Marlee's Party to Benefit Joan Rose Foundation

Marlee’s by Tapper’s will host a benefit to help launch its newest vendor, Good Threads – a Michigan born company that raises money for Dominican families in need. Guests are invited to Marlee’s from 6-8 p.m. December 10 to preview the new vendor, Good Threads, which produces colorful, hand-stitched belts. Twenty-percent of sales from the event will benefit the Joan Rose Foundation, which was founded in 2010, giving impoverished Haitian children living in the Dominican Republic the opportunity to succeed in life. For every belt sold ($125), Good Threads is able to feed one child for a month through the Joan Rose Foundation.

Founded by West Bloomfield resident David Palmer following the catastrophic 2010 magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, the Joan Rose Foundation and Good Threads were designed to ease the devastation for some families who were already facing prejudice and poverty.

By training and employing mostly Haitian women to create colorful belts using different cross stitch techniques, the organizations have been able to make a difference in the lives of more than 136 Dominicans. Nearly 75% of the employees at Good Threads have children at the Joan Rose Foundation, and the average employee makes about 250% more making belts than they can make in any other job available to them.

“When we recently met David and he showed us the quality and originality of Good Threads belts, we knew we needed to carry them at Marlee’s,” says Marla Tapper Young, founder and co-owner of Marlee’s. “When we learned more about how the belts were made, by whom and why, we wanted to do something more to help Good Threads share their story. We hope everyone will take the opportunity to learn more about Good Threads and the Joan Rose Foundation.”

Good Threads belts each take 30 hours to create. Featuring high-quality Harness leather, which is used for making saddle harnesses for horses, the leather is tanned with oils and waxes to repel water like no other leather can. After the intricate designs are traced onto canvas, the most talented seamstresses will stitch the intricate belt pattern. Once the pattern is set, seamstresses will fill in the pattern and attach it to the leather strap. The belts are finished in the United States where tongue and buckle are attached and belts are shipped to the customer.

Good Threads belts are guaranteed to last a lifetime. If at any point a belt breaks or falls apart, belts will be replaced or fixed free of charge.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information about Good Threads, please visit www.goodthreadsllc.com. To find out about the Joan Rose Foundation, please visit www.joanrosefoundation.com.

To shop online, or to learn more about Marlee’s, please visit www.marleesstyle.com or call 248.380.9900. Marlee’s carries fashion brands, such as Alex and Ani, Alexis Bittar, Dana Rebecca, Vita Fede, Jennifer Zeuner, Hipchik, Nashelle, , Waxing Poetic, Lacey Ryan, Pono and so much more. Accessories include fragrances, lotions, candles and more from Tocca, Ashlyn’D clutches, Annabel Ingell, J. Devlin etched glass picture frames and boxes and Olivia Riegel decorative boxes, ring holders and more.

Marlee’s by Tapper’s, a shopping experience created by women, for women, brings great design through jewelry and accessories to women at prices they can afford. Marlee’s is located in the center of Twelve Oaks Mall on the second level. People. Culture. Place. Craft. Marlee’s. Experience Marlee’s at www.marleesstyle.com.