Portland has long been at the center of footwear and apparel innovation, with some of the globe’s largest brands – Nike, Adidas, Columbia – headquartered in the region. For this reason, budding footwear and apparel startups have also flocked here, looking to tap into the ecosystem and develop partnerships.
Hilos is one such company that has laid its roots down in Portland. Since its inception four years ago, the footwear maker has operated in the city through the aftershock of the Covid-19 pandemic. Arguably, no area has been hit harder by the fallout than where Hilos’ headquarters sits in Old Town.
I sat down with Elias Stahl, the CEO and co-founder of Hilos, to talk about a new project he is working on alongside a coalition of industry leaders, legislators, local businesses and community stakeholders to revitalize Old Town and the city’s manufacturing sector.
Coined the Made in Old Town project, Stahl shared that “its mission is to transform a derelict manufacturing neighborhood into a green campus for advanced manufacturing of footwear and apparel, showcasing how zero waste manufacturing technologies can bring manufacturing back home while reinvigorating our hardest hit communities.”
"Old Town was among the hardest-hit parts of Portland," said Stahl. "A significant number of buildings on our block were boarded up, and homeless encampments sprang up across the street." Despite these challenges, (the group’s) vision involves revitalizing the area by turning vacant buildings into vibrant manufacturing spaces that coexist around urban housing and local businesses.
Recently, Made in Old Town secured $2 million in funding from Oregon lawmakers for a 30,000-square-foot green manufacturing facility, known as the Footwear and Apparel Manufacturing Innovation hub.
This facility will support entrepreneurs in launching new ventures and assist existing companies in developing and scaling innovative products and technologies, such as water-free dyeing, on-demand 3D printing, and other eco-friendly manufacturing methods.
"The idea of bringing manufacturing back to the city, but doing it differently—with advanced technologies, low to no waste, and a focus on sustainability—was a major driving force of the inception of FAMI," said Stahl. "We want to show that manufacturing can be brought back to urban areas in a way that supports both the community and the environment."
Hilos and its partners are working to create a new kind of manufacturing that integrates with the surrounding community. The goal is to create a mixed-use neighborhood where businesses thrive, residents live, and sustainability is at the forefront.
FAMI is more than just a single company's vision. It is a collaborative effort involving a diverse array of partners including the Old Town Community Association, businesses, academia and government.
"Sens. Elizabeth Steiner and Kate Lieber, and House Speaker Dan Rayfield were instrumental in helping us secure $2 million in government funding," said Stahl. "Their support underscores the importance of this project in revitalizing Portland and creating a more sustainable future."
Made in Old Town recently contracted its first building and is negotiating for several more, while raising another $5 million in funding to complete the first phase of what will become a $125 million project encompassing 365,000 square feet across three city blocks.
Made in Old Town's commitment to inclusivity extends to community involvement. The project seeks to create opportunities for residents and local businesses to participate in the revitalization of Old Town. This includes ownership stakes in the project through crowdfunding, allowing individuals to invest and benefit from the neighborhood's transformation.
"We want to create partnerships with the community, allowing them to be part of this journey," said Stahl.
This is part of a regular guest column written by the Technology Association of Oregon in collaboration with Wise Up PR If you are interested in submitting a guest post please email Malia Spencer at mspencer@bizjournals.com.
