Honoring Drew’s Legacy: How Opportunity Threads Supports Drew’s Cruisers™ Adapted Onesies
Every garment tells a story — but some stories start with love, resilience, and a mother’s determination to help her child feel safe and comfortable during the hardest days of treatment.
That’s the origin of Drew’s Cruisers™.
Originally designed by Mandy Slocum for her son, Drew, while he was undergoing treatment for infantile cancer, these specially adapted onesies were created to protect his central lines while still allowing him to develop and function naturally and without delay, like a typical baby. What started as a mom’s solution quickly became a lifeline for other families facing the same challenges.
Today, Drew’s legacy lives on — and grows — through the Drew’s Cruisers™ program, which became part of the Zip With Us® family in 2023. The program is still lovingly led by Mandy from Charlotte, NC, and now reaches more than 50 pediatric hospitals across the United States.
Sewing with Purpose: Opportunity Threads in Morganton, NC
Behind every Drew’s Cruiser™ is not only a story of love but a team of skilled hands and compassionate hearts. Opportunity Threads, a worker-owned cut and sew factory located in Morganton, NC, plays an essential role in helping us meet the growing demand for Drew’s Cruisers™.
Opportunity Threads isn’t just any factory — it’s a values-driven, worker-centered cooperative committed to sustainable manufacturing, living wages, and creating opportunities in rural North Carolina. They specialize in working with mission-based organizations like Zip With Us® to produce small-batch, high-quality textile products that truly make a difference.
Their team — composed of talented artisans, many of whom are immigrants or from historically marginalized communities — brings expertise, pride, and care to every stitch. Their partnership allows us to scale thoughtfully while never compromising on the quality or intentionality that Drew’s Cruisers™ represent.
More Than a Garment — A Legacy of Care
When a hospital receives a shipment of Drew’s Cruisers™, they’re not just receiving adapted onesies — they’re receiving garments made by a community of people who care deeply about the patients who will wear them.
The connection flows from Mandy’s original design for her son, through the hands of the skilled team at Opportunity Threads, and finally to the brave young patients who will wear them during treatments.
Drew’s story — and the comfort and protection of Drew’s Cruisers™ — lives on in every hospital room, every clinic, and every family who receives one.
This is what it looks like when love and legacy meet community and craftsmanship.
About Opportunity Threads
Opportunity Threads is a worker-owned cut and sew cooperative based in Morganton, NC, specializing in sustainable, ethical textile production. With a focus on community development and living-wage jobs, they partner with mission-driven brands to create products that have a positive social impact. Learn more at opportunitythreads.com.
