When Veronika Scott of the Empowerment Plan came to us as a bright-eyed social entrepreneur last year, we had no idea what we were in for.  All we knew is we wanted to be involved.

It's been a year of helping her to secure materials, finalize patterns, lay out a production floor, consult on electrical needs, put a sewing process together, cutting parts and eventually assemble them. But here we are, helping her make a difference in the lives of Detroit's most in need.

Veronika's project has utilized nearly every process we have in the plant, from prototyping, through developing patterns and cutting quilted parts on our Gerber and sewing finished coats. Our staff even put back together a 50-year old quillting machine to make the process possible.

See the complete article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/fashion/young-designers-focus-efforts-on-homeless-population-in-detroit.html?pagewanted=all&smid=fb-share