What first began as a new hobby amidst a global pandemic has now become an increasingly popular hat brand. Just over a year after purchasing her first sewing machine, 23-year-old UVM student Emma Schacht, a Community-Centered Design major, has launched a successful hand-made ski and snowboard hat business GORD-ON.

“I had never sewn before, let alone made hats, but I kind of just randomly bought a sewing machine from my friend,” Schacht explained.  GORD-ON has not only become a popular fashion trend within the UVM community but has allowed Schacht to integrate her major by being able to target and work with specific local communities.

The Community-Centered Design major is not just about designing physical things, but teaches students to incorporate elements of economics, communities, and marketing into the design process – whether designing for a physical product or a new policy. Offering this new major in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE) at UVM allows students to collaborate within their communities and networks, and provides them with an interdisciplinary curriculum that encourages creativity and exploration.

Through some trial and error, Schacht began figuring out how to make hats and started making them for herself and friends. However, what led to her to create GORD-ON was when several members of the skiing community approached her friends, asking about the hats. “People were asking where they're from and were like you should sell them,” Schacht recalls. “So I started doing that, and that went very well.”

Introducing GORD-ON, “Fleeced hats made with love.” Schacht launched her website midway through the pandemic. What differentiates her brand is her dedication to giving back. Thirty percent of her proceeds go directly to the American Suicide Prevention.

“For me, it's not about the money,” Schacht explains. “It's more just to be able to donate a good amount of proceeds because it's very important to me.” 

With plans to expand her business, Schacht has a lot of gratitude for the new Community-Centered Design Major, which she says has directly benefited her studies and business. 

“[The major] is more focused on the community aspect of things, rather than graphic design, it's more than art. It focuses on what the students want to do and how we want to give back to the community,” she said. 

The Community-Centered Design major was launched in 2020. It incorporates design skills into building communities and creating positive societal change. The overarching goal is to create a collaborative environment and intertwines graphic design, visual communication, material products, policy systems, and problem-solving within communities, groups, and organizations. 

 For Schacht, the major incorporates all aspects of how to network in local communities and has taught her tangible skills such as how to design a website, how to market, and how to continue advertising for her brand. 

She offers the following advice for students thinking of majoring in Community-Centered Design: “CCD gives you a chance to make your way.  It’s more than just design-based, it has helped grow my business, benefitted and shaped my portfolio, and strengthened my entrepreneurial skills. I’ve changed my major so many times but this is by far the best one and I’m glad I’m here for it.”

Hana Kuckovic is a sophomore public communication major at UVM with a concentration in community media & journalism. This article originally appeared in the CDAE Spring 2022 newsletter.