New ISAIC Headquarters at College for Creative Studies (CCS) Opens Doors for Talent, Innovation, and Community Impact

Press Release

The Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) is growing, and with that growth comes a new home. In late spring 2026, ISAIC will officially relocate to an expanded space within the College for Creative Studies A. Afred Taubman Center for Design Education, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s evolution and impact.

Rooted in Detroit’s legacy of creativity, industry, and innovation, ISAIC is proud to deepen its presence in the city it calls home, acting as a pillar in the local community of makers, do-ers, entrepreneurs and industry. The move allows ISAIC to significantly scale its operations, expand its fully equipped classroom, and offer unmatched access to advanced apparel manufacturing equipment and technology—empowering job seekers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders alike.  

“Returning to the A. Alfred Taubman Center—especially the fourth floor—feels like a full-circle moment for Detroit’s manufacturing and innovation community,” said Jennifer Guarino, Co-founder and CEO of ISAIC. “This is the space that first brought me to Michigan, where I helped build Shinola’s leather manufacturing unit and later served as VP. It’s long been a place where the textile and apparel industry has grown, and now it’s a home where education, production, and innovation come together to move domestic manufacturing forward.” 

The new space will be more than double the size of ISAIC’s current footprint. This expansion enables ISAIC to serve more community members, grow its training and innovation programs, and strengthen its role as a national hub for innovation, skilling, and workplace culture in the textile and apparel industry. By bringing together local and global partners under one roof, ISAIC will continue to create accessible pathways into advanced manufacturing while accelerating solutions for a more efficient, sustainable industry. 

Strategically positioned alongside the CCS Fashion Design Program, recognized for its close collaboration with global brands, the new space reinforces the connection between education and industry. Through joint programming and shared resources, ISAIC and CCS will create new pathways for students, job seekers, entrepreneurs, and the broader apparel and textile ecosystem. 

“We are excited to welcome ISAIC as a new tenant to the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education,” said Don Tuski, President, College for Creative Studies. "For more than a century, the College for Creative Studies has distinguished itself as a leader of talent development and creativity for the art and design community, and ISAIC’s innovative mission-driven work will be a welcome addition.”  

“Bringing ISAIC into the Taubman Center creates a rare and powerful bridge between design education and industry, expanding what’s possible for our students, our community, and the future of apparel manufacturing, right here in Detroit,” added Aki Choklat, International Fashion Designer, Linda Dresner Endowed Chair in Fashion Design at CCS, and ISAIC Board Member. 

The official ribbon cutting for The Center will take place during ISAIC Honors on April 23, 2026. The annual award ceremony celebrates the individuals and organizations driving meaningful change across the textile and apparel industry and will bring industry leaders from across the country to Detroit to honor the recipients and celebrate the opening of ISAIC’s expanded home. Members of the press are invited to preview the space ahead of the event. 

For more information about ISAIC and its initiatives, visit www.isaic.org. 

About ISAIC 

The Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) is a Detroit-based national nonprofit institute for innovation and skilling in the advanced manufacturing of apparel and textiles. ISAIC tackles fashion’s $1 trillion waste crisis by pioneering advanced, human-centric manufacturing. Its Innovation Center serves as a live testing ground for solutions that increase efficiency, eliminate waste, and create high-skilled jobs while reducing environmental harm. 

 ISAIC iteratively tests, validates, and trains people on new technology under one roof—accelerating transformation across the apparel and textile industry. ISAIC is where people and technology work together to advance practices, processes, and possibilities. 

About College for Creative Studies 

The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a nonprofit, private college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. CCS, named an Opportunity College by the Carnegie Classifications, fosters students’ resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, engage their responsibilities as citizens and learn throughout their lives. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, including transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business. 

This press release was issued on February 13, 2025. ISAIC is a member of SPESA.

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