The DCFI, located at 760 N Street, NW, will provide a space for the designers to sketch, build and present their designs as well as connect to influential local mentors on brand development, financial planning, media relations, retail presentations and more with the ultimate goal of bringing their products to market and creating a successful economic venture. The designers were selected by criteria developed under advisement of Ayris Scales, Principle of 7 Concepts LLC and the past interim, Executive Director of DC Arts Commission. The panel represented the financial, business and design aesthetic sides of the fashion industry and included Theron Green, VP of Small Business Banking at Bank of America, Susan Clampitt, Commissioner at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Edward Archer, celebrity stylist and fashion industry entrepreneur, Lee Ann Stevenson of the Di Moda Group and Holeeta Todd, Principal at DC-based clothing manufacturer Cain & Carlyle Clothing Co. and lead designer and resident mentor at DCFI.
“These inaugural DCFI designers were chosen by their potential to develop their brand and designs to be ultimately become a successful business in various markets,” says Christine Brooks-Cropper, President and Founder of DCFF and DCFI. “Our goal is to prepare them, as much as possible, to create a new and successful business that will add to job and economic development in the District.”
The DC Fashion Foundation supports the local fashion industry of DC to engage and educate the community on fashion as an art as well as a business. The DC Fashion Incubator (DCFI) program has a primary objective to serve as the cornerstone of fashion industry small business development and entrepreneurship in Washington, DC educational programs, workforce training initiatives, and networking and mentoring opportunities for aspiring fashion professionals and entrepreneurs. In addition, 2012 applications for the Fashionably Business program, open to participation by the local design and fashion industry community, will begin in late February.
Additional mentors to these and future designers of DCFI were named as DC Fashion Ambassadors and include Aba Kwawu, Public Relations and Event Production, Adrian Loving, Runway and Event Music, Aureta Thomillori, Influential Blogger, Barbara McConaghy, Renowned Editorial/Celebrity/Runway Stylist, Christopher Reiter, Fashion and Design Retailer, Eric Brewer, Community Leader, Holly Thomas, DC Fashion Journalist, Janice Rankin, Fashion Design Educator, Jennifer Fisher, Fashion Industry Lobbyist, Lynda Erkiletian, Agent to Professiona Models and Stylists, Nora Sommerkamp, Professional Model.
