About the Founder: Annika Mehta
I am Annika Mehta, a student at Haileybury School in the United Kingdom, originally from Mumbai, India. I am deeply passionate about sustainability, the circular economy, and creating meaningful social impact through community-led initiatives. Although I study in the UK, my family's roots are in Bharuch, Gujarat. Inspired by my late grandmother's commitment to the local community, I founded Threads of Change to continue her legacy while giving back to my hometown.

Threads of Change is a circular economy initiative that transforms discarded textiles into handcrafted products such as quilts, bags, and other reusable items. By partnering with local women artisans and reviving the traditional Sujhni embroidery craft, the project reduces textile waste while preserving an important cultural heritage and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Since launching the initiative, we have recycled more than 5,000 kilograms of textile waste, preventing valuable materials from ending up in landfills and giving them a second life. The project has also positively impacted close to 100 women artisans by creating opportunities to earn supplemental income through upcycling and handicraft production. Beyond this, I have worked to raise awareness about sustainable consumption and the circular economy through community engagement and educational outreach, encouraging students, families, and local communities to rethink waste and embrace more responsible lifestyles.

Through Threads of Change, I hope to show that sustainability is about much more than protecting the environment—it is about empowering communities, preserving cultural traditions, and proving that small, thoughtful actions can create lasting social and environmental change. My goal is to inspire more young people to become changemakers and contribute to a more sustainable future.