Family’s mission, deeply woven ties to artisan community in Mexico loom high for Nov. 8 showcase
November 2, 2024 | Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
Two-in-one purpose: 50 blankets become 25 tops for this Crossroads shop, weaving warmth into the fiber of runway event
A cloak-like coat that Jonathan Garvey’s brother designed for him as a Christmas present has inspired a new collection and a fashion show, the Pancho’s Blanket co-founder shared.
Jonathan and Joseph Garvey, Pancho’s Blanket, at The Bauer; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
The Repurpose Collection is set to debut 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, on the runway during a collaboration with the Garvey family’s Feed A Family nonprofit.
It’s all part of the Keeping Others Warm artisan showcase organized by Pancho’s Blanket at The Bauer — the Crossroads building that houses the company’s Kansas City shop — through a partnership with artisans in Tlaxcala, Mexico, to design and make wool jackets, blankets, and sweaters.
Click here for tickets to the Nov. 8 event.
The new collection — which Garvey describes as a blend of sustainability with artisanal craftsmanship — is expected to feature limited-edition pieces made out of the company’s signature blankets: just like the one he received from his brother.
Garvey — a University of Missouri-Kansas City business school grad and veteran of the U.S. Marines — first saw the coat’s prototype on a business trip to Mexico where he was overseeing production of 1,000 Pancho’s Blanket pieces for a blanket order from GEHA. He was inspired.
An artisan cloak from Pancho’s Blanket at the business’ Crossroads shop; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
“I realized we could do something really neat with our blankets,” Garvey recalled. “We were like, ‘Let’s design a bunch of new pieces off of our blanket designs that we already have. We’ll just make different coats for every single blanket design.”
A fashion show seemed like the perfect showcase, he added.
The pieces in the new collection will all be woven with repurposed fibers, Garvey noted.
“That’s pretty unique,” he continued. “Then we make them on the (125-year-old) foot pedal loom, the same way we do these (wool) coats, the same way we do the blankets. Essentially, it takes two blankets to make any one of these.”
The limited-edition collection will be made to order, Harvey noted.
“We’re only doing 25 of each tops,” he explained. “Once 25 of them are sold, we’re cutting off orders, never selling them again.”
Click here to follow Pancho’s Blanket on Instagram.
Jonathan Garvey, Pancho’s Blanket; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
An artisan cloak from Pancho’s Blanket; courtesy photo
The Keep Others Warm event is not only meant to highlight the new collection but also to get exposure for the Feed A Family nonprofit, he shared, which his family started to provide families in Mexico with essential food and clothing.
Every purchase from Pancho’s Blanket supports the nonprofit, as well.
“That’s really the focal point,” added Garvey, who noted that his brother and co-founder will be in town from Mexico for the event. “We have provided more than 60,000 meals and counting.”
The fashion show is also set to showcase local artist Jason Wilcox, the ghost painter for the character Vivian Banks on the Peacock TV show “Bel-Air.”
“He’s going to be here painting and selling his painting,” Garvey said.
Noonday Collection — a fair-trade fashion company that partners with artisan businesses all over the world creating opportunities for dignified work — is expected to be on hand with items available for purchase. And representatives from Rightfully Sewn will be helping out with measurements of those who buy the made-to-order pieces.
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