Molly Hemstreet

Molly Hemstreet, cofounder of the Industrial Commons and a sustainable textile entrepreneur, is on a mission to rebuild rural economies in southern Appalachia. She shares her revolutionary approach to addressing generational poverty by transforming textile waste into valuable yarn. Instead of relying on handouts, Molly emphasizes empowering factory workers to become business owners. Her innovative strategies highlight community collaboration and sustainable practices, proving that economic resilience can flourish through worker ownership and interconnected support networks.

Molly Hemstreet, a TED Fellow and co-founder of the Industrial Commons, is revolutionizing rural economies in Southern Appalachia through worker ownership and sustainable textiles. In this engaging talk, she discusses transforming textile waste into valuable yarn and emphasizing the importance of empowering local workers. Molly also highlights her journey in founding Opportunity Threads, an employee-owned textile company, and shares inspiring stories of worker leadership. Her vision for generational change focuses on deep community care as the foundation for economic power.