Last October, Brian Carman measured his first client for a suit. He was preparing to launch In Pursuit Of, a nonprofit he founded to give suits and professional clothes to men in need.
Now, six months after launching, Carman is opening a storefront at 429 N. Pennsylvania St. in downtown Indianapolis. His inventory of donated clothes is stored in a climate-controlled warehouse space. And just two weeks ago, he put a decal on his cargo van with custom clothing racks that he uses to take clothes to clients, wherever they are.
Construction company Stenz donated the storefront and the Morales Group donated the warehouse space.
In Pursuit Of serves veterans, formerly incarcerated men and unhoused men who are job searching and want to feel confident for their next interview or their first day at work. The nonprofit finds clients through referral partners such as HVAF or Fathers and Families Center, but you can also reach out online. Carman said they’ve served 77 men so far.
In the months of growth, he’s seen the clothes impact men’s confidence as they head off to job interviews.
“When it first clicked for me that this was going to have the impact that we intended it to, is when I started getting individuals who have been hardened by so many of life’s challenges text messaging me pictures of themselves, telling me how proud they feel,” said Carman, who works at Regions Bank in community development and lending.
“I don’t know if you know this, but that’s not really something that grown men do. They aren’t typically sending pictures of each other in their outfits,” he said.
The new store is appointment-only, and every client leaves with two jackets, two dress shirts, two pairs of pants, three ties, a belt, shoes and a pair of socks. In Pursuit Of also offers steel-toed shoes and a mentorship program.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations. Sign up for our free newsletters.
Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
