History Hour- Stitched Together: A history of the Norwich Knitting Co. and Walt Disney

Stitched Together: A History of the Norwich Knitting Co and Walt Disney

Long before Hollywood became a global merchandising empire, a small manufacturer in Norwich struck a deal that changed the entertainment industry forever. “Stitched Together” reveals the fascinating, untold history of how the Norwich Knitting Company partnered with a young, struggling Walt Disney to launch the world’s very first Mickey Mouse apparel. The author will share how an industrial pioneer kept his business afloat during the height of the Great Depression, bringing a pie-eyed cartoon icon straight from the silver screen into the fabric of American homes. Join us for an intriguing journey through the secret alliance that helped save a local workforce while birthing modern Disney merchandising.

About the author/presenter:

Christian Vischi graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and communications from the State University of New York at Potsdam, with dual minors in jazz performance and French. Upon graduation, he was recruited to a locally owned newspaper with both daily and weekly publications. He quickly assumed the editor’s chair of the weekly Gazette and then transitioned to a regional editor position for a large daily paper in New York’s North Country. After two years he returned to Central New York, spending five years each in municipal government administration, in communications at the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church, and Clear Path for Veterans, a veterans’ services organization supporting service members across 33 counties in New York. After three years at a global, private, for-profit manufacturer of materials science, Vischi joined the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Colgate University as assistant director. He is the chairperson of the Campus Venture Initiative, a certifying body for student ventures to operate on-campus, and a member of the Colgate Hello steering committee, which strives to create a culture of welcome, access, community, and development for all employees. Vischi is a certified master gardener, USASBE Social Entrepreneurship certified, and a privately contracted graphic designer.