If you had told me years ago that I'd end up building a sewing app, running a fabric reuse centre, and spending my days thinking about deadstock and stash organization, I probably would've laughed. But here we are and in hindsight, it feels like exactly where I was meant to be.
I’ve always been a systems thinker. I like solving problems that shouldn’t exist. Early on, I found myself immersed in Vancouver’s creative scene, organizing clothing repair events and building community around sustainability. That’s when I started noticing how much textile waste – rolls of deadstock fabric, perfectly usable off-cuts, notions still in the box – was being thrown out by local manufacturers. At the same time, makers were scrambling to find affordable, interesting materials. So I thought: why not connect the two?
That’s how FABCYCLE was born. It’s a textile waste diversion initiative and retail (-ish) space where we collect unwanted fabrics and sewing notions – mostly deadstock and off-cuts – and make them accessible to creators who will actually use them. From fashion students and cosplayers to drag artists and zero-waste designers, FABCYCLE became a resource and a hub. It gave materials a second life and helped build a creative, resourceful, and low-waste community around it.
Enter Sewjo – short for sewing mojo – the app I wish I had when I started sewing. It’s more than a just an app. It’s a visual, intuitive space that lets you organize your fabric, patterns, tools, inspiration, and project ideas. It helps you match what you already have to what you actually want to make. It’s like having your sewing room in your pocket, without the piles of mystery fabric and the forgotten notions hiding at the back of your shelf.
But more than that, Sewjo is a love letter to the sewing community. It’s the digital solution to a very physical, very human problem: feeling disconnected from our own creativity. Everything I’ve learned – from fabric waste systems to community building to designing tools that support real people, I’ve poured into this app. Sewjo is built with heart and purpose, and it’s the thing I’ve been waiting to make for years. And if you're a maker, it's the app you've probably been waiting for too.
How and when did you first conceive the idea for Fabcycle? How long did it take from idea to launch, and what roadblocks did you hit along the way?
FABCYCLE started in 2017, but the idea took root much earlier. I was running local fix-it events with Frameworq and kept seeing this disconnect: manufacturers didn’t know what to do with their off-cuts and deadstock fabric, and makers couldn’t find affordable materials. I realized I was standing in the middle of a supply chain problem that had broken in both directions. That’s when I knew: this needed fixing. I started picking up leftover fabric: deadstock rolls, bolt ends, oddly shaped off-cuts and finding ways to get them into the hands of the people who needed them most. It was a bit experimental in the beginning, but the demand was so strong and immediate that it picked up fast.
In 2019, we launched the FABCYCLE Textile ReUSE Centre – a physical space where people could explore everything from zippers and trims to incredible deadstock fabrics from local manufacturers and even film sets. It quickly became a hub for everyone from fashion students to fibre artists to drag performers. Of course, it wasn’t smooth sailing. Logistics were tricky, managing the flow of materials, creating systems for sorting, figuring out how to make the space feel inviting and inspiring. But I had help. Erin Gravelle, who is now our operations and studio manager, was instrumental in shaping the flow of the space. Her eye for detail, calm problem-solving, and deep care for the mission helped us create something that feels welcoming and thoughtful. And honestly, FABCYCLE wouldn’t be what it is today without her.
So yes – FABCYCLE was the foundation. It showed me what’s possible when you match sustainability with creativity and community. And it was the stepping stone to building Sewjo.
I know sustainability is a passion for you. How did that focus develop and how do you work to incorporate sustainability in your business?
I didn’t set out thinking “I’m going to build a sustainable business.” It actually started from seeing a very specific problem up close: massive amounts of beautiful, unused fabric being tossed out. Perfectly good material—entire rolls of deadstock, bolt ends, off-cuts—going straight into the landfill because there wasn’t an easy way to get them into the hands of people who would use them.
FABCYCLE started in 2017, but the idea took root much earlier. I was running local fix-it events with Frameworq and kept seeing this disconnect: manufacturers didn’t know what to do with their off-cuts and deadstock fabric, and makers couldn’t find affordable materials. I realized I was standing in the middle of a supply chain problem that had broken in both directions. That’s when I knew: this needed fixing. I started picking up leftover fabric: deadstock rolls, bolt ends, oddly shaped off-cuts and finding ways to get them into the hands of the people who needed them most. It was a bit experimental in the beginning, but the demand was so strong and immediate that it picked up fast.
So yes – FABCYCLE was the foundation. It showed me what’s possible when you match sustainability with creativity and community. And it was the stepping stone to building Sewjo.
I know sustainability is a passion for you. How did that focus develop and how do you work to incorporate sustainability in your business?
I didn’t set out thinking “I’m going to build a sustainable business.” It actually started from seeing a very specific problem up close: massive amounts of beautiful, unused fabric being tossed out. Perfectly good material—entire rolls of deadstock, bolt ends, off-cuts—going straight into the landfill because there wasn’t an easy way to get them into the hands of people who would use them.
That disconnect lit a fire in me. I couldn’t unsee it. And once you see waste not as a byproduct but as a design flaw, you can’t help but start solving for it. That’s how FABCYCLE began—by building a system that reclaims “waste” and redirects it to makers, students, artists, and designers. It’s not just about reducing waste; it’s about transforming how we think about materials and consumption in the first place. I wanted to show that sustainability doesn’t have to be a sacrifice, it can be intentional, creative, and deeply practical.
Sewjo is here to change that. It helps you reconnect with your stash, match it to your plans, and turn inspiration into action. It’s not about guilt—it’s about making it joyful and easy to use what you already have. Otherwise? It ends up at FABCYCLE (said with love). Or worse, it ends up in the garbage, or in bins in your garage, collecting dust and regret. I’m trying to stop that cycle—one stash at a time.
For me, sustainability isn’t a marketing angle or a mission statement—it’s just how things should work. You design systems that respect resources, value people’s time and energy, and make the most of what’s already here. Everything I build, from Frameworq to FABCYCLE to Sewjo, tries to honour that.
What about entrepreneurship comes easy for you? What is the most challenging? Can you share a high moment?
For me, the moments when entrepreneurship feels “easy” are those times when I’m in a state of flow. I wouldn’t say any aspect is truly easy – it’s a lot of hard work – but I absolutely love that feeling when I’m deeply immersed in a project I care about. When I have a clear vision or I’m super excited about a new idea, it feels almost effortless because I’m so energized. It’s like being in the zone: ideas click, solutions appear, and hours go by in what feels like minutes.
The most challenging part, on the other hand, is definitely riding out the extreme highs and lows that come with the entrepreneurial journey. There are days of incredible highs – like receiving recognition or a grant, or just seeing a huge turnout at an event – and then there are days when nothing seems to go right. Being a social entrepreneur especially can be a rollercoaster. One week, I’m celebrating because we diverted a record amount of fabric from the landfill or we got a 5 star review; the next week, I’m losing sleep over finances or a sudden operational crisis. The swings can be intense. In the low moments, it can feel very lonely and daunting – like when the economy slowed and small businesses everywhere were struggling.
We had some scary moments wondering if we could keep the lights on. I’ve had days where I questioned, “Why am I doing this again?” But then I remember the why – the community, the impact – and that keeps me going. It also helps to know this turbulence is normal. Every entrepreneur goes through it, and I’ve learned to weather those storms better over time. Still, I won’t sugarcoat it: the stress is real and balancing everything can be tough. I’ve become much more resilient and resourceful because I had to adapt to constant change.
I am so excited about this! Aug. 14 will be the official launch party for Sewjo, which is my new venture. Sewjo is a mobile app that I’ve been developing since last year – I’m the founder and CEO of the app. The idea behind Sewjo came from recognizing a need in the sewing and DIY community. There are over 30 million hobby sewists, cosplayers, and makers in North America alone, yet many of us have been cobbling together Pinterest boards, Excel spreadsheets, and scattered notebooks to keep track of our projects and supplies. It’s pretty inefficient and doesn’t really capture the creative spark of what we do. I kept hearing from customers and fellow makers how they’d buy fabric they already had at home (because they forgot), or how they wished they had an easy way to see their “stash” when they’re out shopping for a pattern. That clicked for me.
The core idea is to help you organize and celebrate everything about your sewing life. For example, the app has a “digital stash” feature where you can easily catalog your fabric, your patterns, and even your tools, complete with photos and details. This means you’ll always know what you have on hand, right from your phone. We like to say it’s like having your sewing room in your pocket. So if you’re at the fabric store, you can quickly check the app to avoid buying a second fabric bundle of that same blue cotton you already have.
Sewjo also aims to inspire you – there are community challenges, fun quizzes, and we’re building a social aspect so you can share projects and get ideas (kind of like Ravelry, but for sewing. Ultimately, Sewjo helps makers “rediscover joy in what you already have” and feel more connected to their craft. I’m beyond proud of it and can’t wait to see people using it in the wild.
Now, Frocktails is the name of our launch party for Sewjo, and it’s going to be so much fun. We wanted to do something more imaginative than a typical tech launch. Since this app is all about celebrating makers, we thought, let’s throw a party for the makers! Frocktails is essentially a handmade fashion cocktail party. We’re inviting attendees to dress up in something they made themselves – it could be a fabulous dress, a cosplay costume, a upcycled jacket, anything as long as it’s your creation. The whole vibe is very inclusive and celebratory.
The event is at OpenRoad Hyundai in Richmond, powered by the community grant of the kindly “Road to 25” community initiative. It may seem unusual to host a fashion party at a car dealership, but the venue is huge and they’ve been transforming it for community events, so it actually works great. What can attendees look forward to? A lot! First, a wonderful crowd – we’re bringing together sewists, cosplayers, fashion designers, quilters, basically makers of all kinds. It’s a chance to meet people who are just as passionate about creating as you are.
There’s going to be music, yummy appetizers and drinks (your ticket includes a drink) to give it that celebratory feel. We’ll have an artist showcase featuring some incredible work from local creators – think mini-exhibition of cool handmade outfits and art pieces for inspiration. We’ll definitely do some fun interactive things: a photobooth so you and your friends can take snaps in your outfits, and yes, there will be door prizes! We have some awesome sewing-themed prizes and fabric bundles to give away from local fabric and pattern shops and goodie bags for everyone so attendees will go home with goodies. You can get tix HERE!
There’s going to be music, yummy appetizers and drinks (your ticket includes a drink) to give it that celebratory feel. We’ll have an artist showcase featuring some incredible work from local creators – think mini-exhibition of cool handmade outfits and art pieces for inspiration. We’ll definitely do some fun interactive things: a photobooth so you and your friends can take snaps in your outfits, and yes, there will be door prizes! We have some awesome sewing-themed prizes and fabric bundles to give away from local fabric and pattern shops and goodie bags for everyone so attendees will go home with goodies. You can get tix HERE!
The FABCYCLE Documentary: Unwanted Roll
And of course, a highlight of the night will be giving everyone a first-hand look at the Sewjo app. We’ll have a demo station where people can try the app on iPads, and I’ll be doing a brief introduction speech to officially launch it. But I promise to keep the “speechifying” short – this is mainly a party, not a conference. If you’re in Metro Vancouver on Aug 14, you should definitely come by. It’s going to be a memorable evening – a true celebration of things made by hand and the people who make them.
It seems like you have a lot of different things going on, and each has a wide social media presence. How do you keep on top of the varied demands from all your businesses? And how do you keep all those social media accounts active?
One thing I care a lot about is building an environment where creativity and clarity coexist. I like systems that support people – whether that’s in our project management tools, our communication structure, or how we show up on social. Social media for us isn’t just marketing – it’s part of how we celebrate our community and invite others into what we’re building. Whether it’s highlighting a maker using Fabcycle fabric, sharing behind-the-scenes at Sewjo, or showcasing a moment from one of our events, we use social media to stay connected. It’s about storytelling, not just broadcasting. And our team makes it possible to do that with intention and warmth.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
The launch of Sewjo feels like more than just an app going live – it feels like a milestone for everything we’ve been building over the past few years. FABCYCLE created the physical space, and Sewjo is creating the digital one. It’s about giving makers tools that support how they think, feel, and work.
I’m incredibly grateful for the community that has grown around these initiatives. Everything I do, whether it’s FABCYCLE or Sewjo, comes back to the people who support and inspire it. There’s a saying that “it takes a village,” and I have found that to be absolutely true. My “village” of supporters, customers, volunteers, and fellow makers is the heart of these projects. So a big thank you to everyone reading this who’s been part of the journey in any way.
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