About Us
People
Continuum Textiles is the natural outcome of the passion and drive of the people who are part of it.
Anne Gillespie – co-founder
“ Everyone has the potential to make a positive change in this world. It doesn’t matter what or how big it is, the point is to make it.”
............................................................................................. Anne Gillespie
Anne’s passion for the outdoors has been a key factor in her desire to play a role in reducing the impact that humans have on the planet. Her experiences skiing, cycling, rock climbing, mountaineering and paddling in some of Canada’s most remote and beautiful wilderness areas, give her continual inspiration.
After graduating from business school, Anne split her time between travel, tree -planting, and working for environmental non-profits for several years, before starting to work in specialty outdoor retail. After working for a couple of retailers, she was hired as a product manager by Mountain Equipment Co-op, Canada’s largest specialty outdoor retailer. The fit was a good one: Anne stayed there for 10 years, participating in the development of the company’s Social and Environmental Responsibility strategy, and successfully converting the cotton clothing to organic.
As she learned more about organic cotton, Anne realized that this was a way for her to maximize her positive impact on industry. After leaving MEC, she founded Agility Consulting, which focused on helping companies increase their use of organic cotton and sustainable fibers. She was on the Board of Directors of the Organic Trade Association, was one of the original players in the Organic Exchange, where she now serves on the Board.
While starting Agility, she was also helping Stuart develop the i-merino brand. As she became more involved, she realized that it was one of a number of ways to move industry towards greater sustainability, and the idea for Continuum Textiles was formed.
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