Lacey Cadieux-McLean is the Founder and CEO of Rhubaia Ventures, the Calgary-based fashion-tech company behind the Rhubaia brand. A Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 16 years of experience leading complex technology initiatives, Lacey brings a rare combination of systems thinking, innovation expertise, and creative entrepreneurship to the fashion industry. Raised on a ranch in Northern Alberta, she developed a deep appreciation for resilience, resourcefulness, and the natural world that continues to shape her work as a purpose-driven founder. Frustrated by the daily challenges of building a professional wardrobe for hybrid work, Lacey recognized that decision fatigue, excessive waste, and the subtle impact on wellbeing were not mere inconveniences—they were symptoms of a deeper structural design and process flaw in how professional women experience clothing. Rather than launch another apparel brand, she set out to solve the structural issue in the process for how they purchase and select the clothes.

In May 2026, she is launched Rhubaia: a fashion-tech company that seamlessly blends premium sustainable women’s professional clothing with an intelligent AI-powered virtual closet app. Rhubaia offers timeless, versatile pieces crafted from earth-friendly materials—including organic cotton, bamboo, banana plant fibers, recycled cotton linter silk, natural cork, and plant-based buttons. Complementing the physical collection is the brand’s groundbreaking AI app, which delivers personalized outfit recommendations, virtual try-ons, digital clothing collection (available for sale at www.rhubaia.com), digital wardrobe organization, and collaborative styling tools to reduce decision fatigue and minimize waste. Guided by the belief that professional clothing should support wellbeing and personal values rather than compromise them, Lacey has created a brand that empowers women to feel confident, connected, and aligned with their values. Every Rhubaia purchase contributes $2 to children’s school meal programs through Kinvia. Through Rhubaia, Lacey Cadieux-McLean is redefining the future of professional style at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and systemic change.

What is your approach to viewing clothing?

I see clothing as more than fabric — I view it as a daily support system. It should help us feel confident, comfortable, and aligned with our values, rather than causing stress or compromise.

For too long, we’ve treated clothes as disposable items we buy, wear a few times, and then forget. I approach clothing as something intentional: it should support our wellbeing, reflect who we are, and respect the planet.

That’s why Rhubaia exists — to create pieces that feel beautiful on the body and intelligent in how they fit into our lives.

We often have a closet full of clothes and say, “I have nothing to wear.” How does Rubaia solve this problem? 

This is the exact frustration that started everything for me. I had a closet full of clothes yet stood there most mornings feeling stuck and overwhelmed.

Rhubaia solves this in two powerful ways. First, our AI Virtual Closet turns your entire wardrobe into an intelligent, connected system. It gives you personalized outfit recommendations based on your calendar, the weather, and your style — so you can actually see what works instead of guessing. You can also share looks with friends or a stylist for real-time input.

Second, every Rhubaia garment comes with its exact digital twin, so the physical and virtual worlds work together. The result? You rediscover what you already own, make better use of it, and feel excited about getting dressed again instead of defeated.

What makes Rhubaia’s clothing different from other sustainable fashion brands?  

What truly sets Rhubaia apart is our hybrid physical + digital approach. While many sustainable brands focus primarily on materials, we go further by treating clothing as both a beautiful physical product and an intelligent, connected system.

Our garments are crafted from earth-friendly, high-quality fabrics chosen for their softness, durability, and elegance — perfect for professional and hybrid lifestyles. Yet the real differentiator is that every piece has a precise digital twin in our AI Virtual

 Closet. This creates a seamless bridge between the physical and digital worlds.

We’re not just selling clothes — we’re reimagining the entire wardrobe experience. The ability to easily share your full digital closet or individual looks with family and friends turns what used to be a solitary process into something collaborative. This helps people wear what they own more often, reduce waste, and feel genuinely supported every morning.

It’s this thoughtful integration of conscious materials, elegant design, and smart technology — especially the sharing feature — that makes Rhubaia truly unique.

Can you describe the AI-powered virtual closet app? 

The Rhubaia AI Virtual Closet is an intuitive, digital companion for your wardrobe.

You start by creating a lifelike avatar from a simple photo. You can upload your existing clothes or add Rhubaia pieces — each of which has an exact digital twin. The AI then offers smart outfit suggestions tailored to your schedule, the weather, and your personal

 style. One of my favorite parts is the sharing feature: you can send your whole closet or individual looks to friends, family, or a stylist for easy feedback and inspiration.

The app is built for everyone. While our initial clothing line is designed for women, the Virtual Closet welcomes all users. It’s about reducing decision fatigue and bringing more confidence and pleasure back into getting dressed.

What are Rhubaia’s current and future offerings?

Right now, as of our May 14, 2026 launch, we offer:

• A curated collection of elegant, sustainable professional clothing for women (designed for work, hybrid lifestyles, and special occasions).
• Digital versions of every garment (virtual clothing you can wear instantly in the app).
• Introduce new AI driven recommendation capabilities to the app + enhance existing features.

The initial collection includes professional essentials such as the Corbeau Zip-Up Dress, Inner Circle Blazer, Port Royale Eco-Friendly Silk Gown, Heirloom Blouse, Acquisition Jumpsuit, Foundry and Grande Tour trousers, and Clarity Button-Up Shirt—available for pre-order now (with code RHUBAIAPRE10 for 10%off) and physical shipments beginning in May 2026. Future plans include additional seasonal collections, enhanced AI personalization, advanced virtual try-on technology, and expanded digital wardrobe features. 

Looking ahead, we have several exciting enhancements planned — one of them quite revolutionary — with more coming soon. Rhubaia is built as a living platform that will continue to evolve with new features, expanded collections, and deeper personalization as our community grows.

Countries Where Available 

How many countries will Rhubaia fashion and AI driven virtual closet applications be available?

For the Fashion Brand, it will ship to:•Canada•USA•United Kingdom•27countries in the EU•Australia

Share your vision for Rhubaia.

My vision for Rhubaia is much bigger than building a clothing brand.

We’re pioneering an earth-friendly evolution that reinvents how we discover, choose, and truly enjoy the clothes in our closets. I see a future where your wardrobe is no longer overwhelming or fragmented, but intelligent, connected, and deeply personal — a seamless system that makes getting dressed effortless and inspiring every day.

We already have exciting enhancements on the horizon, and at its core, Rhubaia is a platform designed to evolve continuously with technology and our community’s needs.

Ultimately, I want Rhubaia to become the new standard for conscious professionals: where luxury, intelligence, and respect for the planet come together naturally.

One Wardrobe. Virtual Freedom.

That’s the world we’re building — one where technology gently elevates the art of dressing and helps us live more consciously and beautifully.

www.rhubaia.com