ARTIFACTRY Partners with AFG’s Sew Great Detroit: The Corktown boutique is now selling market tote bags handmade by women in AFG’s program

One of the exciting things about AFG’s location in southwest Detroit is its entrepreneurial energy.  So many new businesses in the area are contributing creativity and opportunity to the neighborhood that AFG calls home.  Gail Kwiatkowski, the owner of ARTIFACTRY located in Corktown, is an example of someone who is contributing to the neighborhood buzz!  Gail describes ARTIFACTRY as an eclectic collection of new and vintage gifts, including industrial style furniture.

Gail was eager to be an Alternatives For Girls supporter when she learned about the women of Sew Great Detroit, AFG’s weekly commercial sewing employment training program, headed by volunteers and support staff.  Sew Great Detroit’s classes focus on teaching women valuable sewing skills, like machine sewing and hand finishing techniques, understanding the characteristics of fabric, fabric cutting techniques, and beginning design concepts. The women receive a stipend during their training, which is supported through contracted projects. Finally, the members of Sew Great Detroit also create life goals, for which they receive coaching from the team of volunteers.

Gail loved the excellent quality of the sewing demonstrated in Sew Great Detroit’s canvas market style tote bags so much, that she decided to contract them to make some for her store!  She purchased the bags and silk screened them with an original Corktown graphic designed by her son James.  Thanks to Gail, the Sew Great Detroit market style tote bags are now available to purchase at ARTIFACTRY!

The training stipends the women in Sew Great Detroit receive make an impact for them and their families. They are so excited for the opportunity to sell their handmade goods at ARTIFACTRY! Stop by ARTIFACTRY now and pick up an original Sew Great Detroit made tote bag. They would make a great gift this holiday season!

Thank you to Gail Kwiatkowski and ARTIFACTRY for supporting the Sew Great Detroit training program and Alternatives For Girls!