Copa Threads
Copa Threads makes small-batch, locally made women's pants designed as wearable art. Produced in Minnesota with high quality standards, each style is developed as a visual point of view—expressive, intentional, and meant to live easily in real wardrobes.
The Story
Copa Threads is a small-batch apparel brand based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, creating women's pants designed as wearable art. Founded by Jane Barthel in 2022, the brand emphasizes local manufacturing, high-quality fabrics, and thoughtful construction.
Each pair of Copas is fully pull-on, designed for ease, and made to move through everyday life with confidence and comfort. The pants are produced in small batches at a woman-owned factory in Minneapolis, with a focus on details that last.
Barthel, a full-time neonatologist, started Copa Threads after going through The Apparel Mentor program, combining her appreciation for beautiful design with a belief that how something is made matters. The brand appeared on NPR's How I Built This Advice Line in 2025, where Miguel McKelvey offered guidance on scaling while preserving the local manufacturing ethos.
Key Facts & Metrics
Company Timeline
2021 — Graduated from The Apparel Mentor program
Completed The Apparel Mentor program, gaining skills in fashion entrepreneurship and small-batch production.
2022 — Founded Copa Threads
Founded Copa Threads, a small-batch women's pants brand based in Minneapolis, creating wearable art from locally-made fabrics.
2025 — Featured on How I Built This Advice Line
Featured as a caller on NPR's How I Built This Advice Line, seeking advice on scaling while staying true to local manufacturing.