You may remember Amy Nicole Swift, founder of Building Hugger in Detroit. She’s a talented builder, bad-ass, and restorer of old. The Motor City is littered with gorgeous architecture from decades past. As folks move into the magnificent homes that need some extra TLC, they look for a pro like Amy to help them maintain the building’s integrity and history.
Why is it so important to keep things accurate in restoration construction? I’ll let Amy tell you.
“Buildings are an archive of our collective history, so there is an intrinsic value in the historic materials that comprise them. Everything tells a story. When original components of a building are removed we lose that connection to the past. Moreover, the material quality and craftsmanship of historic components like windows are absolutely irreplaceable. That’s why I’ve been working hard to develop a business model that can make repair and restoration of old windows a more accessible option.
It is important when we envision the futures of existing buildings that we consider the page we will write with our work. I love that the work we do helps to preserve these buildings for years to come, and that tradespeople in the future will look after our work as we look after the work of the tradespeople that came before us. It’s very fulfilling to see my work as part of a compendium of architectural stewardship — like the great master builders of the past.” -Amy Nicole Swift
In the photos above, Amy and Jennifer are removing the windows from a gorgeous Detroit mansion so they can restore them back at their work space. So much heavy lifting and immaculate detail work goes into this process. Stay tuned in the days to come and see a bit more of these women on a mission.
The clothes shown above will be available in Spring 2016. Check out what you can get your hands on now here.
Crafted in Carhartt 