FASHION REVOLUTION
Canada

Lidiya’s fashion career began as a Visual Merchandiser at one of the biggest global retailers. Since then, she pivoted into academia in the search of better understanding how fashion is embedded into human-environment systems. Lidiya is a graduate student in Human Geography at the University of Toronto. Her current research takes place in the Peruvian Amazon, where she studies the effects of biodiversity loss on local artisan economy. Outside of research, Lidiya is passionate about urban agriculture, hiking, knitting and more recently, learning about natural dyes.

Voici Katherine Leroux, coordonnatrice régionale chez Fashion revolution.⁠ Elle travaille actuellement comme assistante-costumière sur une création de théâtre musical de la compagnie de théâtre de l’oeil ouvert https://www.instagram.com/toeilouvert/ En plus de ses expériences variées dans le milieu de la mode et dans de nombreux organismes culturels montréalais, elle développera de nouvelles expertises en septembre prochain alors qu’elle débutera un certificat en développement durable au H.EC Montréal.Faire partie de l'équipe Fashion Revolution Canada est la rencontre parfaite entre ses valeurs environnementales et sa passion pour le vêtement, qu’il soit utilitaire ou de scène. C’est avec enthousiasme qu’elle rejoint l’équipe de Fashion Révolution Québec.

Clara was born in a family who valued artisanship. She grew up wearing beautiful dresses handmade with love by her grandmother, a talented designer and artisan in Beirut. She is enthusiastic about flattering colors, quality fabrics, elegant designs, and has an eye for the transformation potential in every garment. She sees visual storytelling as a core social component for building identity and connection. Her commitment to sustainable fashion started in 2012, when she organized a pioneering second-hand fashion sale in a trendy Beirut venue. In 2014, she graduated with a certification in image consulting at the London Image Institute. She joined Fashion Revolution Canada in 2022 to participate in the journey towards an ethical fashion industry, putting human labor rights and sustainability first. She is well travelled and speaks four languages fluently. She is an aspiring writer and maintains a personal blog. A theatre enthusiast, she continues to participate in several drama workshops of different genres. She holds two Master’s degrees in Engineering and in Management, as well as a diploma in conflict mediation.

Working in the apparel industry for a decade in India, Namrita gained in-depth knowledge in product development, sourcing, and manufacturing. However, after having worked so closely in the fashion supply chain, she grew uncomfortable with the harsh impact this industry is leaving on the planet. As an environment enthusiast, Namrita initiated waste management projects and operational changes in her company. She also launched a line of upcycled fabric products that helped consume waste fabric being generated during various manufacturing processes in Indian factories. Eventually, Namrita decided to leave her job and pivot entirely into the sustainable side of fashion. She has been doing research and volunteer work for a few sustainable fashion start-ups, while also doing her full-time MBA at the University of British Columbia. Namrita is passionate about discovering things, be it new music, places, and cuisines. Her latest discovery was Soccer! She now loves playing and watching the game.

Alexia is a lifelong fashion lover, an enthusiastic thrifter, and a sometimes sewer.

Pursuing a passion for social justice, she first learned about the impact of the fashion industry while completing her bachelor’s degree in International Development & Globalization at the University of Ottawa.

She combined her love for clothing and activism by researching and writing all about conscious consumption, ethical manufacturing and circular fashion.

She then went on to complete her post-graduate certificate in Sustainable Fashion Production from George Brown College.

She loves reading, vintage shopping, photography and strolling around her downtown Toronto neighbourhood with a coffee in hand.

Isabelle Sain is an artist whose work is an ongoing sensory experience that explores the relationships between body and space. Her work is grounded in establishing connections and events that define shared experiences to understand human interaction within the physical, political, social, and spiritual environment. Isabelle obtained her BFA in textiles and fashion at NSCAD University. Isabelle’s work has been exhibited in Toronto, Halifax and Copenhagen. She has conducted a number of research projects investigating the future of fashion with KEA University, and has collaborated with several brands including Samsøe & Samsøe, Threading Change and the Green Cannabis Co. In her art practice and experiences she has created textile based design processes and solutions that establish connections to reinterpret textile production into a more environmentally and socially conscious industry. She is grounded by the preserving and passing of tradition while focusing her research on designs and systems, intersectional environmentalism, and climate justice.

Verena (Erin) Polowy learned about the dark side of clothing manufacturing while pursuing a degree in fashion design. She decided then to change not only her personal shopping habits but also do what she could to have a positive impact on the industry.

For over 10 years Erin has been exploring and learning about sustainable and ethical fashion. She created My Green Closet, a youtube channel and blog to share her slow fashion journey, help others build a more conscious wardrobe, and advocate for better industry practices.

Erin is from Edmonton, Alberta. When she's not running after her toddler, she can be found sewing, working in the garden, trying new recipes, and listening to audiobooks

Dorothée Tessier-Thomas est une jeune designer travaillant, depuis maintenant quelques années, dans le milieu de la mode montréalaise. Elle a pu autant travailler dans des grandes et petites entreprises et peut ainsi avoir une vue d’ensemble sur l’industrie. Actuellement, elle travaille comme assistante-designer et patronniste, pour une marque de vêtements pour femme aillant atelier sur rue à Montréal et dont les produits sont faits localement. De plus, dans ses temps libres, elle se prépare à démarrer une marque de vêtement entièrement pensée et imaginée écoresponsable, éthique et inclusive, avec l’une de ses meilleures amies. Faire partie de l’équipe Fashion Revolution Canada est un rêve devenu réalité. Elle est enthousiaste à l’idée de pouvoir partager sa passion pour la mode éthique et durable à la nouvelle génération de travailleurs de la mode canadienne, dans son rôle de responsable de l’éducation chez Fashion revolution Canada. L’éducation et le savoir sont la clé qui nous permettra de faire bouger les choses dans l’industrie de la mode.

Erin is a volunteer social activist leading Fair Trade Calgary under the umbrella of Engineers Without Borders Calgary Section.  She also sits on the Executive Board of the Canadian Fair Trade Network (CFTN) as an Alberta representative and the President since 2019.  To find out more about the Calgary Fair Trade Town campaign and activities, visit www.fairtradecalgary.com and about the CFTN at www.cftn.ca. Erin was drawn to the ethical fashion arena due to the depressing lack of ethical choices currently in Canadian retailers. Erin wants to help bring awareness of human rights and environmental issues in the fashion industry to Calgarians during Fashion Revolution Week.

Hi I’m Kristi Woo. I am the designer and founder for Riyoko, comfortable chic and conscious travel clothing for women made with their movement in mind. I am also the lead co-founder of Assemble Work/Shop, a local designer workspace and studio that brings community together through patternmaking and mending workshops. With a background in art, textiles and design - I’ve been an independent designer for over a decade, and have experienced how the skill of making clothing and the process can be misunderstood, and undervalued in light of globalization and fast fashion practices. Along this journey, I also came to realize the importance of being a third generation sewer & maker (from a family originally from China). I choose to honour my skill, and the skill of my aunt and my grandmother by leading a conscious design practice. I exercise this in different forms from supporting fair wage, to buying more locally sourced fabrics, providing quality made pieces that lower the consumption footprint, to hosting workshops on how to make and mend your own clothing. Working with Fashion Revolution has opened up another way for me to use my knowledge base and skill set to contribute to the growing movement of conscious fashion - and continue to learn. Going forward, I’m committed to working with Fashion Revolution toward greater positive change in the Fashion industry because: “Individually we are a drop. Together we are an ocean” - Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Hi I’m Kristi Woo. I am the designer and founder for Riyoko, comfortable chic and conscious travel clothing for women made with their movement in mind. I am also the lead co-founder of Assemble Work/Shop, a local designer workspace and studio that brings community together through patternmaking and mending workshops. With a background in art, textiles and design - I’ve been an independent designer for over a decade, and have experienced how the skill of making clothing and the process can be misunderstood, and undervalued in light of globalization and fast fashion practices. Along this journey, I also came to realize the importance of being a third generation sewer & maker (from a family originally from China). I choose to honour my skill, and the skill of my aunt and my grandmother by leading a conscious design practice. I exercise this in different forms from supporting fair wage, to buying more locally sourced fabrics, providing quality made pieces that lower the consumption footprint, to hosting workshops on how to make and mend your own clothing. Working with Fashion Revolution has opened up another way for me to use my knowledge base and skill set to contribute to the growing movement of conscious fashion - and continue to learn. Going forward, I’m committed to working with Fashion Revolution toward greater positive change in the Fashion industry because: “Individually we are a drop. Together we are an ocean” - Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Erin is a volunteer social activist leading Fair Trade Calgary under the umbrella of Engineers Without Borders Calgary Section.  She also sits on the Executive Board of the Canadian Fair Trade Network (CFTN) as an Alberta representative and the President since 2019.  To find out more about the Calgary Fair Trade Town campaign and activities, visit www.fairtradecalgary.com and about the CFTN at www.cftn.ca. Erin was drawn to the ethical fashion arena due to the depressing lack of ethical choices currently in Canadian retailers. Erin wants to help bring awareness of human rights and environmental issues in the fashion industry to Calgarians during Fashion Revolution Week.

Mary has volunteered with YYC Fashion Revolution Week since 2018. She has a strong interest in social justice issues, and as a concerned consumer discovered Fashion Revolution when she was on the hunt for more ethical clothing options. She is excited to continue to help plan events to continue the discussion and encourage action towards positive change.

I am a fashion designer with vast experience in pattern making and sewing. Growing up my family owned a fabric store, I was surrounded by fabrics and sewing classes. I sewed my first pants when I was 9 years old. I moved to Canada in 2001 and joined Fashion Revolution in 2018 after I learned about the negative impact fast fashion is having on people's health and the planet. I wanted to learn more about the problem and be part of the solution. Sharing my knowledge and my love for sewing I decided to be a conscious consumer, to teach sewing skills and offer alterations through my business.