Our Team
Executive Director
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As Executive Director, Kate is responsible for Ragfinery’s commitment to our mission, fundraising, staff leadership and our vision for our future. Kate grew up in rural eastern Washington, received a Bachelors of Science from Jacksonville University with a concentration in Sociology and Studio Arts. After some years in Florida and Puerto Rico Kate moved to Bellingham to pursue a career in non-profit work. 8 years of direct service with unhoused folks later, Kate began her time at Ragfinery as the Program Manager in 2019 and as the Executive Director beginning in 2021.
Kate’s favorite part of Ragfinery is watching strangers give each other advice on how to best to use materials for what they’re working on. When not at Ragfinery, Kate can be found with her kiddo in a cuddle puddle with their basset hound, working on projects at home or enjoying her free time with friends.
Retail Manager
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As Retail Manager, Arora oversees all of the hubbub in the shop! Arora is the go-to person for our staff and in-store volunteers, and stewards the way for thousands of pounds of donations being processed, identified, priced, and displayed. Arora grew up in southern California, where growing up on a low income necessitated a “mend and make do” motto that led to lots of creative clothing repairs as well as a love for thrifting. Arora moved to Bellingham in 2022, and found a passion for working with secondhand items in a non-profit setting before becoming Retail Manager of Ragfinery in 2023. When Arora is not at work, she can be found hiking with her husband, gardening at home, and finding creative ways to give life to well loved garments.
Program Manager
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Raised in Upstate New York, hailing originally from the Bay Area, Emma has spent much of her life ping ponging between coasts, taking inspiration and experience from the various slices of life and culture to which she was exposed. She attended the University of Vermont, graduating with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Sociology. Her time spent there highlighted by her extensive research and advocacy for textile sustainability and waste system reform. Post-graduation, Emma made the move back west to Bellingham, quickly discovering the magic of Ragfinery.
As Program Manager, Emma creates and manages (social) media content, and facilitates outreach by planning and coordinating events focused on hands-on garment mending & fashion sustainability education. Trying on many hats learning new forms of art and creation in tandem.
In her short time in Bellingham, she’s learned that all roads seem to lead to Ragfinery, and she loves this strong-knit community and its endless inspiration that has become an integral part of her new home. When out of the office, Emma loves to spend time outside, host art hangs with friends, and smother her kitty, Mako, with love.
Textile Specialist
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Ragfinery’s Assistant Store Manager Charlie can often be found in the shop’s processing room, noodling on new ideas with staff and volunteers, or elbow-deep in a pile of donations. They grew up in western Washington, filling up sketchbooks and borrowing thread from their mom’s sewing room. Their love for reading carried them towards a job in bookselling in 2019, but they felt a pull to do work in the arts that could help reduce rather than create waste. They left the world of books and started their job at Ragfinery in the summer of 2024. In their free time, they love to fall down research rabbit holes on historical fashion and music production, paint, play video games with their partner, and spend time with close friends.
Their favorite thing about Ragfinery is the way it serves as a collaborative creative space and endless well of inspiration!
Textile Specialist
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Born in northern Ohio, Hunter came to Bellingham in April of 2019. A self-proclaimed “grumpy, bike commuting, vegan,” Hunter has a background in film, permaculture, and off-grid homesteading. His favorite crafts are mending, sashiko and the application of patches and fun fabric on garments. His favorite things about Ragfinery are getting to see all of the fun projects people wear into the store, hearing about what they are working on, and getting exposed to the wealth of information that circulates within the shop.
Textile Specialist
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Hopper grew up in Southeast Tennessee and later relocated to Bellingham to pursue their undergraduate education in psychology. Hopper recently graduated from University of Oregon with their masters in translational neuroscience, having spent much of the last two years researching effective methods to reduce trans youth suicide. Hopper is passionate about reducing resource disparities for people and refugees, having spent time overseas aiding the refugee crisis, as well as working closely with actively unhoused populations stateside. They have a deep appreciation for the opportunity to continue educating the public about issues that impact public health, including the textile waste crisis and how it affects the global population. As a textile specialist for Ragfinery, Hopper loves to problem solve with customers about what supplies or techniques to use when approaching their projects, including sitting with customers to draw out plans for complicated cosplay pieces, or suggesting potential creative alternatives when the exact right supplies haven’t come through the store that week.
Hopper’s favorite thing about Ragfinery is the constant inspiration from customers, materials, and coworkers alike. In their free time, Hopper likes to make fun hats, patches, and costumes, upcycle clothing, and daydream about what themes their fashion expression can take on this week.
Textile Specialist
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SK grew up amidst the lakes and apple orchards of eastern WA in a family of insatiably creative humans which established their lifelong love of both nature and art.
SK's current textile endeavours are primarily quilting and crochet. That said, they have dabbled in weaving and embroidery (among other things), and are now a beginner knitter and wool spinner as well. Basically, they are a craft goblin. They used to volunteer as a mender at the old location and are delighted to now be on board as staff. Hearing about people's projects made from unlikely materials and remnants is one of their favourite things about the job!
When not at Ragfinery or creating, SK can be found tending plants, petting friends' cats, enjoying local theatre, reading, frolicking on trails, watching Star Trek, and playing D&D.