About us
About Fashioning for Social Environmental Justice
Who We Are
Fashioning for Social Environmental Justice (FSEJ) is a pioneering global movement dedicated to transforming the fashion industry from within. Based in Half Moon Bay, California, we are a collective of designers, educators, artisans, activists, and sustainability experts who believe that fashion has the power to heal — not harm.
Our organization was founded on a simple but urgent belief: that the world cannot achieve justice or sustainability if the clothes we wear are born from exploitation or waste. FSEJ exists to dismantle those systems and replace them with models built on equity, transparency, and environmental stewardship. Through our work, we merge creativity with conscience, offering pathways for communities and brands to embrace ethical practices that nurture both humanity and the planet.
Our Educational and Design Philosophy
At FSEJ, fashion is not just an industry — it is an ecosystem of culture, identity, and impact. Our educational philosophy revolves around the belief that learning and creating should inspire awareness, empathy, and innovation. We teach emerging designers, fashion professionals, and communities to think beyond trends and toward transformation.
Our programs integrate sustainability science, ethics, and design thinking. Students and artisans learn the entire lifecycle of fashion — from fiber cultivation and dyeing to production and post-consumer reuse — with a focus on regenerative design principles. We advocate for materials that restore ecosystems, processes that reduce harm, and practices that empower rather than exploit.
Through our workshops and training initiatives, participants develop a holistic understanding of how fashion intersects with social justice, climate action, and human rights. They leave equipped not just with technical skills but with the consciousness to use design as a force for good.
What Makes Us Different
In a world increasingly dominated by fast fashion and profit-driven production, FSEJ stands apart as a mission-driven organization grounded in compassion and accountability. We go beyond sustainability by advocating for regeneration — not merely reducing harm, but actively healing what has been damaged.
Our approach is collaborative, not competitive. We work with cooperatives, indigenous communities, and ethical brands to co-create solutions that are culturally sensitive and economically fair. Our model places artisans at the center of innovation, valuing traditional craftsmanship as a vital part of global sustainability.
Unlike many organizations that focus solely on consumer awareness, FSEJ engages across the entire fashion value chain — from soil to store, from education to policy reform. We are building a transparent ecosystem where every hand that touches a garment is respected, every voice in production is heard, and every decision is made with environmental and social consciousness.
WHAT WE DO
Our Purpose in Action
At Fashioning for Social Environmental Justice (FSEJ), our work goes beyond garments — it’s about creating systems where design uplifts, production empowers, and fashion heals. We exist to dismantle exploitation and replace it with opportunity, to confront waste with regeneration, and to transform consumption into conscious participation.
Every initiative we undertake reflects our mission: to weave justice and sustainability into every stage of the fashion process. Through our global programs, community partnerships, and educational outreach, we are proving that creativity can be both ethical and revolutionary.
We envision a fashion industry where every person involved — from the farmer who grows the cotton to the artisan who sews the final stitch — is treated with respect, fairness, and dignity. And we’re working tirelessly to make that vision a reality.
Our mission
Stitching Equity into Every Thread
VISION
A Regenerative World Where Fashion Heals
Our vision is a world where fashion no longer exploits but restores — where creativity is inseparable from conscience. FSEJ envisions a future where communities thrive in harmony with nature, and where every maker, from weaver to designer, stands with dignity, empowered by fair systems and regenerative practices.
We see a fashion industry that serves as a global platform for climate action, cultural preservation, and social renewal. In this vision, fashion becomes a language of unity — one that communicates empathy, equality, and environmental respect. Factories evolve into collaborative spaces powered by clean energy; waste transforms into raw material for innovation; and education empowers individuals to lead the next generation of sustainable creators.
VALUES
Integrity, Compassion, and Regeneration
Our work at FSEJ is guided by values that shape our identity and decisions every single day. Integrity drives us to uphold transparency and accountability at every level — from sourcing raw materials to storytelling. We are committed to honesty and fairness, ensuring that every participant in our ecosystem benefits equitably.
Compassion fuels our relationships. We understand that sustainability begins with empathy — for the planet, for workers, and for future generations. Our programs are built around human-centered design, uplifting artisans, protecting traditions, and promoting collective well-being.
Regeneration defines our purpose. We strive to repair what has been broken by industrial exploitation — restoring both ecological systems and human dignity. Through innovative textile research, circular design methods, and advocacy for ethical reform, we lead with the belief that healing the fashion world can help heal the Earth itself.
IMPACT
Threads of Change, Woven Across Communities
The true measure of our success lies not in profits or production but in people — the lives touched, the communities empowered, and the ecosystems revived through our work. At FSEJ, impact is not an afterthought; it is the essence of everything we do.
Our initiatives have supported hundreds of artisans through fair-wage employment and skills development. By implementing regenerative textile programs and zero-waste workshops, we’ve diverted tons of fabric waste from landfills and transformed it into new, market-ready materials. Our community-driven cooperatives give voice and visibility to women, indigenous makers, and refugee artisans who are too often excluded from the global fashion conversation.
OUR TEAM
The People Behind the Movement — Leading with Vision, Heart, and Integrity
At the heart of Fashioning for Social Environmental Justice (FSEJ) is a team of changemakers, designers, educators, and innovators bound by a shared belief: that fashion can be a powerful force for social and environmental good. Together, they bring decades of experience in sustainability, design, research, and advocacy — working collaboratively to turn ethical ideals into actionable global change. Each member contributes not just skills but a deep sense of purpose, ensuring that every initiative, partnership, and product reflects the values of justice, creativity, and regeneration.
Dr. Alina Reyes – Founder & Executive Director
Dr. Alina Reyes founded FSEJ with a vision to bridge fashion innovation with social transformation. With over 20 years of experience in sustainable design and cultural anthropology, she has led international programs empowering women artisans and developing circular textile systems across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Her research on regenerative fashion economies has influenced policy reforms and sustainability curriculums worldwide. Alina believes that fashion is a mirror of humanity — and by changing how we create and consume, we can reshape society itself. Under her leadership, FSEJ has grown from a grassroots initiative into a global movement uniting art, ethics, and empowerment.
Marcus Allen – Director of Ethical Production & Innovation
Marcus Allen oversees FSEJ’s ethical manufacturing and technology innovation programs. With a background in industrial design and material science, he specializes in developing low-impact textiles and waste-to-resource systems for sustainable production. Before joining FSEJ, Marcus worked with several ethical brands and NGOs focused on green manufacturing and fair trade reform. His mission is to prove that innovation and sustainability are not opposites — they are partners in progress. Marcus’s practical yet visionary approach ensures that every product created under FSEJ’s banner honors both craftsmanship and climate responsibility.
Sofia Delgado – Community Empowerment & Partnerships Manager
Sofia Delgado is the connective force between FSEJ and the communities it serves. With experience in social work, fair trade advocacy, and women’s empowerment initiatives, Sofia ensures that local voices shape global impact. She has coordinated cross-continental partnerships, led artisan training programs, and established equitable trade cooperatives that give economic independence to hundreds of women makers. For Sofia, empowerment means more than opportunity — it means representation, dignity, and agency. Her compassionate leadership style and deep understanding of community dynamics make her a cornerstone of FSEJ’s human-centered mission.
Dr. Kenji Mori – Research & Sustainability Lead
An expert in regenerative textile technology and environmental policy, Dr. Kenji Mori leads FSEJ’s research and sustainability division. His work explores innovative ways to reduce fashion’s ecological footprint through bio-based materials, carbon-neutral processes, and circular economy models. Kenji’s research has been featured in global sustainability conferences and peer-reviewed journals, positioning him as a thought leader in ethical fashion science. Beyond his technical brilliance, Kenji’s commitment lies in education — mentoring young designers to think beyond aesthetics and toward planetary well-being. His vision helps FSEJ translate research into real-world regenerative practices.
Our work
Transforming Fashion Systems — One Community, One Creation, One Change at a Time
OUR INITIATIVES
Building Systems of Change — One Stitch, One Story, One Sustainable Step at a Time
At Fashioning for Social Environmental Justice (FSEJ), our initiatives are the lifeblood of our mission. Each program is designed to challenge exploitation, restore environmental balance, and empower communities through creativity and education. We work with artisans, designers, researchers, and activists across the globe to make fashion a regenerative force for both people and the planet. Our initiatives are not isolated projects — they are interconnected movements that inspire systemic change and nurture collective growth.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN LABS
Where Innovation Meets Ethics
Our Sustainable Design Labs are incubators of creativity and responsibility. In these collaborative spaces, we experiment with plant-based dyes, biodegradable fabrics, and circular production models that reduce waste and carbon impact. Designers and artisans learn to integrate traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge sustainable technology, producing textiles that honor heritage while embracing the future.
COMMUNITY WEAVERS NETWORK
Empowering Artisans, Preserving Traditions
The Community Weavers Network is the heart of FSEJ’s social mission. It connects marginalized makers — including women, indigenous artisans, and displaced communities — to fair-trade markets and international design collaborations. Through this network, artisans gain access to training, equitable compensation, and global visibility while maintaining ownership over their creative heritage.
FUTURE FASHION LEADERS FELLOWSHIP
Educating the Next Generation of Ethical Innovators
Our Future Fashion Leaders Fellowship is an intensive mentorship program that cultivates designers, entrepreneurs, and advocates committed to social and environmental justice. Over the course of a year, participants engage in workshops, field immersion, and collaborative design challenges focused on sustainability, equity, and innovation.
Testimonials
Real Stories. Real Change. Woven Together Through Justice and Creativity.
Lucía Hernández — Artisan, Oaxaca, Mexico
Before joining FSEJ’s Community Weavers Network, Lucía struggled to find consistent income despite her mastery of traditional weaving. Local markets were saturated with cheap synthetic imports, leaving little space for authentic, handmade textiles.
When FSEJ began collaborating with her community, everything changed. Lucía and her fellow artisans received training in natural dyeing, sustainable material sourcing, and online selling. Their artistry found global recognition — but more importantly, they gained agency and respect.
“Through FSEJ, our traditions have been valued again. We now sell directly to customers who appreciate the meaning behind our work. For the first time, I can support my family through weaving — not by abandoning it.”
Ethan Kim — Sustainable Fashion Designer, Los Angeles, USA
Ethan joined FSEJ’s Future Fashion Leaders Fellowship in 2023 after years of working in the commercial fashion industry. Disillusioned by the waste and exploitation he witnessed, he sought a new path — one that aligned creativity with conscience.
During the fellowship, Ethan collaborated with artisans in Kenya to co-create a zero-waste fashion line using regenerated fabrics and plant-based dyes. The experience redefined his understanding of success.
“FSEJ taught me that fashion doesn’t have to harm to be beautiful. It can uplift, restore, and tell the truth. My work now feels purposeful, connected, and alive.”
Maria Gonzales — FSEJ Volunteer, California, USA
Maria discovered FSEJ while studying environmental design. As a volunteer, she assisted in documenting artisan stories for an exhibition on sustainable fashion and global justice.
“Working with FSEJ made me realize that sustainability is not just about recycling or materials — it’s about people. It’s about recognizing humanity in every step of production.”
Our volunteer
Empathy in Action — Volunteers Who Transform Fashion and Lives
VOLUNTEER ROLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS
FSEJ offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities designed to match different skills, experiences, and passions:
Event Coordination and Community Outreach
From exhibitions to fundraising campaigns, volunteers play an essential role in planning, coordinating, and executing events. Their efforts amplify our mission, connecting communities, stakeholders, and global audiences to our work.
Educational and Workshop Assistance
Volunteers assist in organizing and facilitating workshops for students, designers, and community members. These sessions cover sustainable design, regenerative textile practices, and ethical supply chain management, giving participants practical tools to create change in their own contexts.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Joining FSEJ as a volunteer is simple and rewarding. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds — designers, students, educators, environmentalists, and advocates.
Visit our website and submit a volunteer application.
Specify your skills, interests, and preferred program areas.
Participate in orientation sessions to understand our mission and approach.
Engage in projects, workshops, and community initiatives — in person or remotely.
Every contribution, no matter the size, strengthens our global network of changemakers. Volunteers help us bridge gaps, create opportunities, and amplify the impact of ethical fashion worldwide.
WHY VOLUNTEER WITH FSEJ?
Volunteering with FSEJ is more than an opportunity to give back — it’s a chance to grow personally, professionally, and ethically. Volunteers gain:
Practical experience in sustainable and ethical fashion practices
Hands-on training in community development and artisan empowerment
Exposure to global supply chains and regenerative textile innovations
A meaningful connection to communities transforming their lives through fashion
Volunteers become ambassadors of our mission, carrying forward lessons learned into their careers, communities, and personal choices.
Contact us
Let’s Connect, Collaborate, and Create Change Together
At Fashioning for Social Environmental Justice (FSEJ), we believe that every conversation is an opportunity to grow, collaborate, and advance our mission of ethical, regenerative fashion. Whether you are an artisan seeking guidance, a designer exploring sustainable practices, a volunteer looking to make an impact, or simply someone inspired by our vision, we welcome you to reach out. Every inquiry helps us expand our network of changemakers and brings us closer to building a fashion industry rooted in justice, creativity, and care.
GET INVOLVED
Your Voice and Action Matter
Contacting FSEJ is the first step toward joining a global movement that blends creativity, justice, and sustainability. You can reach out to:
- Explore volunteering opportunities with our artisans and programs
- Partner with us for sustainable design and community empowerment projects
- Collaborate on research, advocacy, and educational initiatives
- Learn more about our events, workshops, and fellowships
Every conversation helps us expand the reach of ethical fashion and amplify the voices of artisans and communities worldwide.