Another issue in the state is the scarcity of skilled industrial sewers. So DGG helped found an industrial sewing certificate program through Henry Ford College with support from State of Michigan Works program. The program has graduated 14 classes so far, and will be adding additional hands-on courses this spring. The certificate program has become a pipeline to Buscemi's business, Detroit Sewn, a full-service sewing factory she started in 2015 because of the lack of garment manufacturing in the state. "I was getting daily inquiries about where you could produce garments locally," she said. Customers have flocked to Detroit Sewn. The company now services 130 clients and has 12 employees, and all the industrial sewers have
come from the DGG certificate program. Buscemi's goal is to create a full-blown garment district in Detroit. The Renowned garment districts in New York City and Los Angeles contain the largest concentrations of designers, sewing factories, showrooms, distributors and wholesalers in the country. But due to rising property values and the astronomical cost to lease commercial space in these areas, the garment district in Manhattan is no longer a practical place to locate for smaller manufacturers or warehouses. That's where Detroit has an enormous advantage. "This is the perfect time," Buscemi said. "Detroit is so damn sexy right now. Everyone wants to manufacture in Detroit, wants to say this is from Detroit, made in Detroit — it's ridiculous." (Continued...)
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