Hancher’s uniform production is underway at the Mitchellville prison.
By Addison Martin
As Hancher Auditorium prepares for its grand opening this fall, women at the Mitchellville, Iowa, correctional institution are hard at work sewing new usher uniforms that will be worn by student ushers.
The uniforms, designed by students in conjunction with Iowa State University’s design program, are the product of a four-year partnership with Iowa Prison Industries.
“Our university doesn’t have a design department, and collaboration is really important to Hancher,” said Hancher Executive Director Chuck Swanson. “We also wanted to reach out to other places in Iowa.
The 160 rich wool green and black jackets, which mirror the lavishness of Hancher’s new facility, should be ready in August. Production began in mid-June.
Swanson said he wanted the uniforms to reflect Hancher’s ideals and keep the history alive.
“We lost our usher uniforms when we lost the building, so it was important to have new uniforms,” he said. “Hancher does things in a more creative way, and we wanted do things in an unusual approach. We didn’t want to just go to the internet and order uniforms; we wanted something unique and really different.”
With the uniforms designed by students to be worn by students, Swanson also wanted to make something that student employees would want to wear for years to come.
The Iowa Correctional Institution for Women and Iowa Prison Industries have partnered with Iowa State for four years, but this is the first time that they have been involved with a University of Iowa project. Dan Clark, the director of Iowa Prison Industries, said he is proud to be a part of such a project.
“It really gives the women there an opportunity to work on a great project, to connect with the outside world in a meaningful way, to try to give something back to society,” he said. “We have textile operations there; at this women’s facility, we’ve had interns and other folks with Iowa State work with us for four-years straight, so it was a good fit for us.”
The textile project was put in place at the women’s facilities in Mitchellville and at a men’s facility in Fort Dodge to teach inmates real-life skills and valuable lessons that will prepare them for eventual release, Clark said.
“It really helps them develop skills, to work as a team and address customers as important as Hancher. We’re proud to be part of it,” he said.
Prison Industries plant manager Justin Opfer said that many of these women did not know the history of Hancher; through some learning, they now feel incredibly proud of and connected to this project.
“People from Hancher came down and spoke with the offenders, and [Chuck Swanson] asked about those who knew about Hancher, of about 40, maybe one or two knew what it was,” Opfer said.
To remedy this, Swanson and his partners at Iowa State gave a presentation about the history of Hancher, the flood, and their plans for rebuilding and bringing the oasis of culture back to Iowa City.
“I think that really helped the offenders feel like they’re truly a part of this project,” Opfer said.