Clothing, concerts, creatives, and… charity? One of Indy’s up-and-coming nonprofits finds a way to do it all. Below, we dive into the creation of Habitat Sartorial, a nonprofit company that strives to create a better home for Indy by supporting local artists. With a big heart and bigger dreams, Habitat Sartorial has already proven to be uplifting Indy by hosting local concerts, selling merchandise inspired by Indianapolis, and interviewing creatives on the same mission to enhance the creative platform in the city. This Q&A with the team shares some insight as to who they are, and how your support for them can change the future of Indianapolis!
Photography by KJ Bail
Emily Bouck: What’s the story behind the name/logo of Habitat Sartorial?
Habitat Sartorial: Sartorial is a word meaning “relating to clothing,” and our goal is to help build habitats for people who need them in Indy. Our logo also directly incorporates the numbers “317,” keeping our identity rooted in the city we were founded in.
EB: How many members does this team consist of, and what roles do you each play?
HS: There are four of us who run the company. Tyler Benson, Head of Engineering, creates and oversees the website habitatsartorial.org, and is also the first point of contact for any technological innovations in software, social media, and our hand-made printing process, among other responsibilities.
Jack Hidde, the Head of Design, is in charge of all design work for our original collections, although he often speaks with the rest of the board for design feedback before it becomes official product.
Edem Kabasa, the Head of Ethics, ensures all goods we produce and distribute are ethically sourced, environmentally friendly, and something both Habitat Sartorial and our customers can be proud of.
Payne Vogtman, Head of Operations, handles legal filings, runs the financial side of the company, and manages inventory while printing and shipping orders.
EB: How long has Habitat Sartorial existed, and in what ways has becoming an official nonprofit expanded your business?
HS: The four of us met in April 2019 to discuss the idea and see if we could turn it into a real enterprise. Becoming an official nonprofit in June 2022 vets our promise to our customers that we exist for the benefit of Indianapolis nonprofits. The new partnerships we’ll be able to make as a 501c3 will help us bring our unique take on raising money for charity to a larger audience.
EB: Where did the inspiration come from to create this nonprofit?
HS: All of the board members are from Zionsville, and we felt that we had been given many advantages growing up, and that it was only right to give back to our community with the skills we’ve developed. Habitat Sartorial is the avenue we’ve developed through which to do that.
EB: I notice that you not only have merchandise available, but also put on events that include local Indy creatives/artists. Who would you say is your target audience?
HS: Our goal is to show anyone who wants to give back how easy it can be to donate to charity in Indianapolis. We hope to appeal to anyone who is in tune with Indianapolis as a whole and enjoys keeping up with prominent community members and events. As we’ve expanded, we’ve noticed that partnerships with talented people and other organizations are usually beneficial for everyone involved. The work we’ve started doing with local creatives gives them a platform to share their talent and gives us the opportunity to bring news of our mission to more folks in Indianapolis. Some local artists we have featured at our most recent concert include Huckleberry Funk, HenryD, and Arboretum.
EB: Where do your profits go towards, and who makes the decisions as to what charities you donate to?
HS: Our Head of Ethics, Edem Kabasa, selects the charities we donate to after an extensive research process. We then work with the charities to ensure our donations are used in productive, carefully designed, and executed outreach programs for Indianapolis’ homeless population.
EB: What is the ultimate goal? In what ways do you hope to grow Indy?
HS: We started the company to allow people to give to charity through everyday activities, like buying clothes and attending concerts. As we grow, we’ll explore more avenues for people to give back. As the four of us finish college and move to other cities, we’re bringing the business plan with us. The ultimate goal is for Habitat Sartorial to be an option for people nationwide, across a broad range of ordinary goods and services, where people can do business with us to give back to charities in their city.
EB: Where do you see Habitat Sartorial being in five years? How about ten?
HS: We will strive to become a major player in the fashion industry and a relevant nonprofit in many cities in that time. We’ll continue to explore partnerships with creatives as ways to uplift both their art and charity wherever we operate.
EB: Any last-minute thoughts you want to include?
HS: Sure—we’re in the fundraising stage now that we’re a 501c3. We know our business model works.Over forty percent of our followers have placed an order with us, so now we just need to spread the word. The more apparel we sell, the more money we donate. What we can do is take a large amount of invested funding—grants, donations—from a small group of people to build avenues for a huge population to donate a small amount each. With this process, a small donation to Habitat Sartorial can become a large donation to Indy’s outreach charities in just a few years. We’re happy to speak with anyone about our programs, vision, and progress with contributed capital.each out to Payne Vogtman at payne@habitatsartorial.org with any questions.
