Steele Canvas x North Bennet Street School Apron Collab
At Steele Canvas Basket, we love to create things, whether that's designing a new tote bag out on the cutting table or the perfect Beef Wellington in the kitchen, and we've always admired folks who have a shared passion for creating. That’s what led us to collaborating with the historic institution, North Bennet Street School on an apron that’s useful for everyone from home chefs to hardcore hobbyists.
How the Aprons Came to Be
The Steele Canvas team loves to cook (and more so eat) so it’s only natural that we had our sights set on developing an apron we can use and share with others. We use aprons around our shop, but they probably aren’t the kind you’d use in your kitchen. So we reached out to the North Bennet Street School (our longtime neighbors from our Chelsea, MA days) in the North End of Boston for their thoughts on what would make a great apron. We went back and forth over some months and finally landed on something we’re glad to share with the world.
Some words from owner Paul Lordan about this collaboration:
"Game respects game, so it was only a matter of time for Steele and NBSS to collaborate on a project together. We're hoping working on this apron is only the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship." - Paul Lordan
About North Bennet Street School
NBSS was founded in 1881 as the North Bennet Street Industrial School, and its founding mission was dedicated to empowering immigrants by equipping them with essential skills for meaningful employment in their new country.
Over the years, NBSS offered a diverse array of vocational training courses, including pottery, printing, sewing, sheet metal work, and watch repair. While the programs have evolved, their unwavering commitment to teaching individuals the timeless skills needed for gainful employment remains steadfast.
NBSS has played a vital role in shaping Boston’s identity as a city deeply invested in its neighborhoods, the education of its citizens, and the richness of its culture. Through its various social services, from childhood education and recreational activities to pre-vocational and trade training, we’ve supported generations of Boston’s immigrants in building productive and fulfilling lives in their new homeland. NBSS remains as a Boston institution, and just like Steele they’ve adapted to meet modern needs without forgetting where they came from.
We’re so excited for these aprons that we pushed the launch ahead, but stay tuned to see the aprons working hard at The North Bennet Street School.