Overland Park, Kansas - August 22, 2016 – Downtown Overland Park is excited to announce that a new line of bags will be available at a variety of retailers to lead into the holiday shopping season. These bags have been created through a partnership with Stitching Change, a grassroots project that provides opportunities for social enterprise for refugee women from Bhutan, Nepal and Burma.

“Stitching Change offers free sewing classes to women, primarily those who have refugee status and are still learning English. The goal is to help them support themselves by making handmade crafts and clothing,” says Stitching Change founder Rakmi Shaiza. “I have great hope that we can blend our women’s traditional skills with new skills (home-based business creation and financial management) so they can be a part of our community workforce.”

The one-of-a-kind products are created from re-purposed and donated materials and will be fashioned into double-sided, reversible shopping bags. Utilizing re-purposed textiles directly supports Downtown Overland Park’s efforts to reduce landfill waste and encourage sustainable practices throughout the district.

This project is the result of a collaboration between the Downtown Overland Park Partnership, Harper’s Fabric & Quilt Co., InterUrban ArtHouse, Minty Fresh Press, Poet Jen Harris, Stitching Change, Ten Thousand Villages Overland Park and Unique Finds Gifts. Additional support for Stitching Change is provided by Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, Prairie Baptist in Prairie Village and many dedicated volunteers.

The bags will be available for purchase starting at October’s Local Life 3^rd Friday event in Downtown Overland Park on Friday, 10/21, for $16.00. Click here for a full list of participating retailers.