Daily Inspiration: Meet Lisa Goldsand

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Goldsand.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
After 30 years as an executive in the apparel manufacturing world, I founded Circular Thrift—a for-profit social enterprise focused on building community around sustainable fashion.

My mission is to shift consumer behavior from the ground up through hyper-local community clothing exchanges and mending workshops. Circular Thrift also advocates for creative, hands-on solutions to the global textile waste challenge through remanufacturing.

Today, I design and produce zero-waste accessories made entirely from post-consumer textiles, selling them online, at local farmers markets, and at community festivals.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It can sometimes be hard to get people interested in solving the problem of textile waste. It isn’t inherently ‘sexy,’ and people generally don’t like to be told what to do or made to feel guilty about their habits. Learning to tell a compelling story that invites people into the movement—rather than making them feel bad—has been an essential milestone for me.

The fashion ecosystem is incredibly complicated. At times, I’ve struggled to provide people with a simple, clear set of immediate action items. There is so much misinformation about recycling, and unfortunately, corporate brands can confuse consumers with ‘solutions’ that don’t actually address the root issue. Staying engaged and committed to unraveling all of this requires constant resilience and patience.

On a personal level, I’ve needed time to ‘deprogram’ myself regarding what defines success. While profit is vital for sustainability, I frequently remind myself that revenue isn’t the only way to gauge my progress and social impact.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I really love two things: writing about this topic and solving the physical puzzle of waste.

In my writing, I try to bring humor, vulnerability, and a bit of risk-taking. My hope is that my humanness resonates with people and invites them to reexamine their own consumption habits without feeling judged.

When it comes to design, I love the infinite puzzle of turning textile waste into something genuinely cool and covetable. I start by identifying a high-volume waste stream with significant addressable volume, and then I ideate from there. My greatest product success so far has been developing a silk sleep mask from upcycled silk ties—because let’s be honest, so many upcycled tie projects probably shouldn’t exist!

At my core, I’m known for being a ‘doer.’ I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, work through the heat and sweat, or take on complex, long-term challenges. People know that when I commit to something, I stay engaged and see it through.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love how many bike trails connect different neighborhoods in Columbus. I try to travel by bike year-round, weather permitting. This is a bit of a secret magical thing about Columbus. Columbus has changed so much in the 24 years I’ve lived here with my family. I do wish we had a more developed public transportation system. Maybe that will come with time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.circularthrift.org
• Instagram: circularthriftllc
• Facebook: Circular Thrift LLC
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-goldsand/