The Mission at Hand
The ReThread Project was born out of love of a craft, of design, making/procuring and story telling. The garment district houses many of these legacy small businesses that have catered to our industry along the fashion industry. Working in tandem with the two creative sectors, an opportunity presented itself through the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX) to help secure the future of our collective industries that cater to almost every piece of clothing that you see, from the stage, screen, runway or on the very streets of the city we call home.
The Opportunity
With the historic wins for the maker/arts/fashion community inside the MSMX plan the city is investing in what makes NYC a cultural hub. We need to think boldly to help centralize our legacy community of makers, vendors and other stakeholders who have made New York City the cultural hub and economic driver that it is. This is a special moment in time to help make lasting investments that will ensure small business, artists and those workers have a home inside the garment district.
Alongside plans that are working to reimagine the areas surrounding the garment district along 8th Aveenue, we are at a moment when the city is looking for new ways to reinvigorate the garment district. We can be leaders in a new way to imagine the creative maker space, keeping it centered in the heart of Manhattan where it should have always been.
Founders Note
I started The ReThread Project during the WGA and SAG strikes. As a working costume designer I found myself with unexpected time on my hands. Like all new ventures and ideas I needed to be open to see where it would take me. I knew my goal was to bring more understanding to my chosen field. As the child of a social worker who championed wrap-around services long before it became a standard I understood that to address the problem you had to look at the whole circle. You need the workers to be trained, the business to have open doors and to be able to source the raw materials to be creative.
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While our focus has been on sustaining and growing the costume business it has taken on a new form with the urgency of the MSMX rezoning plan inside New York City and new partnerships formed. The New York Fashion Workforce Development Coalition created a collecting point for fashion, costume, unions and historic preservationists to come together for the fight to help create a sustained home inside the garment district. Working alongside Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers our group inundated their offices to show the city this very active industry. We achieved the goal and a carve out was achieved inside the historic district allowing for new investments into the tried and true craft. We have long held the belief that small artisan businesses can and will continue to thrive if given the opportunity to flourish.
- Carisa Kelly
Board of Directors & Advisory Team
Our Board of Directors and Advisory team brings together leaders from across the creative, academic, and nonprofit communities who share a commitment to preserving and advancing our mission. Their insight, experience, and vision help guide our work and ensure that our programs remain impactful, relevant, and true to our values.
Founder, Exectuve Director & Board Member
Carisa Kelly’s work has been seen internationally on stage and screen. She has worked on Broadway with legendary Tony award winning designer Martin Pakledinaz, and her film credits include Don’t Think Twice (Mike Birbiglia), Late Fame & Diane ( Kent Jones), and Goodnight Mommy (Matt Sobel) One of her favorite places she has worked is 52nd Street Project, where she helps bring plays written by kids to life fulfilling her dream of inspiring the next generation.
Board Member
Sally Ann Parsons and her husband James Meares founded Parsons-Meares in 1980. Working at first out of an abandoned school building, the business grew to become one of the premier costume shops in New York City. Awards include a Tony Honor (first ever costume maker) and TDF’s Irene Sharaff Artisan Award.
Board Member
Kent Jones
IMDB
Kent Jones is an internationally recognized filmmaker and writer. His most recent film is the universally acclaimed Diane (2019). He is the author of multiple books on cinema and he has written for publications throughout the world. From 2013 to 2019, he served as director of The New York Film Festival. In 2015 he was made a Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Government.
Board Member
Tessa Maffucci is a teacher, researcher and organizer advocating for ethical fashion economies. She teaches fashion history and theory focusing on the intersections of fashion and labor, with an emphasis on sustainability, technology and material culture. She has taught at Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute, where she is currently the Assistant Chair of the Fashion Department. She coordinates the New York Fashion Workforce Development Coalition (NYFWDC), an advocacy collaborative of New York’s fashion community, including manufacturers and designers in the Garment District. Tessa is a recipient of the Made in NYC Fellowship and has written for publications including Architectural Digest, Bloomsbury Fashion and The Fashion Studies Journal.
Board Member
& Creative Director
Tony Frenzel
LinkedIn | TF*Creative
Tony Frenzel is a seasoned and versatile creative director with over three decades of experience in brand building, creative direction, visual design, marketing strategy, and content creation. He supports the ReThread Project's mission through strategic branding, messaging and marketing development. His career has spanned diverse industries, including B2C, B2B, e-commerce, and entertainment. His proven track record demonstrates his ability to create exceptional brand experiences for both established brands such as Samsung, Allstate, Clorox, Kingsford, GLAD, Brita, Liquid-Plumr, as well as startups and small businesses.
Advisory Team
Lanthy Truong
LinkedIn
Elyse Bendeicto
LinkedIn
