- Detroit-based label, Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese, opens custom-built and sustainable facility in Sugar Hill District
- Reese’s designs have graced former First Lady Michelle Obama as well as iconic celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Jessica Parker
- The new facility will serve as a design and photoshoot studio, a showroom for buyer and offer art enrichment classes and sewer apprenticeships
- Motor City Match has awarded $12.9M in cash grants; 81% of overall winners are minority-owned businesses and 70% are women-owned
AUGUST 25, 2023 (DETROIT) – Today, Motor City Match recipient and nationally-renowned fashion designer, Tracy Reese, celebrated the opening of her new location in Midtown Detroit. The new facility will serve as a design and photoshoot studio, a showroom for buyers and an in-house factory space that will host sewer apprenticeships. Reese was joined by Mayor Mike Duggan, Motor City Match officials and supporters as she cut the ribbon on her new 3,200-square-foot custom-built space. “Almost 2 ½ years ago, we embarked upon a quest to find a permanent home for Hope for Flowers in Detroit,” said Reese. “It’s been a long and eventful journey with many blessings. I am relieved, elated, proud and grateful to finally move into our new space.” Reese, whose designs have been worn by Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker and Oprah Winfrey, attributes her creativity and success as a designer to art classes she was able to take as a student growing up in the city of Detroit. Now, Reese is committed to providing those same experiences to youth in her hometown, Highland Park and Hamtramck. Every Saturday, the establishment will offer art enrichment classes with a focus on sustainability so students can be good stewards of the planet. On Thursday evenings, similar classes will be provided for adults. “As I learned about fashion’s footprint in the world – the pollution it can cause, the overproduction and abuse of labor by some brands – it became critically important for me to make sure that I was working as responsibly as possible,” said Reese. Hope for Flowers’s new studio embodies its commitment to sustainability in every facet of its design. Detroit-based design and construction firm, Urban Alterscape, designed and built the studio and incorporated the sustainable principles of Hope for Flowers. They integrated materials such as cork, reclaimed wood, and products from recycled materials such as felt acoustic fixtures. The studio also boasts LED lighting, high-efficiency heating and cooling and water-saving devices. “Over the past 8 years, Motor City Match has helped to cultivate and discover a great deal of the entrepreneurial talent we have here in Detroit. Today, we celebrate a Detroiter who already has achieved national success and is opening her new studio and showroom right here in her hometown,” said Duggan. “All Detroiters are incredibly proud of Tracy Reese for her impact on the fashion industry and the legacy she is creating to inspire more young fashion designers here in our city.” Located at 119 Garfield St., the establishment received a $55,000 grant from Motor City Match. The funding was earmarked to bolster and facilitate building renovations, ensuring the venue’s continued growth and enhancement. “In a world where the fashion industry has often come under scrutiny for its environmental footprint, Hope for Flowers stands out as a beacon of hope and change,” said Motor City Match Director Andrew Lucco. “Their commitment to sustainable materials, ethical production practices, and local engagement will undoubtedly set new standards for the fashion world.” Through 23 rounds of Motor City Match:
- Total cash grants: $12.9 million (Total leveraged investment: $68 million)
- 81 percent are minority-owned businesses
- 70 percent are women-owned businesses
- 66 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents
About Motor City Match Motor City Match is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions and corporations including, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Ford Foundation, Hudson Webber Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, New Economy Initiative, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Motor City Match applications are available quarterly. More information is available at www.MotorCityMatch.com