Creative Director, Thread & Promise (Volunteer)

Creative Director, Thread & Promise (Volunteer)

Thread & Promise | Fashion, Creative Direction & Brand Storytelling

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: PromiseBrands – Thread & Promise

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week

Type: Volunteer Senior Leadership Role

Minimum Commitment: 6-month commitment required

Reports To: Chief of Brands

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit organization serving children and youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, educational enrichment, workforce development, creative opportunity, advocacy, housing innovation, and community-centered support.

At MAP, we believe creativity can create opportunity, build confidence, spark conversation, and strengthen communities.

Through mission-driven products and storytelling, we seek to transform awareness into action and purpose into impact.

About Thread & Promise

Thread & Promise is MAP's fashion, apparel, merchandise, and lifestyle brand.

The initiative combines design, storytelling, social impact, and entrepreneurship to create products that celebrate resilience, community, creativity, and hope.

Thread & Promise develops apparel, accessories, collections, collaborations, and mission-driven consumer products that support MAP's programs while elevating stories that deserve to be seen and heard.

Every collection tells a story.

Every product supports a purpose.

Every design advances a promise.

Role Overview

The Creative Director, Thread & Promise serves as the senior creative leader responsible for the artistic vision, design direction, collection development, storytelling strategy, and overall creative identity of the Thread & Promise brand.

This role oversees the creative development of apparel collections, merchandise, campaigns, lookbooks, product launches, visual storytelling, collaborations, and future brand experiences.

Working closely with the Chief of Brands, Senior Director of Merchandise & Product Branding, fashion designers, photographers, marketers, storytellers, and social enterprise leaders, the Creative Director helps transform Thread & Promise into a distinctive mission-driven fashion brand with national potential.

The Creative Director serves as the creative architect of the brand, ensuring that every collection, campaign, and product reflects excellence, authenticity, purpose, and impact.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Vision & Brand Direction

• Develop and lead the creative vision for Thread & Promise
• Establish artistic direction across all collections and campaigns
• Define the visual and emotional identity of the brand
• Ensure consistency across products, storytelling, and audience experiences
• Guide the long-term creative evolution of Thread & Promise

Fashion & Collection Development

• Lead creative development of apparel, accessories, and merchandise collections
• Guide seasonal collection planning and product storytelling
• Review concepts, sketches, prototypes, and creative presentations
• Ensure collections align with brand values and audience needs
• Support innovation in product design and development

Campaigns & Visual Storytelling

• Direct creative concepts for marketing campaigns and product launches
• Oversee lookbooks, photoshoots, video content, and promotional materials
• Collaborate with photographers, filmmakers, designers, and content creators
• Ensure storytelling remains authentic and mission-centered
• Strengthen emotional connections between products and audiences

Brand Experience & Consumer Engagement

• Shape how audiences experience Thread & Promise across all channels
• Develop creative experiences that deepen customer engagement
• Support collaborations, partnerships, and special projects
• Strengthen brand loyalty and community connection
• Ensure every touchpoint reflects the quality and values of the brand

Social Impact Fashion Leadership

• Integrate MAP's mission into the creative process
• Develop collections that inspire awareness, conversation, and action
• Explore opportunities for socially conscious and purpose-driven design
• Promote ethical, inclusive, and community-centered creative practices
• Strengthen the connection between fashion and impact

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with PromiseStudios on storytelling and content creation
• Collaborate with PromiseBrands on marketing and audience engagement
• Support social enterprise initiatives and product launches
• Work closely with publishing, animation, and creative teams on intellectual property opportunities
• Align creative initiatives with organizational priorities

Leadership Responsibilities

The Creative Director provides leadership and creative oversight for:

Fashion Design

Responsible for:

• Collection development
• Creative direction
• Design standards
• Product innovation

Brand Storytelling

Responsible for:

• Campaign narratives
• Collection stories
• Creative concepts
• Audience experiences

Visual Production

Responsible for:

• Photoshoots
• Lookbooks
• Creative campaigns
• Product imagery

Creative Partnerships

Responsible for:

• Collaborations
• Artist partnerships
• Special collections
• Creative activations

Brand Identity

Responsible for:

• Visual consistency
• Creative standards
• Brand expression
• Consumer perception

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in fashion design, creative direction, apparel branding, merchandising, art direction, lifestyle brands, or related creative industries
• Strong portfolio demonstrating creative leadership and design excellence
• Experience leading collections, campaigns, or brand initiatives
• Strong understanding of fashion, consumer products, and brand storytelling
• Exceptional creative vision and communication skills
• Passion for social-impact entrepreneurship and mission-driven brands

Why This Role Matters

Fashion can be more than clothing.

It can be a story.

A movement.

A statement of values.

A source of opportunity.

The Creative Director helps transform Thread & Promise into a brand that not only creates beautiful products but also creates awareness, connection, and impact.

This role helps build a fashion brand where creativity serves a greater purpose and every collection contributes to a larger mission.

Success Measures

• Creative quality and originality of collections
• Brand recognition and audience engagement
• Product launch success
• Collection performance and customer response
• Growth of the Thread & Promise brand
• Strength of storytelling and campaign execution
• Contribution to social enterprise and fundraising goals

Volunteer Expectations

• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment
• Maintain timely and professional communication
• Collaborate through MAP systems and communication platforms
• Support MAP's safeguarding standards, mission, and organizational values
• Participate in creative reviews, leadership meetings, and collection planning sessions

What You'll Gain

• Opportunity to help build a mission-driven fashion brand from the ground up
• Senior creative leadership experience
• Collaboration with designers, photographers, storytellers, marketers, and executive leaders
• Portfolio-building fashion and branding projects
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Meaningful impact supporting children and families experiencing housing instability

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and include their resume, portfolio, and cover letter.

Please highlight experience involving fashion design, creative direction, apparel branding, merchandising, lifestyle brands, campaign development, visual storytelling, or related creative disciplines.

Help build a fashion brand where every design tells a story and every collection advances a promise.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.