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(DE-FI) Fashion Week

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Are you an aspiring or emerging fashion designer ready to launch your career in fashion or take your career to the next level? We’re (DE-FI)ng Fashion Week and for the first time since March 2017, the (DE-FI) Fashion Week Experience is set to take flight again.
With a different fashion show popping up every week that garners applause as models sashay up and down the runway, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of lights, cameras, and action BUT the fashion show is just the tip of the iceberg and only makes up 5% of the Fashion Industry; what happens next? (DE-FI) Fashion Week is here to fill in the gap and bring you the other 95% with immersive, educational, hands-on opportunities to explore and launch your career in Fashion.
No experience is required, we meet you where you are and build you up where needed. Invitation Requests open March 1st, 2024, and close September 13th, 2024; Request Your Invitation Today!
A required precursor for those interested in joining The Cincinnati Fashion Incubator or the Dayton Fashion Week Designer Incubator; (DE-FI) Fashion Week is designed to help prepare you for your time in our incubators and ultimately your success. We ensure that you are equipped with the tools, skills, resources, knowledge, access, and opportunities needed to achieve your dreams and goals in the fashion industry.
Taking place September 27th-29th, 2024, (DE-FI) Fashion Week is an invite only experience. All Invitation Request can be found on our website, (DE-FI) Fashion Week kicks off on Friday, September 27th with (DE-FI)ance Magazine Cover Model Search.
On Saturday, September 28th, spend Day 2 touring the Fashion Industry with our hands on and immersive workshops. This tour stop will focus on The Business of Fashion.
On Sunday, September 29th, the tours will focus on the creative and production end of the fashion industry.

(DE-FI) Fashion Week

By

Are you an aspiring or emerging fashion designer ready to launch your career in fashion or take your career to the next level? We’re (DE-FI)ng Fashion Week and for the first time since March 2017, the (DE-FI) Fashion Week Experience is set to take flight again.
With a different fashion show popping up every week that garners applause as models sashay up and down the runway, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of lights, cameras, and action BUT the fashion show is just the tip of the iceberg and only makes up 5% of the Fashion Industry; what happens next? (DE-FI) Fashion Week is here to fill in the gap and bring you the other 95% with immersive, educational, hands-on opportunities to explore and launch your career in Fashion.
No experience is required, we meet you where you are and build you up where needed. Invitation Requests open March 1st, 2024, and close September 13th, 2024; Request Your Invitation Today!
A required precursor for those interested in joining The Cincinnati Fashion Incubator or the Dayton Fashion Week Designer Incubator; (DE-FI) Fashion Week is designed to help prepare you for your time in our incubators and ultimately your success. We ensure that you are equipped with the tools, skills, resources, knowledge, access, and opportunities needed to achieve your dreams and goals in the fashion industry.
Taking place September 27th-29th, 2024, (DE-FI) Fashion Week is an invite only experience. All Invitation Request can be found on our website, (DE-FI) Fashion Week kicks off on Friday, September 27th with (DE-FI)ance Magazine Cover Model Search.
On Saturday, September 28th, spend Day 2 touring the Fashion Industry with our hands on and immersive workshops. This tour stop will focus on The Business of Fashion.
On Sunday, September 29th, the tours will focus on the creative and production end of the fashion industry.

(DE-FI) Fashion Week

By

Are you an aspiring or emerging fashion designer ready to launch your career in fashion or take your career to the next level? We’re (DE-FI)ng Fashion Week and for the first time since March 2017, the (DE-FI) Fashion Week Experience is set to take flight again.
With a different fashion show popping up every week that garners applause as models sashay up and down the runway, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of lights, cameras, and action BUT the fashion show is just the tip of the iceberg and only makes up 5% of the Fashion Industry; what happens next? (DE-FI) Fashion Week is here to fill in the gap and bring you the other 95% with immersive, educational, hands-on opportunities to explore and launch your career in Fashion.
No experience is required, we meet you where you are and build you up where needed. Invitation Requests open March 1st, 2024, and close September 13th, 2024; Request Your Invitation Today!
A required precursor for those interested in joining The Cincinnati Fashion Incubator or the Dayton Fashion Week Designer Incubator; (DE-FI) Fashion Week is designed to help prepare you for your time in our incubators and ultimately your success. We ensure that you are equipped with the tools, skills, resources, knowledge, access, and opportunities needed to achieve your dreams and goals in the fashion industry.
Taking place September 27th-29th, 2024, (DE-FI) Fashion Week is an invite only experience. All Invitation Request can be found on our website, (DE-FI) Fashion Week kicks off on Friday, September 27th with (DE-FI)ance Magazine Cover Model Search.
On Saturday, September 28th, spend Day 2 touring the Fashion Industry with our hands on and immersive workshops. This tour stop will focus on The Business of Fashion.
On Sunday, September 29th, the tours will focus on the creative and production end of the fashion industry.

(DE-FI) Introduces Erika Berthy of Gowns By Beartie

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The Illumination by Gowns by Beartie

The Illumination by Gowns by Beartie

Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you, I’m not easily intimidated or at a loss for words but the very first time that I met Designer Erika Berthy designer of Gowns by Beartie, I found myself being both.  We were attending a committee meeting for the Opera Guild of Dayton; I had been a fan of her work for some time but given her level of talent I wasn’t quite ready to reach out to her to see if she would be interested in showcasing at a (DE-FI) event, after all we are still rather new and we have a lot of work to do to prove that Fashion has a home here in Dayton!!  Long story short I somehow managed to get the words out of my mouth to introduce myself to her without sounding like a rambling buffoon and to my surprise, she was equally excited about meeting me and said that she had been following the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC from the beginning and the rest as they say—is history!!

To say that Erika’s approach to fashion is different would be an understatement simply because she doesn’t even refer to her work as fashion, she calls it Wearable Art.  When she first started explaining the concept of her work, I really didn’t understand what she meant BUT then she brought out a design called “The Passion” and I was in awe!  “The Passion” wasn’t just a dress, it was literally a piece of art constructed to look like a dress and to top it off the description of each detail of “The Passion” was poetic, from the plunging neckline that exposes our heart to the slashes along the side that represent the ribs to protect the heart literally and #MetaphoricallySpeaking.

Spoken Word Artist Jay Martinez will be collaberating with Gowns by Beartie to bring a Fashion meets Poetry experience you wont' forget!!

Spoken Word Artist Jay Martinez will be collaberating with Gowns by Beartie to bring a Fashion meets Poetry experience you wont’ forget!!

Each piece from Gowns by Beartie tells a story.  So of course we couldn’t just have Erika’s runway showcase set to music…we needed a Story Teller or a Spoken Word Artist to help us deliver this #FashionExperience to the attendees of The First Flight Now Fashion Vintage Couture Ball taking place on Saturday May 10 as a part of A Weekend of (DE-FI)ance…and the first person that came to mind was local Spoken Word Artist Jay Martinez of Metaphorically Speaking.  When I shared the concept of fusing Poetry and Fashion with Erika she fell in love with the idea and believe me when I say you do not want to miss her showcase that will be set to the whimsical and rapid fire lyrics of Jay Martinez who has written custom poetry for each piece that Erika will be showcasing including “Contained Energy”, “Delicate Balance”, “Discovery”, “Inner Passion”, and “Transient Layers”!!

The Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC is excited to introduce participating designers that will be taking part in A Weekend of (DE-FI)ance May 9-10, 2014!!  A Weekend of (DE-FI)ance will be showcasing both emerging and established designers to help raise money for the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund!  The Fashion Fund will be used to help designers purchase materials such as fabrics to produce their lines, pay entrance fees into influential Fashion Weeks  that will put them in front of buyers, as well as helping to pay for some travel expenses!!  As we’ve done with Anne Agoren designer of Izzi Bags and Rebecca Huber designer of Maderas Beach Co., we set down for a Q & A with Erika to share her story and journey in Fashion with the community!

Q) How did you get your start in the fashion industry?

A) I first became interested in Fashion when I was in elementary school while watching a program on FIT I later went on to attend the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP (Design, Architecture, Art and Planning) where I completed six Co-ops and full time internships.

Q)  Who were your influences personally and professionally?

A)  My parents, Audrey Hepburn, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, Charles James, Julie Pollack, Elma Camargo, Cynthia Lockhart, Ann Firestone, Margie Voelker-Ferrier, Julie Liveris…I could go on and on!

Q)  What were some of the struggles you faced as an emerging designer and what do you consider to be your “Big Break” that took you from being an emerging designer to an established designer?

A)  Funding my art has been my biggest struggle.  Working with the wonderful photographer Adam Leigh-Manuell and makeup/hair artist Lydia Brock has been my biggest break.

Q)  What has been your biggest challenge trying to get your start in the industry?

A) Marketing my work has always been a challeng.

Q)  There are so many misconceptions about what the Fashion Industry is or what it represents, if there was one myth about the fashion industry that you could debunk what would it be and why?

A) One fashion misconception is that women always wore white for their weddings. This tradition didn’t start until Queen Victoria in 1840.

Q)  Who is your target market, and when people think of your brand what is the image that you want people to see or represent?

A)  My brand is wearable art, fabric sculptures designed to enhance your body, reflect your style and transcend stereotypes of purpose. My target market is strong women who appreciate art and stand out from the crowd.

Q)  Why is it so important for Fashion to be embraced in smaller markets like Dayton, OH?

A) Fashion needs to be embraced in smaller markets like Dayton to help support and keep artists in the community.

Q)  What are you most excited about in terms of your participation in A Weekend of (DE-FI)ance and what are you hoping to get out of this experience?

A)  I’m excited to be involved in an event that promotes emerging designers, I’m hoping to introduce my work to a new audience.

Q)  What advice do you have for those seeking a career in fashion?

A)  Read Steven Pressfield’s The War on Art. Also check out Nine Heads, a fantastic Fashion Illustration book. Go on internships, explore the many facets of the industry and ask questions.

 

For more information on how you can make a fashion Statement in A Gown by Beartie,  please send all inquiries to [email protected].  You can also see her work first hand at during A Weekend of (DE-FI)ance by purchasing your tickets today at Salon J Ladner located at 37 S. St.Clair St., Dayton, OH 45402, American Pi Dayton located at 39. S. St. Clair St., Dayton, OH 45402 Beaute Box located 116 W. 5th St., Dayton OH, 45402, American Pi Lebanon located at 748 E. Columbus Ave., Lebanon OH.  You can also purchase your tickets online at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-weekend-of-de-fiance-first-flight-now-fashion-vintage-couture-ball-tickets-10948422025.  For VIP Tickets http://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-weekend-of-de-fiance-first-flight-now-fashion-vintage-couture-ball-vip-seating-tickets-10948458133 NOTE:  VIP Tickets included premium seating, Swag bags, and a complimentary drink.

For more information on the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC or how you or your company can be a part of this ground breaking event, text “DEFI” to 55469.  We are currently looking for volunteers, Makeup Artist, and Hair Stylist to help with production.  Also, if you would like to become a sponsor or take out an ad in (DE-FI)ance Magazine we have affordable packages available that start as low as $35!!  We’re #TakingItToTheNextLevel #FirstFlightNowFashion.

 

Introducing a Taste of (DE-FI)ance

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Graphic Design by Quincy Macklin of On Q Design

Graphic Design by Quincy Macklin of On Q Design

 

Q. What happens when you take one of Dayton’s hottest Chefs and you team him up with 3 of Dayton’s hottest fashion designers??

A.  Well, you’ll find out on January 3, 2014 when the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC presents “Taste of (DE-FI)ance” featuring Chef Anthony Head and (DE-FI) Designers Brenda Marone of B.Marie, Sonya Mills of Kerapa Klothing, and Misti Leigh of iii Creations (Pronounced Third Eye)!

Q.  So, what exactly is “Taste of (DE-FI)ance”?

A.  Glad you asked because fashion has never looked or tasted so good–no there won’t be any Lady Gaga inspired meat dresses making their way down the runway! But “Taste of (DE-FI)ance” is inspired by Italian Designer and Chef Anna Marconi’s Taste of Runway.  Chef Head will be working one on one with all three designers, to create three different appetizers that not only compliment the origin of the fabric used but he will also draw on his artistic skills by using only ingredients and colors that reflects the design.  For example, if the main fabric in being used in a design is Silk, then chances are Chef Head will create a Chinese inspired appetizer that looks just like the design on the runway.

Q.  What else will “Taste of (DE-FI)ance” feature?

A.  “A Taste of (DE-FI)ance will also feature a Designer Trunk Show!  So come ready to shop till you drop by purchasing local designers clothing, and then building your energy back up with some awesome food!

Q.  How much are tickets and where can they be purchased?

A. The cost is $35/person and includes three appetizers, the Trunk Show, a cash bar, and a Runway Experience you’ll never forget!! Tickets go on sale on Saturday Dec. 7, 2013 at Salon J Ladner located at 37 St. Clair St., Dayton, OH 45402 in the St. Clair Lofts and at Beaute Box located at 116 W 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402.

Q.  What time and where is “Taste of (DE-FI)ance” taking place?

A.  “Taste of (DE-FI)ance” takes place during First Friday’s January 3, 2014 at Therapy Café located at 452 E. 3rd St, Dayton, OH 45402, and the doors open at 6:30pm.

Q.  Are you ready to #TasteTheRunway?  #(DE-FI) #TakingItToTheNextLevel #FirstFlightNowFashion

 

(DE-FI) Presents: A Time to Be Thankful

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535741_355776941219109_178054346_nWhen I decided to go ahead with the plans to create a new fashion organization for the Miami Valley, it was very important that Community Outreach was a priority.  Not only did we want to show our support for local organizations out to make a positive difference in our community on a financial level but I wanted to make sure that we were very hands on in the various activities; in fact it’s required that all models on our roster volunteer at least 40 hours a year in their respective communities to remain active within (DE-FI).

So with that being said, we’re excited to announce that on Friday November 22, from 7p-9p the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC is b04a4f_b0d802147117959e4a7a8da4e65ca242.jpg_srz_170_150_85_22_0.50_1.20_0sponsoring the Circle of Vision Keepers Annual A Time to Be Thankful Event at the Payne Recreation Center in Moraine.   Guest Speakers will include the Honorable Judge Walter Rice and Montgomery County Commissioner Debbie Lieberman. The Circle of Vision Keepers is the official non-profit for (DE-FI) and the programs Director is (DE-FI)’s Director of Community Outreach Khadijah Ali.  The organization’s main focus is to assist individuals who are battling substance abuse issues and/or are returning citizens looking to turn their lives around after being incarcerated.   The Circle of Vision Keepers provides toiletries, clothing, non-perishable food items, and bus tokens for participants and their families year round and helps them prepare to re-enter the job market.  The purpose of A Time to Be Thankful is to continue to build the esteem of the Circle of Vision Keepers participants by way of showing them the community does care about their well-being and growth as individuals from the Average Joe to our elected officials, in fact during our July 13th Launch Party, we did not serve alcohol at the event in an effort to foster a nurturing environment for the Circle of Vision Keepers participants who served as volunteers.

During A Time to Be Thankful there will be a Fashion Show produced by (DE-FI) using The Circle of Vision Keepers participants as models and they will be wearing clothing items from the Circles of Vision Keepers store, Gilmart & Co, Loralei’s Boutique, and (DE-FI) Designer Brenda Marone.   Participants will also be recipients of makeovers being provided by (DE-FI)ance Magazine’s Assistant Editor and Chief  Joshua Ladner, who is the owner of J Ladner’s Salon opening soon in the St. Clair Lofts and (DE-FI)’s Director of Beauty Lisa Scott, owner of Beaute Box.   A $20 donation is requested from attendees which will cover the cost of the dinner that will be served and catered by Maryanne’s Kitchen but no one will be turned away for a meal due to an inability to pay and rumor has it that Santa Claus may be making a special appearance as well! (But you didn’t hear that from us!!)  Tickets will be on sale Nov.1 and available at Beaute Box, J Ladner Salon and the Circle of Vision Keepers. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

We are currently requesting donations of hats, gloves, scarves, toys, and non-perishable food items to be given to participants and those in need.  We are also giving away (10) Turkeys and food baskets to families in need!  Donations can be dropped off at Beaute Box which is located at 116 W 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402 and at the Circle of Vision Keepers located at 3401 Wood-man Dr. Suite 12, Kettering, Ohio 45429, please call the Circle of Vision Keepers to arrange a drop off of donations at 937-296-1077.  Also if you or someone you know of is in need of a Holiday Basket please send an email to [email protected] or to [email protected].  Special thanks to the City of Moraine and the Payne Recreational Center for donating their community room to us to hold the event!  We hope to see you on November 22!!

The Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC Announces Future Plans

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535741_355776941219109_178054346_nWell, it’s been a while since you’ve heard from us last, most of it has been by design because we are serious about what we are doing and are quality focused and we want to be under the radar while we are still laying our foundation.  The last time I wrote a blog, we were in the midst of planning our “Fashion in the Mystic Garden” Launch Party and the debut of our Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine (DE-FI)ance which can be purchased at http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/606271?__r=435971!  With over 250 people in attendance, 70 models, 10 designers, a Native American drum group Chaske Hotain, the Soul fire Tribe, and the majestic settings of SunWatch Indian Village we let the world know that Dayton is here and we are weaving our pattern into the fabric of the Fashion Industry!!

With that being said, we are ready to give you a sneak peek into the future of (DE-FI), starting with our September 15, 2013 Casting Call taking place at the Shuttereye Studio located in the Entrepreneur Building at 714 E. Monument Ave., in downtown Dayton from 2p-4p!  We are in the need of about 20-30 additional models to add to our current roster of 60+ models.  This Casting Call will be open to both males and females age 4 and up, however we are putting additional emphasisevents on male models. (NOTE: ALL MODELS MUST BRING WITH THEM AN APPLICATION THAT CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT http://www.daytonemergingfashionincubator.com starting on Sept.1, 2013).  Models in attendance at this Casting Call will know the day of if they have been selected for a callback and should plan to stay for a model meeting taking place after the Casting Call at 5pm.

One of our long term goals was to open up an actual store front location via the Activated Spaces program in 2014—well, things have been moving along rather rapidly for us and we are excited to announce that on Friday September 20th  during Urban Nights, the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC will be officially opening the doors to a custom clothing design boutique featuring the designers that were showcased during our July 13th Launch Party at SunWatch and other independent designers from across the country!!  If you weren’t able to attend our Launch Party and you have no idea the level of talent and creativity that was showcased, please visit our Facebook page and check out our albums at http://www.facebook.com/daytonemergingfashionincubator.

While we ARE NOT going through the Activated Spaces program for the boutique, this will be a 3 month trial intended to help us get our feet wet in the retail industry!! We are looking for  additional designers, seamstresses, and those willing to learn to sew via our partners at Sew Dayton to help the designers produce their lines for us to sell in the boutique, interested individuals should email us at [email protected].  We are taking over the old American Pi location located in the St. Clair Lofts on St. Clair St., in downtown Dayton and we can’t wait to help these designers grow their brands! (NOTE: As of 8-28-13 we will not be opening our storefront in the St.Clair Lofts).

Mark your calendars for December 31st for an event that you won’t want to miss!!  We are going to be taking flight into the New Year with our “First Flight…Now Fashion” Couture Ball taking place at Commander Aero!  “First Flight…Now Fashion” promises to bring a fashion experience that will capture the world’s attention and have everyone talking!  More details coming soon!!

Finally, after much thought and consideration– we are ready to take on the challenge and we are excited to announce that we will be hosting a Fashion Week in 2014!!  While locations are still being secured we have set July 13th-20th of 2014 as the tentative dates for (DE-FI) Fashion Week.  Stay tuned for more details coming soon!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator [DE-FI] Seeks Established and Emerging Designers

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923507_10200624405545772_684909217_nThe new Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator [DE-FI] is holding an open casting call on Saturday, May 25 for fashion designers and boutique owners specializing in women’s, men’s, children’s, plus-size and petite designs.
This open call will take place from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at 137 North Main Street, Suite 200, in downtown Dayton. Those wishing to participate must bring the official application form which can be found online.

DE-FI is looking for established designers and area boutiques to participate in a runway show at the upcoming DE-FI Launch Party on July 13 at Sunwatch Indian Village.

Also being sought are six “emerging” designers who will be handpicked to participate in DE-FI’s six-month Designer Boot Camp. Those selected for the boot camp will be given a support system – including designer mentors, work space and seamstresses – to help them create and produce their own lines, strengthen their business skills and grow their brands. The Designer Boot Camp participants will be eligible to have their designs showcased and sold locally at Joli Boutique and will have the opportunity to showcase their lines during Midwest Fashion Week in Indianapolis.
The mission of the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator [DE-FI] is to lay a strong foundation for a viable and profitable fashion industry in the City of Dayton. For more information, visit www.daytonemergingfashionincubator.com or send questions via email to [email protected].

Defining (DE-FI)

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defiSo what exactly, is the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI)?  Well, since going public we’ve been receiving this question quit a lot!  For starters we are not a Fashion Week nor are we affiliated with DFW; though there are various aspect of what (DE-FI) will do our main two goals are to be a support system for designers and talent looking to make their mark in the Fashion Industry and to keep the “Made in America” tag on our clothing by reaching out to garment manufacturers to have their lines produced here in Dayton.  After all Macy’s is right down the road in Cincinnati and the Limited Brands are in Columbus.

So, exactly how would this Incubator work?

(DE-FI) is working closely with Sew Dayton (Oregon District), Joli Boutique (Centerville), and TIME Magazine recognized Midwest Fashion Week (Indianapolis) to create a unique and affective training program that:

1)      Offers mentoring for emerging designers via a series of workshops designed to teach the designers business skills, sharpen sewing skills, and ultimately providing designers a place to sell and showcase their work on a local level.

2)      Train and provide seamstresses for the designers in the incubator to help them to produce their lines locally.

3)      Provide a forum to profile fashion based talent from across the Midwest whether it’s designers, models, MUA’s, stylist, bloggers, and etc—via our Fashion Blog that will debut in May.

4)      Establish professional models for designers to work with!  The biggest complaint that I’ve heard from designers and photographers in the lack of professionalism that the models present from the area and that happens for several reasons: 1) area models have never really had the chance to receive real training that didn’t cost them thousands of dollars, 2) There’s currently not a lot of work in the area for models, and 3) Because there isn’t a lot of work in the area models often don’t get paid for their time which all can lead to a lack of professionalism.  So (DE-FI) is raising the bar by being the first major fashion event in the area that actually pays their models for the work that they do.

5)      A long term goal for (DE-FI) is to take advantage of the City of Dayton’s Activated Spaces Pop Up Shop Program.  Like our partners at Sew Dayton and Beaute Box are products of Activated Spaces–In the Spring of 2014 it is the goal of the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) to have a store front location in Downtown Dayton that sells local and independent designers from across the Midwest lines in our store.(that have also been produced here locally by those seamstresses that have been trained by (DE-FI).

These are just a few things that (DE-FI) will be doing!  One thing that we constantly remind each other of is that this is a new concept for the area; therefore we are taking our time and making sure that everything is planned out, communicated, and executed well.  This is  learning experience for everyone involved but you can rest assured that we are being realistic with our approach and we are dedicated and committed to following through with these plans.  Right now we are planning our Launch Party scheduled to take place on July 13, 2013 at SunWatch Indian Village—We want this event to be an intimate affair; with a theme of “Fashion In the Mystic Garden”, the night will consist of mixing and mingling with some of the area’s top professionals, complete with New York Fashion Week style show, and dancing under the moonlight in the majestic setting of SunWatch. For more information on how you can get involved with (DE-FI) as either a designer, model, sponsor, and etc—please contact us at [email protected]!

 

Introducing The Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI)

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defi

A little over a year ago, I had the honor of serving as the Director of Operations for the first ever Fashion Week in the City of Dayton; like Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland have been doing for years…it was now the Gem City’s turn to take its position in the International Fashion Spotlight.  From day one it was an uphill battle getting Dayton Fashion Week off of the ground, the Founder and owner of DFW Junda Morris-Kennedy of JMK Production was new to the area,  she didn’t have any local connections, and the idea of a fashion week was a completely new concept to the Miami Valley area.

As someone who was familiar with the fashion industry from a modeling perspective and a cheerleader for the City of Dayton, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this ground breaking and I reached out to the founder and after a brief meeting with her, I jumped in with both feet and started spreading the word within my various community based circles that fashion finally had a platform in Dayton. And soon after an entire new community emerged, the area in general began to recognize the talent that was here, and individual success stories began to surface.

However, in the days and weeks leading up to and immediately following the first DFW, questions started being raised and cracks began to show all surrounding DFW’s Founder.   I along with others associated with DFW attempted to address our concerns with the owner and seek out answers from her as well but our concerns were ignored and our questions went unanswered.  Never one to compromise my ethics, in September I resigned as the Director of Operations for Dayton Fashion Week–and soon after, so did others.  I initially kept my departure quiet not wanting to cast any dark clouds over the local fashion community; but as sponsors, media, models, photographers, and designers continued to reach out to me for answers regarding DFW  and  sought my support it became apparent that not only did I need to make my departure public but it was also clear that the demand for a fashion outlet and venue in the area was still present.

After meeting with others who were associated with DFW last year, I was urged to create a new fashion based organization and soon the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) was born!  Consisting of over 30 local and national media personalities, business owners, fashion experts, and those who just want to be a part of a positive, transparent, and professional organization; and we’re excited about the opportunity to bring a new fashion outlet to the city of Dayton!!!  The Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator also known as (DE-FI)’s main goal is to build a solid foundation for the fashion industry to grow on building a viable and economically successful market in the Miami Valley.  Modeled after the Fashion Incubators in Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, (DE-FI) is partnering with TIME Magazine recognized Midwest Fashion Week, Dayton Most Metro, Joli Boutique, Sew Dayton, Shuttereye Photography, Studio Dayton, and UnZip the Runway Designer Competition.

(DE-FI) launched in February 2013 and is planning to host 2 intimate fashion events this year starting with an Official Launch Party July 13, 2013 at SunWatch Indian Village.  This event will serve as an opportunity to mix, mingle, and network with some of the area’s top professionals, community leaders, and fashion lovers from all over.  Complete with an official introduction of the DE-FI team and designers that have been selected into the Incubator; the Launch Party will also feature a fashion show featuring local and nationally known established designers who will be prepared to take special orders on all of their designs.

In preparation for the Launch Party, the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) will be hosting 2 Casting Calls for models on Saturday March 23 and April 20 from 2p-4p at Studio Dayton located at 1001 E. 2nd St., Dayton, OH 45402 in Bldg 100, Entrance B-C in Suite 3220.   The Casting Call is open to male and female models ages 4 and up. (NOTE: Models under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.)  All applicants must bring (2) images (1) Head shot and (1) full body shot; photos DO NOT need to be professional.  All models must bring with them an application which can be found on the website Adult models should come dressed in fitted attire flattering for your body type. Female models must bring a pair of 3″ heels to walk the runway in.  Models under the age of 18 should wear age appropriate attire.  There will also be scouts from UnZip the Runway in attendance as well.  For more information on (DE-FI)  and to download your application please visit our website.