Exploring Life & Business with Kimberly Lau & Linda Young of Project ReWear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Lau & Linda Young.

Hi Kimberly Lau &, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We come to Project ReWear from very different backgrounds, which is a big part of what makes our partnership work.

Kim started her career in wealth management, building a strong foundation in strategy and operations, while Linda spent over 20 years in retail management and global brand development. After stepping away from corporate retail, Linda began volunteering at a nonprofit thrift store in 2017 and eventually became Board President in 2020. That experience gave her a firsthand look at both the impact of secondhand – and the inefficiencies within traditional donation systems.

Around the same time, we were both becoming more aware of the impact of fast fashion – not just environmentally, but in how it’s changed the way people value clothing. It felt like there had to be a more thoughtful way to approach consumption.
Project ReWear came from that shared realization. We didn’t want to open another resale store – we wanted to rethink how clothing moves through its lifecycle and make secondhand feel easy, accessible, and something people actually want to participate in.

We opened in December 2024, and since then it’s been a constant process of building and learning in real time. Seeing the community show up, donate, shop, and re-engage with the mission has been the most rewarding part – and what keeps us going.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road – and honestly, we didn’t expect it to be.

We’re building something that doesn’t follow a traditional model. There isn’t a clear playbook for combining resale, donation systems, and community redistribution into one cohesive business, so much of what we’ve done has been through trial and error. From pricing to inventory flow to how we manage donations, we’ve had to learn quickly and adapt in real time.

One of the biggest challenges has been shifting mindset. People are used to convenience and fast fashion, so helping customers rethink how they shop, donate, and value clothing takes time. It’s not just about selling secondhand – it’s about changing behavior, even in small ways.

There have definitely been moments where things didn’t go as planned, or where we had to pause and rethink systems entirely. But those moments have also been the most valuable – they’ve pushed us to stay flexible and continuously refine what we’re building.

We’ve been impressed with Project ReWear, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Project ReWear is a circular fashion business built around one core idea: keeping clothing in use for as long as possible.
At the center of what we’ve built is -a closed-loop system where clothing is donated, resold, worn, and returned again, extending its lifecycle as many times as possible.

What truly sets us apart is that we don’t just participate in circular fashion – we track it and make it visible.

Every item donated is weighed, and every item sold is weighed at the time of purchase. This allows customers to see, in real time, exactly how much textile waste they’re helping keep out of landfills. It turns something that usually feels abstract – like sustainability – into something tangible and measurable.

We’ve intentionally designed pathways for every item that comes through our system. Clothing may move into our in-store boutique, our quarterly WEARhouse sales, or be redistributed locally through nonprofit partners. Items that are no longer wearable are set aside for future upcycling or recycling.

Our goal is simple: reduce textile waste and ensure almost nothing goes to waste.

We also prioritize accessibility. Our in-store pricing, online shop, and warehouse sales are designed to meet people at different price points, and our Community Rack provides free clothing to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship in a way that feels dignified and integrated into the overall experience.

What we’re most proud of is that we’ve built something people can actively participate in. Customers don’t just shop or donate – they become part of a system where their actions have visible impact.

At the end of the day, we’re not just running a resale store – we’re working to change how people think about clothing and show that small, everyday choices can add up to something meaningful.

How do you think about luck?
We both see “luck” a little differently now than we used to.

There are moments that feel like luck – meeting the right people at the right time, or seeing the community show up in ways we couldn’t have predicted. Opening our doors without knowing exactly how it would be received and experiencing the response we’ve had has definitely felt like a bit of good luck.

At the same time, a lot of what looks like luck is really preparation meeting opportunity. Our combined backgrounds gave us the foundation to act when the timing felt right.

There have also been moments that felt like “bad luck” – things not going as planned, operational challenges, inventory issues—but those have often pushed us to build something stronger or think differently.

So yes, luck has played a role – but it’s been just as much about staying adaptable, being open, and being willing to figure things out as we go.

Pricing:

• In-store: ~$2–$18
• Online shop: ~$13–$88 (curated selection)
• Quarterly WEARhouse sales: as low as $1 or $10 fill-a-bag pricing
• Community Rack: free clothing available for those in need

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.projectrewear.com
• Instagram: @project.rewear (https://www.instagram.com/project.rewear/)
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectrewearthousandoaks

Image Credits
Project ReWear