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