The Avenue of Fashion is driven in a new direction for city revival. She’s opening new shops filled not only with homespun works and global imports, but meaningful people who share a brave heart for being a part of a new beginning of stories and shops on Livernois. Here is a list of new homes to creativity on the street:
Detroit Fiber Works
19359 Livernois, Detroit, Michigan 48221
Detroit Fiber Works is co-owned by two Detroit-born fiber artists, Mandisa Smith and Najma Wilson. Open now for a little over a year, this stumble upon place sells primarily Detroit created goods, with a handful of items collected from Namibia, Africa.
“Opening this place was what we felt was the right thing to do,” said Smith.
Before Detroit Fiber Works, there was the Fiber Arts Cooperative. Fiber Arts Collective was an inspired place that brought fiber artists together to work, bring beauty to the community, and opportunities to learn new things from neighbors. Detroit Fiber Works hoped to parallel Fiber Arts Cooperative, while also offering a generous commission for working artists to sell at their shop as well.
Today, they show and sell their own artistry work, as well as the work of other Detroit artists. Last fall they won the Knight Arts Challenge, which aims to transform communities through art.
“Our Knight project involves teaching free fiber art workshops to children, teens and adults from the community, and then incorporating their work into an outdoor art installation on the Livernois median,” said Smith.
Detroit Fiber Works will be launching a Patronicity (online fundraising) campaign in May to raise our matching funds.
They teach fiber art workshops, and host guest artists for special events. Tai Chi is offered on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m.
http://www.detroitfiberworks.com/
Good Cakes and Bakes Bakery
19363 Livernois, Detroit, Mich. 48221
Gourmet. Organic. Handmade. and home of the Gooey Butter Cake, Good Cakes and Bakes Bakery celebrated two years in operation this past September.
“I wanted to offer people wholesome baked goods that were organic and tasty. Beyond our goods, being community based and welcoming is what brings people back. [Before opening] we knew we wanted to be a “third-place” that was convenient and welcoming to all people,” said April Anderson, owner.
Anderson’s connection to the Avenue of Fashion is rooted in her childhood. “I grew up hearing about the stories on the Avenue of Fashion from my family, and now to be a part of the revitalization of this historic district is a dream come true for us. We plan to continue to grow and provide opportunities to the communities around us,” said Anderson.
goodcakesandbakes.com.
Art in Motion
M. Kay Willingham, owner and ceramicist at Art in Motion, gathered together metal smith artists, a natural hairstylist, award-winning sculptor, and an accessories line–Love. Travels. Imports., and opened a dream studio space for artists on the Avenue of Fashion.
“We have a homeless artist’s self-taught, splash work hung on the walls for sale. We’re all about spreading the love,” said Willingham.
The accessory line, Love. Travels. Imports. celebrates the immediate neighborhood by sharing the greater world with it in the form of fair trade, handmade, woman’s and home accessories. Yevette Jenkins is the founder of Love. Travels. Imports. and a dear friend to Willingham.
“I see my goods as a mark for the beginning of a new journey for people, not just an accessory,” said Jenkins. She mentioned forthcoming travels to South Africa to bring more goods to the neighborhood community, in addition to her already aggregated finds from Botswana, Niger, and India.
lovetravelsimports.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-In-Motion/435304829912384
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