Soharlem Inc

AT SOHARLEM WE OFFER A SAFE SPACE FOR CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS TO CHANGE OUR COMMUNITYS NARRATIVE AND ENSURE THAT THEY AND THEIR FELLOW, LONG TERM RESIDENTS IN THIS CULTURALLY RICH DISTRICT ARE A PART OF ONGOING AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE DESIGNERS STUDIO IS AN ACCESSIBLE 5000 SQUARE FOOT WORKING PLANT IN A FORMER MANUFACTURING BUILDING IN THE LAST INDUSTRIAL AREA LEFT IN HARLEM. WITH HIGH CEILINGS, ABUNDANT NATURAL LIGHT, THREE 8 CUTTING TABLES, 14 SEWING MACHINES, AND OTHER INDUSTRY EQUIPMENT IT HAS PROVEN TO BE AN UNPARALLELED RESOURCE FOR ARTISTS.

2022 CULTURAL INDUSTRIES INCUBATOR PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS- DESIGNERS' STUDIO WAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS THROUGHOUT 2022; ACTIVITIES INCLUDED CLASSES, TRAINING, CONSULTATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS. - ADVANCED THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF 10 LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS IN RESIDENCE AND THEIR MICRO-BUSINESSES RELATED TO THE FASHION INDUSTRY, THAT CREATE ENGAGING WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY;- MENTORED 12 APPRENTICES- CONDUCTED UP TO 50 "POP-UP" SHOPPING DAYS SCHEDULED FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER 23, OFFERED A SERIES OF SIX IN-PERSON EVENTS, BUILDING ON OUR PAST PRACTICE OF DRAWING ON THE VISION AND TALENTS OF OUR CREATIVE COLLECTIVE TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH OVER 150 IN ATTENDANCE. - MET THE NEED FOR JOBS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY EMPLOYING AS MANY AS SIX RESIDENTS IN A VARIETY OF ROLES, INCLUDING A LEAD TRAINER, PRINCIPAL SEAMSTRESS, SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST, STUDIO COORDINATOR AND DESIGN APPRENTICES;

TRAINING INSTITUTE: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTIN 2023, SOHARLEM DESIGNERS STUDIO CONTINUED TO SERVE AS THE ANCHOR OF OUR PROGRAMS. OUR CREATIVE COLLECTIVE OF 14 ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE PART OF OUR CULTURAL INDUSTRIES INCUBATOR CREATED AND PRODUCED DESIGNS THAT EXHIBITED THE QUALITY OF THE CRAFTSMANSHIP GAINED AT SOHARLEM. PART OF THE INCUBATION EXPERIENCE INCLUDED: PROVIDING BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES, SUCH AS, WORKSHOPS WITH FASHION INDUSTRY LEADERS, BRAND EXPERTS, ETC. IN 2023 WE ALSO LAUNCHED ITS ALWAYS FASHION WEEK @ SOHARLEM, MARKETING CAMPAIGN WHICH ATTRACTED THE PUBLIC TO SOHARLEMS SHOP. OUR ALL-DAY PHOTO-SHOOT PROVIDED THE COLLECTIVE WITH PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS FOR LOOK BOOKS, PUBLICITY AND THE NEW WEBSITES WE HELPED THEM CREATE. WE ALSO INVESTED ON NEW SIDEWALK SIGNS, PROVIDED THEM WITH STREET LEVEL WINDOW TO DISPLAY THEIR INNOVATIVE DESIGNS. THE CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS WERE ALSO ABLE TO TRAIN AND HIRE LOCAL INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PART OF OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY TRAINING INSTITUTE. THE DESIGNERS STUDIO PROVIDED MADE TO MEASURE SERVICES TO 20 NEW START-UPS, FORMER TRAINEES IN NEED OF DESIGN DIRECTION, PATTERNMAKING, CUTTING AND FABRICATION WHO WERE NOT PART OF THE COLLECTIVE.