. This led to the founding of her platform and business, Totostry, a creative space on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook that serves to educate and raise awareness for eco-friendly, low-waste concepts and ideas through the arts of upcycling, mending, and slow fashion. Toni was also a contestant on the first season of an international YouTube challenge show called Next Top Upcycler.

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Africa Research Lead

Barbra is an environmental and climate activist. She has been actively involved in environmental conservation, climate justice, and fossil-free campaigns to advocate for better policies and sustainable practices. She is the Research Lead for the Africa Regional Coordination team at Threading Change. She is a community trainer and climate educator. She expresses her passion for addressing the climate crisis through training youth groups, initiatives, and organizations on climate change, its spill-over issues, and ways in which they can be more resilient and adaptable in the climate crisis. Barbra is also the founder of Last shade Initiative which focuses on creating awareness of environmental conservation and climate change and increasing resilience in the local communities through behavior modification.

South America Regional Coordinator

Celeste (she/her) was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She moved to Saskatoon, Canada in 2016 to pursue a major in Environmental Science and Sustainability. During her spare time, Celeste loves being involved with the community. She founded the Latin American Students Association at the University of Saskatchewan and was elected as president for 2 years (2017-2018). In 2019 and 2020, Celeste was part of the executive team of the Environmental Studies Student Association, as the Vice-President and Event Planner respectively. In 2020, Celeste started her podcast Latinas in Stoon which she co-hosts with a friend. Currently, Celeste works as the executive director of a non-profit organization in Ecuador that promotes circular economy, environmental education, and sustainable food production.

Global Coordination Team

India Regional

Coordinator

Alisha (she/her) is a Fashion Design graduate with a passion for sustainable fashion and slow fashion practices. She is working towards building a market place for sustainable fashion to make it more accessible and voice her passion for it. She also advocates for garment workers’ rights and fair fashion practices. Her interest in sustainable fashion started when she got involved in this space in her college’s last year graduation project. Alisha’s commitment to sustainability spoke through her work. She worked with artisans on a self-initiated project to develop products from post-usage textiles for 13 months in rural parts of India. She even worked with a startup that works on the segregation post-production textiles waste. She expresses her love for fashion and the environment through actively volunteering in organizations such as Fashion Takes Action. She wants to address fashion’s waste problem and work on Circular Fashion.

Europe Regional Coordinator

Leah (she/her) is a creative student at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, where she focuses on connecting her passions for sustainability, fashion, and art.
Having grown up bilingual, now speaking five languages, different cultures have always shaped her personality and way of thinking. She followed a year of International Business and Intercultural Studies at the University of Passau, Germany, where she was able to gain an extensive knowledge of ethical business practices and intercultural communication.
Besides her studies and volunteering work, Leah loves dedicating her time to different crafts like sewing, crochet, or calligraphy.

Ottawa Events Assistant

Kieran has been fascinated by textiles since childhood, when he picked up a set of old, plastic knitting needles and produced a misshapen, hole-y scarf. Since then he has continued to explore many of the possible textile mediums including sewing, dyeing, and most recently, spinning. It is impossible to participate in these crafts without learning about the injustices and environmental issues of the global textile industry, which is why he is eager to volunteer with Threading Change.
As a passionate environmentalist and community-builder, he also leads a website called "In Your Nature" to help connect volunteers with environmental organizations where they can make the most impact. He also works at the Canadian Wildlife Federation to promote awareness about grassland conservation.
Outside of his work, volunteerism, and textile-based hobbies, you can find him cooking with his roommates, enjoying the wilderness, doing yoga, and gardening.

North America Volunteers

The Threading Change North America volunteers are passionate event assistants, knowledge keepers, and creatives responsible for executing and helping out with events, brand relationships, and other activations in the North American continent that amplify Threading Change’s mission and values. Our volunteers are based across Turtle Island, utilizing their smarts to drive impact locally and nationally!

Clothing Swap Assistant

Ella (she/her) is a long time sustainable fashion and environmental justice advocate. She first got connected with Threading Change as a speaker in the #ClothesBusters Textile Talks Series during the pandemic. She grew up on the unceded traditional territory of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. She spent two years living on Treaty 6 territory while doing her Masters in Environmental Sociology at the University of Alberta. She is now living, working and playing on unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory in so-called Ottawa. She is excited to help to organize the first Threading Change clothing swap in Ottawa.

Story Map Assistant

Coleen Castillo (she/her) was born in the Philippines, raised in New York City, and now resides in Vancouver. She has a diverse background in fashion, event promotions, and copywriting. Upon moving to Vancouver, she established herself as a freelance Social Media Specialist, collaborating with North American healthcare and biotech companies, and global non-profit organizations dedicated to wildlife and environmental conservation. Coleen is passionate about supporting independent local artists and promoting sustainable and ethical fashion. She discovered Threading Change through events in Vancouver, and she was immediately inspired by their mission and felt compelled to get involved.

Board Co-Chair

Board of Directors

The large gender inequity present in the fashion industry today is completely unacceptable. Of the top ten fashion companies in the world, only one CEO is woman-identifying, and only one is a Person of Colour (POC). Millions of garment workers around the world today are women of colour, subject to various forms of abuse and unfair pay. Threading Change believes that as a young organization, we will do everything possible to uphold our ethos of a Feminist, Fossil-Fuel-Free Fashion Future that fights for gender equity. We proudly present our growing Board of Directors, mainly women of colour, from garment-heavy producing countries.

Florence (she/her) believes that Sustainability should not exist, because it should be the normal way to do business. After moving to Vietnam to connect with her roots, she met with a like-minded girl and they decided to partner up to develop her starting ethical fashion label named after her ; Linda Mai Phung. Since then Florence has been working in sustainable fashion (10 years) making it her mission to improve the garment industry. At Fair Wear Foundation she worked in accompanying member brands in monitoring their supply chain, as well as being Country manager for Macedonia and then for Vietnam. She was then responsible for the grievance mechanism of the NGO, to try and solve labor rights violations raised by workers. Florence is currently a consultant for start-ups and entrepreneurs that work to create a responsible garment industry.

Secretary

Treasurer

Jessica C. Poitras, Esq. (she/her) is an American legislative and regulatory attorney focused on advancing and promoting sustainable and ethical fashion and beauty policies, both domestically and internationally. She has dedicated her career to supporting causes and missions related to the advancement of women, the rights of persons of color, and international trade policy. Her expert opinions have been featured on NPR, presented before the Equal Justice Center and ACLU, and as an expert witness in many state legislatures across the US. Additionally, she enjoys volunteering to support her local community and freelance writing.

Director at Large, Expansion

Raashi (she/her) is a consultant for Gapminder Foundation and a Local Expert for Studio INTO, a fast-growing international research consultancy. She's currently working with Missions Publiques on rebuilding structures with citizens on matters pertaining to Internet Universality and Governance. Raashi is currently a Do School Fellow and Young Leader with Women Deliver. She has been an active member of the TED community since 2014 and is the primary licensee for TEDxKoramangala. She serves as a steering committee member for Shaping Fashion, a grassroots initiative across the globe to transform the fashion industry into a more sustainable one.

Director at Large, Strategy

Carol (she/her) has held leadership positions in innovation, strategy and communications across Canada, the U.S. and Europe within a variety of industries and sectors. She's a seasoned brand builder, management consultant, lecturer, and board member, with a strong commitment to social and environmental justice.
Most recently, Carol has been with Canopy on a mission to scale up alternatives to wood-based fibres in the textile supply chain and steer companies away from climate and biodiversity-critical forests. You can connect with her here.

Board Co-Chair

Puninda (she/her) is a climate justice advocate and a consultant specializing in sustainability strategy development and implementation. Previously, she worked in sustainable investing in the commercial real estate sector, where she led portfolio-wide initiatives focused on climate resilience and sustainability reporting. Puninda holds a Bachelors of Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo. She is active in her local community as a member of the Global Shapers Community and as an organizer with Climate Justice Peel. Puninda has been recognized as one of Canada’s top 30 under 30 sustainability leaders and as a Clean50 honouree.