Southwest Creations’ Program Director and Leadership Development Manager, Jessica Aranda and Flor Lopez, were panelists on New Mexico PBS’s Public Square episode that explored family-friendly workplace policies with local leaders and advocates.
Read MoreFactory45 Features Southwest Creations in Sew Shop Talk
Via Factory45 Sew Shop Talk
“We believe when a woman is given an opportunity to earn income, she will invest in her children first – a strategy shared by organizations around the world. We also understand that women from low-income communities face major barriers to economic success for themselves and their children.”
This is the philosophy behind Southwest Creations, a cut and sew facility in Albuquerque, NM that proves a sustainable business can be driven by a social vision. I spoke with executive director Susan Matteucci on the phone a few weeks ago about how Southwest Creations was started, how it has grown and where the opportunities lie in U.S. manufacturing.
Susan was also gracious enough to offer her own advice to designers looking for a domestic production partner. Read her interview below:
Read MoreSusan Matteucci Joins Etsy Manufacturing Advisory Board
Via Etsy News Blog:
After hearing directly from our sellers about their need for greater support, we’re excited to announce the creation of the Etsy Manufacturing Advisory Board, which met for the first time during the Re-Imagine Manufacturing summit. Composed of eight experts with diverse experience from the non-profit, academic, and business worlds, the board will advise us as we process the ideas from the summit and work to create an Etsy Economy. They’ll help us understand best practices without being limited by existing solutions and push us to have the biggest influence possible. Each expert was chosen because they align with our values, has a proven track record of innovating in the manufacturing space, and has a genuine desire to help our seller community thrive.
Meet the Board:
Susan Matteucci — Executive Director, Southwest Creations
Susan leads Southwest Creations, a social venture that does contract manufacturing out of Albuquerque, NM, and is setting an industry standard on small-batch, responsible production.
Albuquerque Women Craft a Business from Hobby: Kei and Molly in the Albuquerque Journal
Two Albuquerque women, who met at their kids’ school, have turned their part-time hobby into Kei & Molly Textiles, a national wholesale and online business.
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NM Agencies to Grant Leave for State Employees to Attend Parent-Teacher Conferences
Governor Martinez signed an executive order directing state agencies to provide administrative leave for employees with school-aged children, so that they can regularly participate in parent-teacher conferences in the fall and spring of each school year.
Read MoreHelping Women Make Better Lives: Southwest Creations in the Albuquerque Journal
At the end of Mass at San Jose Parish 20 years ago, an announcement: Anyone with sewing skills wishing to take part in a little handcrafting workshop should meet with Sister Bernice in the parish hall. To the amazement of Susan Matteucci, a bright-eyed young organizer from Chicago who was looking to help empower low-income women, 75 women showed up.
Read MoreDorsey Helman: In the Santa Fe New Mexican
By design, this is a mostly New Mexico operation. The pieces in the clothing collection are sewn in Albuquerque by a women’s collaborative. The minimalist palette and styles are inspired by New Mexico artists such as Agnes Martin, whose former home is near the couple’s studio in Galisteo.
Read MoreSouthwest Creations' Receives Eileen Fisher Grant for Women Entrepreneurs
We are excited to announce we are a 2013 Women-Owned Business Grant Recipient from Eileen Fisher. The grants are awarded to innovative companies that are socially-conscious and committed to sustainability.
Read MoreSouthwest Creations and West Elm Collaboration
Southwest Creations is proud to announce our collaboration with West Elm to create a line of Thai fabric pillow covers.
Read MoreNYNOW 2013: Southwest Creations in New York
Southwest Creations’ hosted a salon and cocktail party at the Metropolitan Pavilion that coincided with NYNOW 2013, a market in New York that draws 350,000 attendees from all 50 states and 80+ counties.
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