Kathleen

Our charity status was approved!

Kathleen on March 10, 2018

I’m pleased to announce that our IRS application for 501c3 status was approved in only 3 weeks. I’d heard it can take up to 2 years for approval so we were very pleased that our commitments to assisting needy New Mexico kids and increasing economic development through training entrepreneurs in factory management, was recognized so quickly.

We appreciate the support of all of our participants and the manufacturing community. We are grateful for the donation of sewing machines, tools, goods, marketing, and of course, money. If you’re looking for information on how we can support you, see Manufacturing Boot Camp or call us during regular office hours.

If you know you can’t participate in the world’s only clothing manufacturing boot camps but would like to underwrite the project or sponsor a scholarship, you can do that too. Please let us know if you’re providing a scholarship so we can notify the benefactor of your generosity.

We’re becoming a Not for Profit! And, a 2017 Summary of Good Works

Kathleen on December 30, 2017

At the end of this year, we want to provide an update to everyone who is interested in the ABQFI community and mission.

Our mission is to produce first quality sewn products for donation to charities and underserved communities in New Mexico; these products are made by volunteers during events that we host twice each year. We call these events “Apparel Manufacturing Bootcamps”, during which volunteers may experience everything from design through final inspection in a real factory environment.

To date, here is a list of the bootcamps, the number of volunteers, and a synopsis of the items produced and donated:

Boot Camp Event	Volunteers Pre-Production	Volunteers Production	Garments
Fall 2015	4	35	104 coats
Spring 2016	8	30	270 house dresses
Fall 2016	5	25	105 coats 100 cat trap covers*
Spring 2017	7	22	100 pants 360 napkins**
Fall 2017	6	29	100 coats 86 pants 75 Cat trap covers*
Total: 5 camps including 4 pre-production camps	>100 volunteers Including many returning alumni		Total Production: 309 coats 270 house dresses 186 pants 360 napkins 175 cat trap covers

Street Cat Hub
** Karma Café

Video of Fall 2017 Boot Camp

Kathleen on September 26, 2017

I have a treat for you. Documentary film maker, Ramona Emerson, of Reel Indian Pictures, came by during the Fall 2017 Boot Camp to shoot some footage. Ramona’s latest film is The Mayors of Shiprock. You can see this on PBS; October 19th, 2017 at 7 pm NM PBS Channel 5.1. It will also be broadcast on WORLD Channel on November 6, 2017. Enjoy!