Arctic Gear Updates

Buying American-made products is an essential part of boosting local businesses and supporting American jobs. Arctic Gear proudly provides high quality products made in the USA and has been keeping U.S. Armed Forces warm and protected in all climates, by providing military grade winter gear. If that isn't an incentive, Arctic Gear's profits go right back into the community by providing vital jobs and resources to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

See the quote about Arctic Gear below and check out the full link provided to see other USA-made businesses.

https://www.allamericanclothing.com/pages/100-american-companies-that-sell-usa-made-products

"Arctic Gear makes wool hats to weather whatever the winter holds, but it does so for a higher purpose. Not only does the Waterloo, NY-based company donate 100% of its profits to helping developmentally and intellectually disadvantaged people, but it also employs an inclusive mixed workforce with and without disabilities. The warm, fashionable winter hats and beanies they make are available in infant, toddler, child, and adult sizes on the Arctic Gear website. Anyone interested in having Arctic Gear manufacture private label hats can also find information there."

 

It is not a shock to anyone that 2020 has been a year full of ups and downs that would surely rival the world’s steepest rollercoaster. Despite all that 2020 has thrown at us, it is with an overwhelming sense of pride that Finger Lakes Textiles (FLT) announces an impressive milestone reached with our cold weather accessories line, Arctic Gear! The line, made right in Waterloo, NY has hit 10,000 hats sold! Arctic Gear, which has been in operation since early 2018, is produced by individuals with all levels of ability working side by side in an inclusive manufacturing center.

 

“FLT is an employer for people of all skills and abilities, creating an amazing team” says, Lisa Guernsey, Director of Operations at Finger Lakes Textiles, “it is truly a team effort meeting the quick growing demand for our high-quality Arctic Gear products. Since this past September, the team embraced the customer demand (and no surprise) never missed a beat.”

 

The large increase in demand since this past September can partially be attributed to; a growing product line offering the latest styles, showcasing new sizes for both infant and toddler, as well as the introduction of new materials. We added a line of adult hats that are made completely out of recycled water bottles, called Repreve^TM. All of these new lines, can be found on our website http://www.arcticgear.org which showcases it’s unique “purchase with a purpose” lifestyle. At Arctic Gear, 100% of all profits go towards providing vital resources and programs for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities within the Finger Lakes region. You can also find Arctic Gear on Facebook and Instagram.  

 

"To achieve this milestone is truly remarkable, but even more remarkable are the dedicated and passionate workers we have at Finger Lakes Textiles.  I am so proud of this accomplishment and so grateful for every person across the United States that has purchased one of our hats,” commented Ashley Burke, VP of Clinical and Business Operations at Mozaic, a parent company of Finger Lakes Textiles. “I am excited to see what 2021 brings and look forward to celebrating the next milestone!"

It started with a simple goal: Finger Lakes Textiles (FLT) wanted to get people back to work. The knitting factory came up with an idea that would employ workers and expand business operations beyond the millions of hats it creates each year. The answer was face masks.

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As the COVID-19 Pandemic came to a head, Rob Scott, Executive Director of Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP), knew that the essential workers and incarcerated persons in New York State Prisons were vulnerable to the spread of the virus. Scott was able to reach out to the New York State Department of Corrections to develop a plan to provide face coverings to those individuals currently incarcerated in the State’s Prison System. CPEP Academic Director, Tess Wheelwright, researched mask design and identified one that best fits the needs of the correctional environment

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A recent study from Accenture, in partnership with Disability: IN and the American Association of People With Disabilities, found that companies that make efforts to hire those with disabilities performed better and saw, on average, 23% higher revenue.” 

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