Save & Follow
BA Craftmade Aprons’ Project Black & Blue will see half of all profits go towards helping those in need in the service industry.
The artisan apron manufacturer has enjoyed a healthy success and now they want to share some of that good fortune with those who could do with a hand up in the restaurant business.
The restaurant industry is known to take a toll on the people who work within it. Chefs have traditionally worked long hours at unsociable times, in high-stress environments and often for very little financial reward. The ability to endure working conditions that others simply can’t or won’t has been seen as a badge of honour, however, the industry is also known for being the one with the highest negative impact on mental health. Substance abuse is rife, as is anxiety and depression in the restaurant business. Things are changing, but it will take time.
To acknowledge the bruises, cuts and burns that chefs have to put up with day in, day out, BA Craftmade Aprons decided to create a special product, an apron of course, that actively gives back to the restaurant community. Half of all revenue from the Project Black & Blue line of products will be donated back to projects that have direct and positive impacts for industry workers who are dealing with mental, physical, and/or financial stress.
BA Craftmade Aprons started when Kate Meier’s son, a chef, came to her and asked her to make him a chef’s apron. He knew she had the skills and he was tired of wearing the same useless aprons with insufficient pockets and durability that collected crumbs in the pockets.
Mrs Meier drafted in the help of her two other chef sons to work on improving the design and pretty soon they had a piece of restaurant kitchen workwear that was on a whole other level. Chefs quickly began to appreciate the Craftmade design and through word of mouth the aprons began to fly out the door.
Project Black & Blue grew out of a desire to give back to the community.
“As our business continues to grow, due primarily to the overwhelming support of the service industry family, so must the manner in which we envision our role in this family and our responsibility to give back. It’s not enough to simply acknowledge the bruises, we feel we need to create opportunities to offer real support. With gratitude in our hearts, we respectfully created Project Black & Blue”. - Craftmade Aprons
When you purchase a Project Black & Blue apron, or any of the other Project merchandise, you’ll be directly supporting workers in the service industry. The goal of Project Black & Blue is to provide tangible assistance to the members of the service industry so that they can maintain dignity and continue to work with a higher quality of life.
The money itself accumulates in the Project B&B Fund, allocated out each month to nominees from the online nomination process. Anyone, anywhere within the service industry, can be nominated.
