Eastern Market-based clothing company Detroit Hustles Harder has partnered with fellow Detroit-based streetwear company First Class Committee on a limited-edition release of 50 sweaters handmade and printed in the city. The two companies are looking at other ways to partner on apparel projects, as well.
Both companies will be hosting a release party for the sweaters at Detroit Hustles Harder’s flagship store in Eastern Market to unveil their collection on Feb. 25 (8 p.m.-10 p.m.). The event will include music, networking opportunities for local artists, and the sale of the collaborative sweaters.
J.P. O’Grady and Brendan Blumentritt, co-founders of Detroit Hustles Harder, began selling shirts out of their backpacks in 2007, after founding a T-shirt company named Aptemal Clothing with a $1,500 hand-printing starter kit. Since then, they’ve taken their business to the next level, but still print their shirts in Detroit.
“We print our shirts here in Detroit, but we’ve always wanted to complement our designs with apparel that was handmade here in the city to produce authentic Detroit apparel”, says O’Grady. “After discussing the opportunity with Terrance (Jones), owner of First Class Committee, we realized that by collaborating together that we’d be able to turn this idea into a reality.”
Jones has been designing and hand-sewing the apparel for First Class Committee for a year and a half, after the company moved to Detroit from Austin, Texas.
“About six years ago on my first visit to Detroit, I came across the Detroit Hustles Harder store and I bought my first shirt from them. Ever since that day I knew that I wanted to collaborate”, says Jones. “Not only am I excited to collaborate with them and create amazing fashion, I’m more so stoked to see two local businesses within the city come together to produce authentic Detroit apparel.”
