Imagine walking into your favorite store, seeing a hoodie or a jacket you coveted and you hear those dreaded words — SOLD OUT.
The agony.
Fear not. Cleveland’s newest apparel brand, SOZO has a solution for that.
Recently opened in Pinecrest, SOZO (named after the Greek God, Soteria, the Goddess of safety and preservation) is the first store of its kind offering a “farm to table” concept to the apparel industry with a 2,200 square foot store will have a visible cut-and-sew operation onsite.
“It’s exciting to be able to show how SOZO products are made and bring true transparency to the fashion industry.” says Todd Leebow, SOZO “With quality craftsmanship at its core, we are taking this brand to a whole new level.”
Creative leads Danielle Pusateri, David Vangieson and Dean Ferguson developed the collection for SOZO featuring high quality tees, hoodies, outerwear, knit accessories and more.
This “farm-to-table” concept adopted from the restaurant industry is good for substantially in several ways: by eliminating the need for large orders of garments, reducing the need for transportation costs and removing certain environmental impacts to occur during some phases of production. Furthering their commitment to the local economy, SOZO employs fashion students from Kent State University and looks to hire more skilled sewists in the area.
In addition to SOZO’s handmade apparel and accessories, the store also features a collection of curated footwear, books and skincare brands.
To learn more about SOZO, visit the flagship location at Pinecrest, in Orange Village or online at shopsozo.com. See more photos of the shop here.
ABOUT THE WRITER:
Dru Thompson is a fashion designer who owns and operates Dru Christine Fabrics and Design, a design studio located in Lake Affect Studios in the Superior Arts District. Through community involvement, Thompson has firmly established herself in the arts and fashion community as a writer, educator at the Cleveland School of the Arts, and mentor for aspiring entrepreneurs. To learn more about the designer, visit www.druchristine.com, on Instagram @druchristine,Twitter @druchristine and Facebook: Dru Christine Fabrics and Design.