Biography
Leah Barrett joined a rapidly expanding apparel export industry in 1987 in Mumbai, India. She worked in export development, product development and production control, travelling through Europe and Asia to design studios, factories and trade shows. She developed collections for major European retailers El Corte, C&A, Marks and Spencer, and luxury brands Lange and Jean-Claude Jitrois. French hand-embroidery has shaped her aesthetic and career.
In Hong Kong, she worked for VF Asia overseeing operations in South Asia, especially Bangladesh. In Canada, she was production manager of Robin Kay and procurement and scheduling lead at Straton (London Fog sweaters). She launched Jabberdust in 2001 producing custom fabric for Canadian designers like Pat McDonagh, Hoax Couture and David Dixon. Jabberdust soft accessories sold at luxury Toronto womenswear retailers like The Room, Andrews and Brian Bailey. She began teaching in 2011. She completed a masters in Sustainability Studies in 2019, to meet head-on the challenges faced by the fashion industry in the era of climate change.
Academic Credentials
BSc Textiles and Clothing, University of Mumbai, 1987
MA Sustainability Studies, Trent University, 2019
Areas of Specialization
- Apparel Sourcing
- Quality Control
- Issues in Sustainability
- Environmental Sustainability for Product Development
Career Highlights
- Export Merchandise Manager
- Operations Supervisor
- Production Manager
- Owner
- Entrepreneur
- Educator
- Member City of Toronto Circular Economy Working Group
- Member UCRF (Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion)
Other Activities
- Youth leadership
- Fashion career mentorship
- Sustainability advocate in education and research
- Volunteer in charity sector for waste diversion, responsible production and consumption
