named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Apprenticeship Sponsorship Program
Provides financial and logistical support for emerging artisans to train with master craftspeople, such as the apprenticeship between Auden Mucher and Tom’s Sons International Pleating
Close Up Storytelling Series
Profiles American craft makers and designers to elevate public awareness of artisan equity, sustainability, and Made-in-USA production
Sponsored Training Initiative
Funds training opportunities for recent graduates, such as Cyerra Latham’s program at Project Threadways/Alabama Chanin, leading to long-term employment in craft
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Sustainable Fashion & Textile Circularity 2 activities
- Create sustainable streetwear from upcycled materialsDesigns and produces one-of-a-kind streetwear pieces using upcycled materials and experimental techniques to promote sustainable fashion.
- Develop experimental clothing collection from roadkill materialsCreates a new clothing collection using roadkill sourced from all 50 states, processed through skinning and tanning, to explore themes of sustainability and human impact on ecosystems.
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Art Appreciation and Public Engagement 1 activity
- Preserve and transmit artisan craft skillsEngages in knowledge transmission and outreach to maintain multi-generational craft skills and factory expertise by training new artisans in traditional techniques.
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Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 1 activity
- Produce custom shirts for individuals and entertainment industryManufactures made-to-order shirts for individual clients and costume departments of Broadway, film, and television from its New York shop, cutting to order to minimize waste.
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Textile Waste Diversion and Reuse 1 activity
- Repurpose textile waste and donate materialsRepurposes fabric scraps into secondary products like boxer shorts or shopping bags and donates remaining materials to FabScrap to prevent landfill disposal.
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Fashion and Creative Industries Education 1 activity
- Support apprenticeships in American craftFunds and runs apprenticeship programs that connect emerging artisans with established craftspeople, including a pilot program to support mentor-apprentice partnerships in fashion and funding for training wages in traditional textile crafts.
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Uncategorized 5 activities
- Advocate for American-made manufacturingEngages designers, brands, media, and retailers in promoting commitments to U.S. manufacturing and educates consumers on the economic and quality benefits of American-made goods, including highlighting that only 3% of apparel sold in the U.S. is domestically produced.
- Curate and showcase American-made brandsIdentifies and promotes brands that manufacture products in the United States, highlighting their role in sustaining domestic craft and manufacturing.
- Produce custom footwear in New YorkHandcrafts custom shoes in New York using high-performance leathers and Goodyear welting to ensure durability and repairability for decades of use.
- Produce fashion collections in NYC Garment DistrictDevelops seasonal fashion collections over a six-month period in collaboration with local partners in New York City’s Garment District, including factories, embroidery houses, and material suppliers, involving up to 100 individuals in design and production.
- Produce fine jewelry through artisan collaborationCollaborates with a network of local artisans to transform beads and found materials into elevated jewelry, emphasizing material knowledge and small-scale production, and presents collections at events like New York Fashion Week.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$58K
Contributions & grants$73K125%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$30K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$76K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$76K
1 years on record · 2024–2024
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 6
- Abigail Klem Spector — Board Member
- Alexandra ONeill — Board Member
- Julie Gilhart — Board Member
- Maxwell Osborne — Board Member
- Natalie Chanin — Board Member
- Sarah Chaudhari — Board Member
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Alabama Chanin Partner — Hosted a sponsored trainee and provided mentorship and employment opportunities.
- Capture This Partner — Photography partner that shot content in New York City.
- Chris Mena Partner — Collaborates with Closely Crafted as the founder of Made by Mena, a brand featured and supported by the organization.
- Dao-Yi Chow Partner — Provided voice over for a video produced in New York City.
- Don’t Let Disco Partner — Featured jewelry practice of Ashley Moubayed, highlighted by Closely Crafted for its commitment to craft, locality, and material storytelling.
- Dooz Partner — Luxury handbag brand featured in a spotlight article as part of Closely Crafted's platform
- FabScrap Partner — Donates fabric scraps to FabScrap to prevent landfill waste.
- Gigi Burris Partner — Collaborates with Closely Crafted to handcraft intricate headpieces for collections.
- M&S Schmalberg Partner — Creates handmade silk flowers for Closely Crafted collections.
- Project Threadways Partner — Collaborated to create a sponsored training opportunity for an emerging maker.
- Tom’s Sons International Pleating Partner — Partner organization providing mentorship to Closely Crafted's apprentice
- Tom’s Sons International Pleating Partner — Partner organization where Closely Crafted funds an apprenticeship for emerging artisans to learn traditional textile pleating.
- organizations Partner — Organizations can support the mission by signing a letter of support, providing financial donations, or hosting trainees.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Education-to-Employment Pathways in Craftmethodology: education-to-employment-bridgeBy building bridges between craft education and employment, the organization connects emerging makers with heritage practices and career opportunities, because integrating learning with real-world practice increases retention of traditional skills and strengthens the economic viability of artisan careers.
- Generational Knowledge Transfer through Mentorshipmethodology: mentorship-based apprenticeshipBy pairing emerging artisans with master craftspeople through mentorship and apprenticeship programs, the organization sustains American craft traditions and ensures continuity of skills, because hands-on, reciprocal learning preserves techniques that are not easily codified or taught in formal education settings.
- Local Production as a Foundation for Sustainability and Craft Integritymethodology: local-production-sustainabilityBy keeping production local, the organization maintains control over materials and processes, supports community talent, and reduces environmental impact, because localized manufacturing enables transparency, accountability, and a reduced carbon footprint while fostering a resilient ecosystem of skilled artisans.
- Permanence-Centered Design for Sustainable Consumptionmethodology: permanence-based-sustainabilityBy designing durable, timeless products intended to age gracefully and resist obsolescence, the organization reduces the need for replacement and overall consumption, because products made with longevity in mind shift consumer behavior toward stewardship and away from disposability.