Redemption Apparel and Steam Driven Boutique joining forces

Redemption Apparel and Steam Driven Boutique, both extensions of MY House, are joining forces to create Redemption Apparel AK.

This merger will benefit the business by cutting down on operating costs, generating high-quality, sustainable products and creating a new space for MY House clients to learn important job skills. Program Director Juliah Barnett at Redemption Apparel AK explained the process of this merger.

“This year we decided to move in a more forward-thinking, sustainable direction and combine forces with the boutique, who's already been selling our apparel,” Barnett said. “To not only offer more sustainable up-cycled options as part of our job training, … but also level up and give the Steam Driven Boutique a rebrand that is going to make us the boutique place to be in the Valley.”

Barnett was one of the first interns at Steam Driven Boutique 10 years ago. She returned as a project manager to oversee the Redemption brand and its training program in 2022. The goal of this program is to create job training opportunities centered around a clothing brand that serves as a creative outlet for clients of My House.

MY House serves youth aged 14-25 that are homeless or are at risk of being homeless. They provide support in the form of shelter, education and counseling. They offer job training opportunities through paid internships with their partnership at NineStar Employment Services. Interns learn how to print t-shirts, embroider, accept donations in-store, price merchandise in the shop and market for online and social media, among other tasks. These skills then make these interns qualified and marketable across the workforce.

“We try to nurture and harness important and essential soft skills for job training,” Barnett said.

The business is currently consolidating their production studio to fit into their new production space, a big process in itself, according to Barnett. She will be working with Steam Driven Boutique Manager Patricia Parker on the building’s remodel, product expansion and job training opportunities. They are also working on new signage for their storefront. Barnett explained that they will be expanding their product sales online and through Facebook and Instagram.

Redemption Apparel AK will be working on providing new, sustainable options in their lineup this year. Barnett explained that they plan on repurposing donated clothing in their studio and creating new apparel from what would otherwise be set aside.

“In 2025, we see great opportunity in taking blank hoodies and T-shirts that would otherwise be discarded and printing or embroidering designs that reflect the voices of our clients and core themes of recovery,” Barnett said. “Thus, contributing to the sustainability movement and embracing the true meaning of the word Redemption.”

Barnett believes that this merger will help to grow the business to be a destination for consumers and a resource for MY House clients in the Valley.

“It’s an exciting and much-welcomed change where collaboration will help the business and community we serve reach their fullest potential,” Barnett said.