Case study · 02 — An &Kin give-back

Detroit Achievement Academy

The nation's first student-designed streetwear school uniform.

The DAA Uniform Project was part of our &Kin give-back. Over six weeks, we led a group of Detroit Achievement Academy students through our mentorship process, from first sketches to finished garments, as they designed a uniform collection they're proud to wear. Co-created with SANA Detroit and funded by the community, the project raised over $30,000 in uniform scholarships for the school.

Services: &Kin mentorship
Apparel design
Collection curation
Partners: SANA Detroit
DAA students & families
Funded by: The community
Year: 2024

$30K+raised in uniform scholarships

6weeks, start to finish

1ststudent-designed streetwear school uniform in the U.S.

Four students posing in a classroom in the orange We Are Crew tee and pink, green and blue D.A.A. crewnecks

Student in the grey DAA sweatsuit with a foot on a basketball at center court

Two students by the library shelves, one wearing a black tee printed with the school values in rainbow colors

01 — Designed by students, mentored by us

A uniform they made.

The school's values — compassion, cooperation, curiosity, creativity, perseverance, integrity, responsibility and courage — became the collection's graphic language, carried by the "We Are Crew" torch. Through our &Kin mentorship process, students shaped the colors, graphics and pieces, from bright D.A.A. crewnecks to tonal sweatsuits and a varsity jacket.

We Are Crew torch emblem with the school values written in the flame and a rainbow handle

02 — Watch the process

The DAA Uniform Project series

A 9-part video series following the students from first ideas to the finished uniform.

Watch on YouTube →

03 — The collection

School spirit, street-ready.

Color-blocked D.A.A. crewnecks, We Are Crew tees, tonal hoodie-and-jogger sets and a varsity jacket, shot around the school: the lockers, the classrooms and the gym.

Two students laughing by the lockers in blue and green D.A.A. crewnecks

Student in headphones wearing the varsity jacket over a tee with a monkey graphic

Students on and around classroom desks in We Are Crew tees and a pink D.A.A. crewneck

Two students in black and grey Detroit Achievement Academy Est. 2013 hoodies in the gym

Students playing in a classroom, backs showing the We Are Crew prints

Three students on the stairs in the black We Are Crew tee, hoodie and crewneck

“They made our dream a reality. A first-of-its-kind streetwear-style uniform, designed by the students who are wearing it.”

Kyle Smitley — Founder, Detroit Achievement Academy

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