OVERVIEW

Blue Tin Production is a sewing co-operative run by refugee and immigrant women, designed to creatively address two major issues:

1. The fashion industry’s heavy reliance on sweatshops across south and southeast Asia, which has normalized violence and exploitation of (primarily Muslim women) garment workers to create clothes

2. A need for immigrants and refugee women to find well-paid, women-centered, non-patronizing work, while facing countless barriers including transportation, language, childcare, etc.

“I’m coming from an abusive relationship...and when you go through that, it brings you down. It makes you think you can not be nothing...telling you that you can never amount to anything. Coming to this co-operative, seeing these beautiful women, it gives you a sense of strength...it’s a blessing.” -Mercy, founding co-op member

Blue Tin Production seeks to provide highly-skilled refugee and low-income immigrant women full-time work in Chicago, producing clothing for designers and brands nationally, while simultaneously meeting mental and physical health, legal, social service, child care, transportation, language, and other needs of its members. In doing so, Blue Tin Production will act as an alternative to sweatshop-based fashion production within the United States, disrupting chains of violence within the industry.

We currently have an anticipated launch date of mid-2019, and already have a wait list of designers and major departments stores wanting to produce clothing with us! We need to raise seed funding to purchase materials, machines, and other start-up supplies to make the co-op possible!

THE NEED

In order for us to be able to officially open our doors and begin operations, funds are needed to purchase industrial sewing machines, industrial ironing and steaming boards, chairs, drafting tables, and other equipment necessary for professional pattern making, sampling, and manufacturing.

Furthermore, in order to ensure the longevity and sustainability of the free community sewing classes, funds are needed in order to compensate the members of the co-operative to develop curriculum and teach the weekly classes.

Because these are start-up costs are not an ongoing need, donated funds would allow the co-operative to become financially self-sustaining and ready for success, rather than drowning in loans and ever-increasing debt. This includes fund for sewing machines and equipment (~$20,000), sewing classes (~$25,000), and materials for the sewing classes (~$10,000), among other costs.

Due to over a year of outreach and relationship building with members of the community and beyond, we have managed to cut back on internal recurring services that typically consume much of any organization’s budget. Services like healthcare, dental health, mental health, legal services, and financial consulting have been covered, allowing your donations to go directly toward other immediate and tangible needs.

Our community here in Chicago has had our back from the beginning, providing healthcare, legal and financial assistance. We need you, our community across the country and the world, to help us set up a solid foundation for this game-changing initiative.

THE MODEL

Currently, we are working with three initial members to develop the co-op: a domestic violence survivor and immigrant from Nigeria, a Syrian refugee and widow from Aleppo, and a Kurdish-Syrian refugee woman. These highly-skilled seamstresses were selected after a two-month testing process with over 100 candidates from domestic violence shelters, refugee resettlement agencies, and more. We are structured in a co-operative model, meaning that each member also owns, manages, and directs the business. We believe it is important for workers to have a say in how their work proceeds, what their work conditions look like, and to equally share the revenue of their work. Being able to run and manage work yourself is liberating, healing, and transformational in and of itself.   

Along with the immediate services provided for members of the co-operative, we will host bimonthly educational trainings open to the broader refugee and immigrant women community, scheduled on issues ranging from sexual and reproductive health, to know your rights trainings, to sessions on how to apply for college for their children.

Finally, members of Blue Tin Production also have collectively decided to provide free certification-based sewing classes to the greater community of refugees, immigrants, people of color, and other communities in-need. Participants can develop their sewing skills, giving them to option to either eventually join the Co-op or become a competitive applicant for sewing and tailoring jobs elsewhere.

Ultimately, the co-op addresses a root cause of the racial wealth gap by building leadership potential and holistic economic self-determination, and is built for and run by communities that sit at the various intersections of need. 

TIMELINE

Given the precarious financial situation all of the members of the co-operative are in, the launch of Blue Tin Production is urgent itself. For example, one member is a widow and mother of four young children and is currently working part-time at a fast-food chain making minimum wage. Her husband, one of her children, and extended family were all killed in bombings in Aleppo, Syria, and as a result she is the main breadwinner for her family. Members of the Co-op are depending upon a more timely launch in order to ensure financial security for themselves and their families. Your support will make the launch possible. 

Your contributions to seed funding this project will immediately get us closer to opening our doors and helping lay the foundation for countless refugee and immigrant women to walk through them.

STAY ENGAGED!

Follow along on this beautiful journey with us!

Follow us on Instagram (@bluetinproduction) & or feel free to shoot us an email with any questions at hello[at]bluetinproduction.com! 

WE'RE EXCITED TO BUILD WITH YOU! 

Thank you for helping make this work possible. 

Blue Tin Production is a JooJoo Azad project and organized by Hoda Katebi with the support of the beautiful Chicago community & beyond. <3