AZ ECO Fashion Week - The Green Side of Fashion

AZ ECO FASHION WEEK: APRIL 23-27

Green is more than just a color for Arizona’s fashion industry

TEMPE, AZ - From April 23-27, sustainable Arizona fashion brands and experts will unite for a week of education, engagement and entertainment exploring eco fashion, slow fashion and sustainability in the business of fashion. 

The event is organized by Arizona Apparel Foundation, LabelHorde, AZ Fashion Source and Arizona State University and takes place at FABRIC, Tempe’s fashion incubator, 132 E. Sixth St., Tempe. 

According to Fashion Revolution, 150 billion items of clothing are delivered out of factories annually yet Americans alone throw away approximately 14 million tons of garments each year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 84 percent of unwanted clothes in the United States in 2015 went into either a landfill or an incinerator. The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry on the planet after the oil industry and the human toll as a result of unregulated factory conditions and unfair wages is equivalent to modern day slavery.

FABRIC co-founders Angela Johnson Sherri Barry started AZ Eco Fashion Week to show that the fashion industry that sustainability and profits are not in opposition. By conserving resources, fashion can actually be even more profitable. 

“Arizona ECO Fashion Week is an effort to shed light on the unsustainable practices of the modern apparel manufacturing industry and highlight the sustainable solutions” said Johnson. “We hope to educate and engage Arizona designers, businesses, academics, youth, students, experts, and leaders in the community to explore a new frontier in the business of ECO Fashion.”

The week includes expert panel discussions, student conversations, a green trunk show and more.  The event will culminate in a “reFABRICate” fashion show highlighting sustainable local brand’s collections as well as FABRIC’s zero waste “reFABRICate” initiative featuring one-of-a-kind garments created by a team of local designers who breathe new life into AZ Fashion Source’s manufacturing scraps. Right after the fashion show, reFABRICate apparel will be available to purchase at the Eco Pop-Up Shop inside FABRIC.

AZ Eco Fashion Week is part of Earth and Fashion Revolution Week. With the support of Fashion Revolution, AZ Eco Fashion Week encourages Arizonans to join in on the conversation at #azecofw and ask #WhoMadeMyClothes on social media during the event. This international effort raises awareness to pressing issues in sustainable fashion and brings international attention to the solution that FABRIC offers with local, small batch manufacturing and design resources. 

For a schedule of events, tickets, panelists, participating designers and more, visit www.azecofashionweek.com 

ABOUT THE SPONSORS

FABRIC is a fashion incubator where emerging designers can grow their abilities and their businesses. Featuring co-working and event spaces, workshops and classes as well as mentorship, micro-manufacturing and marketing opportunities, FABRIC allows designers to take their idea from concept to sewn to sold. The facility is a unique partnership of the City of Tempe, the 501c-3 Arizona Apparel Foundation, LabelHorde and Arizona Fashion Source and is located in downtown Tempe just off of Mill Avenue and on the Arizona State University footprint as well as online at www.fabrictempe.com. 

ARIZONA APPAREL FOUNDATION is an Arizona non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that is located inside of AZ’s fashion incubator, FABRIC and can be found online at www.azapparelfoundation.org. The Foundation’s mission is to provide Arizona’s emerging designers and brands with innovative, small batch manufacturing and strategic business resources, so they can build sustainable fashion businesses locally. Its vision is to support cutting edge research and innovation in wearable tech and to build a sustainable and exciting new industry in Arizona. 

LABELHORDE is a category-driven, online directory of fashion businesses enabling users to easily locate local emerging and established designers, boutiques, manufacturers, photographers, models, stylists, industry supplies, fashion schools and all things fashion related in Arizona. LabelHorde.com also features a Fashion Classifieds page for local fashion jobs, a Fashion Calendar that lists all local and important national fashion events. LabelHorde is located inside of AZ’s fashion incubator FABRIC where it offers lessons/classes, tech pack services, consulting, and design studio resources that designers need to start and run their businesses. 

ARIZONA FASHION SOURCE is a small batch apparel manufacturer located inside AZ’s fashion incubator FABRIC, that uses sustainable and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes to create samples and production runs with no minimums. AFS manufactures heavy- and light-weight knits and wovens on industrial sewing equipment and the latest CAD programs and can be found online at www.azfashionsource.com. 

Contact: Angela Johnson

602-481-1032

labelhordefashion@gmail.com

Fashion Spectacle: Eyewear + Fashion hosted at FABRIC

#fashion #eyewear #designers #FABRC #GrowAZFashion

Fashion Spectacle: Eyewear + Fashion - May 13th, 7 - 10 pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1267990313250315/ - brought to you by Marshall Shore,Hip Historian and Fabric

Showcasing some of the most exclusive local Eyewear Shops in town, including:
Sassy Glasses Optical Boutique LLC, I2Ioptique, Sherwin Optical, Paris Optique - Different eyewear for different people, Vintage from Avante Optics, and Central Eyeworks

Arizona Designers include:
Hamati Design, Heather Kirk, Northern Clover, Alex Sanchez, Electric Lyon Fashion, and DesignHOUSE of Darylene

Over 40 models from:
Young Agency, Victor Navarro, AZ Star Talent & Modeling Management Firm, and free lance.

Tickets in advance $20, at the door $30
Purchase ticket on EventBrite - http://www.fashion-spectacle17.eventbrite.com

Creating an Industry in AZ, Fashion with Arizona Apparel Foundation

Happy to share this announcement for the Arizona Apparel Foundation now located in Tempe, AZ - Press Release Below

______________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Sowby, 602.615.6235, shannonsowbypr@gmail.com 

City of Tempe Contact: Kris Baxter-Ging 480.250.5198 kris_baxter@tempe.gov

ARIZONA’S FASHION INDUSTRY TAKES ROOT IN TEMPE
Three fashion entities collaborate to create one-of-a-kind fashion resource center

in the heart of the Valley

TEMPE, Ariz. (Sept. 9, 2016) – LabelHorde, Arizona Fashion Source and Arizona Apparel Foundation (LH/AFS/AAF) have joined forces with the City of Tempe to create a one-of-a-kind fashion hub in Tempe. This business incubator, production facility and educational resource will position Tempe as the upcoming U.S. fashion city.

Housed in the Tempe Performing Arts Center, LH/AFS/AAF will combine their unique expertise to support local visionaries and entrepreneurs by taking fashion from beginning to end, including everything from business consulting to design services and apparel manufacturing.

“Tempe is known as a creative, innovative city. It is the dream of many people to start their business and work for themselves. Thanks to LabelHorde, Arizona Fashion Source and Arizona Apparel Foundation, the world’s next Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren or Vera Wang could come from Tempe and this fashion incubator,” Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell said. 

LH/AFS/AAF is Arizona’s first and most comprehensive resource for independent fashion companies that puts everything under one roof, including all of the fashion-related services that they need to operate and grow their businesses. It will mean that local brands will no longer have to source their manufacturing outside of the state, while also attracting out-of-state brands looking for resource alternatives. Producing apparel locally keeps money in the state while creating jobs and nurturing the growth of a creative, sustainable and in-demand industry.

“The Valley is home to incredible designers and fashion-centric businesses,” said Angela Johnson, Founder of LabelHorde. “We want to create a fashion industry environment to make it easier for Arizona students, brands and fashion lovers to learn, source, create, network and ultimately stay in Arizona.”

Beyond the creation aspects, the new venture will create opportunities for networking and business growth through events, a co-working space, a showroom and educational services, all in one convenient location.

Today, many Arizona schools are training students to work in fashion, but there remains a lack of hands-on training opportunities and even fewer employment opportunities after graduation. This new fashion center is estimated to create eight jobs immediately, with countless more as the industry takes root locally. More than a dozen independent designer brands will work out of the space, as will several photographers, videographers and fabric printers. Six companies will receive scholarships to work in this fashion hub each year. Approximately 50 people will fill this space immediately.

“In the U.S., there are only about a dozen similar manufacturing facilities, but none are quite like what’s happening in Tempe,” said Sherri Barry, Founder of Arizona Fashion Source. “The distinctive combination of services will create unprecedented opportunities for both new and existing Arizona-based companies that are looking for ways to keep their business local, sustainable and socially responsible.”

Expected to open at the end of this month, the center will create scholarship opportunities to assist budding design entrepreneurs in scaffolding their businesses, along with no-cost classes that will be open to the public. Classes will include everything from sewing to sketching and marketing.

Beyond the creative designs and new businesses this fashion incubator will bring, the city will become just a bit more colorful. People can expect to see fashion shows on Mill Avenue and inside the new facility. The Arizona Apparel Foundation has partnered with the 2016 Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts to bring local designer clothing and fashion shows to the event.

Tempe recently announced the opening of a coworking and entrepreneurial space inside the Tempe Public Library. The Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRiC) is designed to help entrepreneurs network, attend workshops and get the skills they need to launch businesses. Those working at the fashion incubator may also benefit from the opportunities at BRiC. 

“Many cities have business incubators and art galleries. Tempe leads the way with this innovative concept that not only helps people follow their creative path but also gives them tools to open successful businesses,” Mitchell said.    
    

LABELHORDE is a category-driven directory of fashion businesses enabling users to easily locate local emerging and established designers, boutiques, manufacturers, photographers, models, stylists, industry supplies, fashion schools and all things fashion related in Arizona. LabelHorde.com also features a Fashion Classifieds page for local fashion jobs, a Fashion Calendar that lists all local and important national fashion events, lessons/classes, tech pack services, consulting and design studio resources that designers need to start and run their businesses.

ARIZONA FASHION SOURCE is an apparel manufacturer that uses sustainable and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes to create samples and production runs with no minimums. AFS manufactures heavy- and light-weight knits and wovens on industrial sewing equipment and the latest CAD programs.

ARIZONA APPAREL FOUNDATION is an Arizona non-profit corporation applying for 501(c)(3) status. The Foundation’s mission is to provide the knowledge and resources needed to foster Arizona’s fashion industry. Its vision is to support cutting edge research and innovation in wearable tech and to build a sustainable and exciting new industry in Arizona.

CITY OF TEMPE, ARIZONA Located in the heart of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area, Tempe, Arizona offers an innovative, urban environment, a central location and border to border light rail. Home to the nation’s largest university and named the nation’s best college town, Tempe is one of the state’s most educated communities. Arizona State University, downtown Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake give people opportunities to create a perfect work/play balance. www.tempe.gov

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