We took our students on a field trip to learn more about fashion, sewing, and production through two Detroit fashion-based businesses / organizations: Detroit Denim and The Empowerment Plan.
Detroit Denim is an all-source American company that produces handmade jeans in Detroit. Their mission is to expose the myth that it’s impossible to create a sustainable jeans business domestically, as well as help diversify the manufacturing base of Detroit, by producing a line of men’s jeans like no other. Students will hear from Detroit Denim’s Founder, Eric Yelsma, and get a tour of their retail store and manufacturing space.
The Empowerment Plan is a Detroit-based nonprofit focused on permanently elevating families from the generational cycle of homelessness. They hire single parents from local shelters and provide them with training and full-time employment as seamstresses so that they can earn a stable income, find secure housing, and regain their independence. The individuals hired manufacture a coat designed to meet the needs of those in the homeless community. The EMPWR coat is a water-resistant jacket, which can transform into a sleeping bag, or be worn as an over-the-shoulder bag when not in use. Students will learn about the history of the organization, tour the manufacturing space, and see the EMPWR coat.
Photography By: Christian O’Grady
