New York City’s Sustainable Fashion Mentor: Andrea Reyes Builds Community to Champion a More Sustainable Future
This year’s New Yorkers for New York campaign is recognizing exceptional individuals making a difference in our city, and Andrea Reyes, Executive Director of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition, is a shining example.
For Andrea, fair trade and sustainability are more than just buzzwords; they're guiding principles that fuel her work. As the head of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition, a CitizensNYC grantee partner, she fosters a unique space for community members, businesses, students, and advocates to connect, learn, and collaborate.
Andrea became Chair of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition in 2016, and under her leadership the organization has blossomed into a vibrant hub for the city's conscious consumer community. In 2021, she launched the Sustainable Fashion Community Center (SFCC) in East Harlem, which offers a welcoming space for clothing swaps, fair trade shopping, and educational workshops.
Sustainable Fashion Community Center in East Harlem
The SFCC provides a way to connect her expertise and advocacy work with community engagement and impact. By offering clothing swaps and fair-trade shopping, the SFCC "democratizes fashion," making sustainable options accessible to everyone regardless of economic background. This focus on inclusivity extends beyond affordability. The center has become a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, ages, and identities – "from local abuelas to LGBTQ+ community members to tourists to recently arrived immigrant families." This environment fosters a sense of belonging and connection, transforming the center from a store into a hub for community engagement. In 2023, the SFCC not only diverted a staggering 25,000 pounds of clothing from landfills, but more importantly, it has built a strong community where shoppers feel like neighbors, not just customers.
CitizensNYC’s Partnership – From Vision to Impact:
Andrea shared that CitizensNYC has been there throughout the journey of creating and expanding the Sustainable Fashion Community Center, helping the initiative get to the next level at critical points in its trajectory. For her, the process of writing a CitizensNYC grant has provided a valuable “think session” for herself and her team. It provided a dedicated space to step back and reassess how the SFCC aligned with the broader sustainable fashion movement.
In 2023, CitizensNYC's support funded a fellowship program. This program, Andrea emphasized, proved to be a game-changer. It brought in passionate individuals who emerged as leaders, now "running the show" at the Community Center. Their ownership of daily operations freed up Andrea’s time to focus on bigger goals, forging partnerships, and expanding the reach of the SFCC.
Andrea and team at SFCC’s pop-up shop in Times Square
Andrea encourages anyone with a passion project to consider applying for a CitizensNYC grant, because for her the application was an important step towards turning a vision into a reality. "So many people have great ideas," she shared, "and CitizensNYC can help bring them to light." At a recent convening of CitizensNYC partners, she also reflected on the power of community leaders coming together to share the abundance of resources, expertise, and opportunities that they collectively contribute.
An Educator Within and Beyond the Classroom:
Andrea is also an educator – in every sense of the word.
She has taught at renowned institutions like Pace University, Kent State, and FIT, and currently inspires future generations at LIM College. Her published work includes "Apparel Costing" and her doctoral studies focusing on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) policies within the fashion industry.
Andrea during an interview with News12 at the Sustainable Fashion Community Center
Beyond the academic realm, she is educating neighbors who come to the SFCC. She is teaching corporate partners who come to volunteer and organize donated clothing. She is sharing with students and SFCC fellows what it means to be community organizers and leaders.
In addition, through her sustainable fashion mentorship firm, A. Bernadette, she empowers businesses to integrate sustainable practices into their operations, guiding them on the path towards responsible and ethical production.
Andrea's tireless efforts to promote sustainable fashion at the community level have already made a significant impact, and her leadership is paving the way for a more sustainable and ethical future. CitizensNYC is proud to recognize Andrea as one of our 2024 New Yorkers for New York.
Take Action and Get Involved
Andrea emphasizes that no one can “be sustainable”, so she focuses on helping everyone she interacts with start taking actions that are more sustainable than they were before.
Over the next two weeks, you can support The NYC Fair Trade Coalition’s efforts in collecting prom attire for W Girls NYC. Bring your evening gowns, bridesmaids dresses, and formal wear to The Sustainable Fashion Community Center from March 18th to March 31st and swap one for one in The Swap. They are also collecting formal shoes, purses, and accessories. Let's not forget our suit wearing friends! Bring a matching jacket and pants and swap for 2 items! Thanks for supporting and helping make his prom season special for our friends at W Girls NYC! Find more information here.
Andrea also recently partnered in a bottle collection and reuse project with renowned artist Benjamin Van Wong. Andrea offered free clothing items at the Sustainable Fashion Community Center in exchange for donations of bottles that are not typically recyclable, which Van Wong is transforming into a beautiful art installation that will debut on the High Line on April 2 as part of Earth Month.
Andrea and Benjamin with the donated bottles that will become an art installation