ISAIC Honors 2024 Post-Event Press Release
For Immediate Release Contact: Chandler Vaughan, 313-671-0604 cvaughan@isaic.org
May 07, 2024
Detroit Shines as the Sustainable Epicenter of Textile and Apparel Manufacturing
ISAIC Honors Celebrates Textile and Apparel Manufacturing Trailblazers
DETROIT – The inaugural ISAIC Honors event, hosted by the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC), a nonprofit national institute for textile and apparel manufacturing, brought together creatives and industry leaders from across the nation to celebrate the future of sustainable textile and apparel manufacturing.
ISAIC Honors, held in downtown Detroit, displayed the evolution of fashion through an immersive exhibit, highlighting the industry's past exploitations and the need for change. At the end of the exhibit, attendees witnessed firsthand an on-demand manufacturing model by receiving customized Carhartt garments in just three weeks – an example of eco-conscious production.
Outgoing board chair, Mike Tyson, shared a staggering statistic about the industry stating, “50 billion garments are sent to landfills each year before they even reach the consumer.” This is due to overproduction and the wasteful practices of fast fashion that have made clothing harmfully disposable.
Lead sponsor and ISAIC longtime supporter, Carhartt kicked off the night with a toast, reminding people of why the work of ISAIC and the honorees is critical to shifting the industry in a positive direction, followed by a riveting performance of Andra Day's "Rise Up" and Tina Marie's "Square Biz" by Motown's 2024 Amplify Singing Competition winner Jasmin Terrel, dressed by renowned Detroit designer Tracy Reese.
The evening honored four pioneers driving sustainable transformation in the textile and apparel industry. Ewenique Wilson of EweniquilisophistKated received the Alumni of the Year award, reserved for exceptional graduates of ISAIC's industrial sewing and production training program.
Shelly Xu, founder of Shelly Xu Designs (SXD), was named Innovator of the Year for pushing boundaries with cutting-edge technologies. In her acceptance speech, Xu said, "Picasso once said, 'restraint liberates invention.' I'm excited to partner with ISAIC and Detroit to convert more products to zero waste, making sustainability accessible through material savings and letting fabrics be the creative constraints that spark invention."
Alexander Zar of La La Land received Manufacturer of the Year for championing eco-friendly practices, advocating for a skilled workforce, and driving innovation.
Dana Davis of Mara Hoffman was celebrated as Champion of the Year for embodying ISAIC's mission to build an equitable, sustainable industry. "With each small step towards sustainability, we inch closer to fashion that not only looks good but does good," Davis remarked.
The Olympic-style award medals had a special Detroit touch. They were created with Detroit native Karissma Yve's on-demand jewelry design-to-manufacturing platform – Gildform. The medals were cast in sterling silver mirroring ISAIC's threaded logo, representing industry interconnectedness.
From Airtex Group, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing, Henderson Sewing, Interactive Training Systems, Inc. (ITS), U.S. Center for Advanced Manufacturing (USCAM), Juki, Goodwill International, Keybank Foundation, and the Advanced Textiles Association all generously served as sponsors for the night.
About ISAIC:
The Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) is a national nonprofit institute dedicated to advancing textile and apparel manufacturing sustainably. ISAIC convenes solutions in a real manufacturing facility to pilot and optimize new technologies on behalf of industry. It offers the only nationally recognized proprietary curriculum in industrial sewing and production, licensed in 8 states which serves as a prerequisite for its Department of Labor-registered Industrial Sewing Apprenticeship program. ISAIC's expert team works tirelessly to create sustainable solutions for brands while empowering disenfranchised communities to excel in textile and apparel manufacturing careers.