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Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Fashion Week.
Saint Louis Fashion Week
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Photo courtesy of Arcturis.
An architectural rendering of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund Incubator space in downtown St. Louis.
The Saint Louis Fashion Fund announcement earlier this week that it is accepting applications for its inaugural two-year design residency signifies a major achievement in the mission of the organization’s St. Louis Fashion Incubator (SLFI).
“It’s important to stress that our plans don’t stop with our six designers,” says Saint Louis Fashion Fund Executive Director Eric Johnson. “We want to catalyze the building out of a true district downtown for fashion and other creatives. Our goal is to be the rising tide that lifts all boats in the fashion and culture space in St. Louis.”
Johnson, the former New York City Economic Development Corporation's vice president for fashion and arts, oversaw $20 million in fashion initiatives and launched numerous programs to support fashion entrepreneurs, before relocating last year to his native St. Louis.
The six designers who are chosen for the Fashion Incubator will begin their residencies on January 1, 2017, with the Incubator providing each of the designers with free work/living space, best-in-class business curriculum, mentorship from a local and advisory council, access to small-run sampling and manufacturing and top-line sales opportunities in major markets. The designers will also receive support from Olin Business School at Washington University to develop partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
Applications are being accepted in several categories, including: Men’s and Women's Ready-to-Wear, Children's apparel, and Accessories, such as jewelry, shoes, handbags, and millinery.
Tania Beasley-Jolly, founding board member and chair of the Caleres Award for Emerging Designers, spearheaded a talent search committee in various cities around the country.
"That search, combined with the applications received, will set in motion an exciting dynamic that promises to not only set a bar of creativity and originality, but also dedication to producing and building a brand here in St. Louis,” she says. “The talented six will be part of a bigger mission and collective consciousness to bring the business of fashion back to the historic garment district and put St. Louis back on the map.”
A panel of top industry professionals will select the six designers. They are: Christene Barberich, global editor-in-chief and founding member of Refinery 29; Michael Fink, dean of the School of Fashion at Savannah College of Art Design; Fern Mallis, creator of New York Fashion Week; Lisa Smilor, executive vice president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America; Gary Wassner, CEO, Hildun, and co-founder and chairman of Interluxe Holdings; and Fashion Designer Timo Weiland.
“The Strategy and thought that has gone into the planning of the Saint Louis Fashion Incubator is so different from other incubators around the country,” says Wassner. “Not only will it impact emerging designers' businesses, but it will also impact the entire fashion and design economic system of St. Louis and the region.”
Application materials are available online at Saint Louis Fashion Incubator. The deadline for submissions is July 14, 2016.
Instagram: @stlfashionfund. Incubator hashtag: #SLFI
