Sarah Vander Newt recently sewed the final thread on the 2,500th jacket she made since founding her Denver-based clothing company, Vander Jackets.
For the Aurora-based designer, each individually designed and sewn product is a work of art. The designer sources materials from surplus fabrics found in the metro area, upcycling excess inventory into functional, eye-catching pieces. The jackets are thoughtfully crafted to accommodate everything a runner needs, including a watch hole, extended cuffs that double as gloves, thumb holes, and a variety of open pockets, including a back pouch that can hold anything from an extra layer to a water bottle or dog treats.
If you go
Dates: August 10th and 11th
Saturday: 10am to 4pm
Sunday: 10am to 4pm
Location: Historic South Gaylord Street, 1000 block of South Gaylord Street (between Tennessee and Mississippi).
For more information, visit fireflyhandmade.com
“Good design is thoughtful because it brings beauty into people’s lives and solves problems,” says Vander Newt. And for the designer, creating the Vander Jacket was exactly that: While pregnant with her daughter in 2011, Vander Newt needed a jacket to wear for running.
“This was a time in Colorado when everyone was wearing a two-tone Columbia, North Face or REI brand down coat,” VanderNewt says.
Unable to find jackets that fit her growing body properly and tired of wearing her husband’s old sweatshirts, she designed some jackets for pregnant women. After her daughter was born, she sold the jackets at a Denver flea market. The jackets were an instant hit, resonating with Colorado’s outdoor demographic as well as runners looking for functional, stylish designs.
“Coloradans know they need jackets,” VanderNewt said, “and we hear all the time that people are ready to buy jackets because they plan on wearing them.”
A runner takes a break wearing a Vander Jacket designed for road running. Courtesy of Vander Jacket
Since then, the business has expanded from jackets to sports vests, tank tops, hats, balaclavas, bags, etc. Today, the business employs a small but productive team of diverse women from the Denver area, who manufacture and sell their products through their online website and locally in Colorado.
“I remain excited about the fact that I’m making clothes that people will wear during the healthiest time of their day,” Vander Newt said, emphasizing that the clothes can be worn by anyone, whether they run or not.
A runner herself, Vander Newt had an eye for colorful sportswear from an early age, growing up in the running capital of Eugene, Oregon. Her father was a Nike marathon runner and would often sample Nike apparel.
“He would wear the products up to 100 miles a week, then he’d get out his yellow legal pad and send it back with his thoughts on everything,” Vander Newt said. Growing up watching the clothing design process up close and learning to sew from his mother, Vander Newt developed a passion for fashion design and went on to college in Texas and Idaho, and eventually graduate school in Colorado, where he decided to make a living.
The idea of using surplus materials began as a necessity for a gritty fashion designer with an eye for treasures, but soon became central to the business mission.
She got to work scouring the Denver area for surplus fabric, sourcing it from craft stores, local art supply stores, recycling sites like Craigslist, and local sporting goods companies. Even after 12 years of making products, she’s still amazed at how much fabric waste and surplus materials are out there.
As for the possibility of expanding the business, Vandernewt said the company needs the right business partners and needs to grow slowly in line with its business values. One of the main considerations for growth is access to fabric.
“The leftover fabric we use can be limiting, but it’s those limitations that push me into creative territory,” Vander Newt says. “I had a ton of fabric, so I decided to make windbreakers. Our company’s mission sets limitations that force me to innovate.”
The Firefly Handmade Market showcases local artisans and handmade goods. Courtesy of Firefly Handmade
Firefly Handmade takes the Vander Jacket to a new level
“I did the Chicago Marathon Expo last October, which was a big step for my business and my best sales day,” Vander Newt said. “My second best sales day was when I did the Firefly Market on a 90-degree day.”
Held each summer on Old South Gaylord Street in Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood, the Firefly Handmade Market brings together small-scale artisans and uniquely Colorado products.
Founded by three friends in Boulder in 2010, Firefly Handmade has grown over the years into a thriving community of makers. Markets are held three times a year: in the spring, summer and fall, plus one holiday market each year in Denver and one in Boulder.
Each market features a selection of artists across 16 categories of products, from skincare, pottery, jewelry, apparel to visual art. While many artists return each year, about a quarter are new, keeping each market fresh with new products on display. Artists are required to have a presence on the festival grounds, which Beth Pomerantz, owner and creative director of Firefly since 2013, stresses is an essential part of the market’s unique atmosphere.
“We think it’s important that they can share their stories,” Pomerantz said, “We’ve cultivated a wonderful community of artisans, shoppers and friends of Firefly, and we’ve been fortunate to receive so much support from the communities in which the festival is held.”
A visitor smells a candle at Firefly Market. Courtesy of Firefly Handmade
Pomerantz said the festival connects customers with local businesses near the market to support the community in return. For example, instead of bringing out food trucks, Firefly encourages festival shoppers to stop by restaurants and shops around the market. Pomerantz hopes that local businesses will attract more customers not just during the festival, but throughout the year through the added exposure.
The Firefly Handmade Summer Market also features live music and, of course, puppy-friendly fun.
