Left to Right: Abigail French, Regional Vice President at Steelcase and Katie Buhl, Associate Principal at Unispace; Upcycled quilt and jackets
On Tuesday night, Sep. 9, design lovers gathered at Steelcase’s Columbus Circle showroom for Design Industries Foundation (DIFFA) and Sewciety NYC’s Threads for Impact.
The one-night-only event brought in $73,000 through the sale, auction, and raffle of gorgeous quilts, totes, pillows, and jackets—all handmade from upcycled materials. Since Sewciety NYC’s inception, the organization has saved over two tons of fabric and textiles from landfills. Various items—from colorful pillows to chic denim jackets—are still available for purchase, starting at $45 (link to purchase here). All proceeds go to supporting DIFFA’s mission of uplifting underserved communities through design.
Official event sponsors were Steelcase, Benjamin Moore, Evensonbest, Florim, Galerie Magazine, HOK, and Rockwell Group. Wine was provided by Threadcount, courtesy of sponsor Napa Valley Quilt.
With federal funding for many vital programs at risk, DIFFA’s work is more important than ever.
ABOUT DIFFA
DIFFA grants funds to organizations that provide aid and access to healthcare for a diverse group of people affected by HIV/AIDS, food & housing insecurities, and mental health issues. Harnessing the design industry’s resources and creativity to respond to critical health issues and build a healthier, robust, and inclusive community. In other words, making a DIFFA-rence! Mobilizing the immense resources and creativity of the design community, DIFFA has granted more than $57 million to hundreds of charities nationwide. www.diffa.org
DIFFA received a 4 star (98%) ranking from Charity Navigator, telling donors they can trust the foundation to make the best use of their contributions.
ABOUT SEWCIETY
Sewciety is a collaborative design collective launched by Abigail French (Steelcase) and Katie Buhl (Unispace). What began as a creative outlet has grown into a powerful platform for sustainability and social good—uniting designers, industry professionals, and makers to give new life to discarded textiles.