On the outside, it looks like a vacant fire station, but a small manufacturing firm inside is churning out high quality outerwear garments for luxury retailers around the world.

UpMarket Stitchers began their operations in January at 1558 Purchase Street, the site of a former maintenance garage for the Fire Department. The firm received financial help from the New Bedford Economic Development Council.

The company has ten employees and is co-owned by Jeff Rose. "I came originally because I wanted the Portuguese-American work ethic," said Rose. He added, "I knew that if there was anyplace left in the United States that I could find people that worked the way they used to work all over the country 40 years ago, it was this area."

Rose says he looked at Fall River but decided on New Bedford in part because of the ambiance of the Historic District. Rose says he often visits Downtown with international buyers and the cobblestone streets and other ammenities have helped him land contracts.

Stitchers hard at work at UpMarket Stitchers / Jim Phillips TSM
Stitchers hard at work at UpMarket Stitchers / Jim Phillips TSM
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