Two siblings from Detroit plan on launching a clothing line in Cortkown with the help of ex-inmate employees, Crain's Detroit Business reports.
Christian Birky, 24, and Kathryn Birky, 27, plan to launch a sustainable men’s clothing line, Lazio LLC, starting with white T-shirts that will retail for $167 for a white one and $198 for indigo, Natalie Broda of Crain's reports. The shirts will come with a lifetime guarantee.
Crain's reports that the two have invested $80,000 in the startup, which is based out of the Corktown creative incubator, Ponyride.
Christian Birky tells Crain's the idea of hiring ex-inmates came to him while tutoring in a prison while at Princeton University. The inmates will help sell and manufacture the product.
“I spent my whole life working on social justice, but I have a whole wardrobe of clothes made by kids in horrible conditions,” Birky tells Crain's. “I didn’t want to feel guilt about it; I knew there had to be a better way.”
Of the initial six to eight employees, at least three will be ex-inmates, Crain's reports.
The two have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise additional capital for their business.
