WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Clothing Fit for a Prince

Burlington, Vermont - June 5, 2009

The embroidering machines at Select Design are going full-bore, but even their sound couldn't drown out the cheers that erupted here a week ago.

Employee Shelby Colgan beams, "I thought it was awesome! It's pretty cool. I mean, he's famous!"

The team spotted Prince Harry of Wales in a shirt they produced. Chuckling, Lindsay Johnson asks, "Does that mean we sort of vicariously touched Harry?"

Prince Harry wore the shirt in a star-studded polo match in New York City in late May. The event raised money for the prince's charity Sentebale. The word means "forget me not," and the group continues the work of the late Princess Diana: supporting some of Africa's poorest children, many of whom are orphans or suffer from AIDS.

Select Design counts champagne maker and polo match sponsor Veuve Clicquot as one of its clients. That list also includes several national brands like Pepsi, Whole Foods, MTV, and Dunkin' Donuts.

Select's Chuck Mauro says, "We have a big group here, a lot of creative resources. We're able to get a lot done for our clients and shorten the timeline for their decision-making."

The firm does marketing, product development, graphic design, screen printing and other manufacturing. With 20 years experience and more than 75 employees, Select Design serves both small local clients and big names.

While they always ship product far and wide, the workers call the Prince Harry project a compliment. "Any number of people could do this work," Gwen Tomaino explains, "and we're being chosen, so that's a nice feeling. I like that!"

A brush with royalty for this company's "Made in Vermont" products.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News - Made in Vermont