Overview

The footwear and apparel industry is in a phase of enormous transformation, as supply chains fall apart, tariffs swing unpredictably, and consumer patterns shift rapidly. Brands need to innovate, incorporating advanced manufacturing for its speed and flexibility. At the same time, Old Town’s historic brick buildings were emptying out. These are two faces of the same problem: an industry that needs co-location to innovate, and a neighborhood full of underutilized buildings that could house it. MiOT set out to connect them at a world-class innovation campus for footwear and apparel that simultaneously anchors the revitalization of one of Portland’s oldest neighborhoods.

Made in Old Town is a central place for brands, suppliers, and manufacturers to gather, share sample-making capabilities, and build a local production footprint. The first phase brings three adaptively reused buildings and approximately 120,000 square feet online, including an end-to-end sample-making facility with cutting-edge advanced manufacturing equipment and a seven-story supplier ecosystem tower. The longer-term vision is to grow into a full mixed-use campus with housing, retail, and community amenities. The campus is owned by a Perpetual Purpose Trust, an innovative structure that ensures all profits are reinvested in the neighborhood in perpetuity.