Image by Lamar Pacley of Shutter Eye Photo
Mark your calendars for May 6-10, 2014, as the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC is set to make its mark on the Fashion Industry!! The mission of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week is to raise money to help support area and independent fashion designers and fashion professionals launch and/or grow their brands. Funds made from (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week will go to establish and support the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund. The Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund will be used to help designers purchase materials such as fabrics to produce their lines, pay entrance fees into influential Fashion Weeks such as Midwest Fashion Week where they will be in front of buyers, as well as helping to pay for some travel expenses!!
After working one on one with area designers over the past year (DE-FI) has discovered that in order to fulfill its ultimate mission of serving as a launching pad for area designers and models into the Fashion Industry as well as giving the local retail community a boost, these services are needed. According to Springfield based designer Misti Leigh the fabrics alone to produce one line for a fashion event can cost at least $1,200. That doesn’t even include the fees for entry into a Fashion Event which can range anywhere from $250-$6,000 and given the fact that most fashion weeks or events will not even consider allowing you to show pieces that have already been seen, being a Fashion Designers can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year. Needless to say there are very little kickbacks for even participating in these events outside of gaining a few fans most fashion related events don’t even allow for the designers to sale their products at the event.
So, how will (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week be different? Well, for starters there will be NO entry fee for designers to participate in (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week! In return we are asking participating designers to volunteer their time at least once in 2014 teaching participants of the My Beauty is Priceless and Sons of Solomon Youth Empowerment Seminars the art of sewing and design. The participants of both seminars will then take what they have learned from the designers and produce their own fashion show in December 2014, featuring their own designs, with an issue of (DE-FI)ance Magazine dedicated to their work.
Fashion In the Mystic Garden. Image by Reginald Worthen, Designer: iii Design by Misti Leigh, Model: Aube
Another benefit for designers participating in (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week will be just as we did at our Launch Party in July of 2013, designers will have the opportunity to sale their products via vending space the entire week in what is considered a Trunk Show. Trunk Shows give the designers a chance to come face to face with the customer, the customer gets to see up close and personal samples of a design much like shopping at the mall, however unlike shopping at the mall, the customer can have the design customized to their exact measurements. All (DE-FI) ask in return from the designers is that we receive 20% of the sales to cover venue and supply cost.
A third benefit for designers participating in (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week is simple, at (DE-FI) we don’t just do “fashion shows” we give our audience, models, and designers a FASHION EXPERIENCE that they will not soon forget. We are an outside of the box organization; we hold our events at locations where most people wouldn’t think to have a fashion event or even if the venue has hosted fashion events, we guarantee that it won’t be anything like a (DE-FI) event. We like to call it the snow flake affect, meaning yeah we’ve all seen snow or a fashion show before but when you look closely at a snow flake you’ll see that each flake or event is never the same, they are each uniquely different!!
So without further ado, here’s a look at what (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week has in store!
Date: Tuesday May 6, 2014
Event: Fashion Mixer and Trunk Show
Location: Dayton Visual Arts Center
Time: 5:30pm -9:30pm
Event Description: This will be the official kick off for (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week. The Fashion Mixer and Trunk Show will be a Happy Hour style event held at the DVAC. Guest will have the opportunity to unwind with a drink and do some therapeutic shopping during the Trunk Show. This event will also serve as an opportunity to meet and greet with the participating designers, models, sponsors, and the entire team behind the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC. Proceeds for this event will go to the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fund which benefits local and independent Designers.
Cost: $10 Tickets go on sale March 8 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.
Fashion In the Mystic Garden, Image by Reginald Worthen, Designer: Berny Martin of Catou, Model: Erica
Date: Wednesday May 7, 2014
Event: Couture Hair Show
Location: The Dayton Masonic Temple
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Event Description: Day 2 of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week will take a look at a side of fashion events that are often over looked and that’s the behind the scenes hair and makeup team that work closely with designers to help them complete their runway look or photo shoots! Eight of the top hair stylist and salons will be featured during this themed Hair Competition with a cash prize. Proceeds for this event will go to the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund which benefits local and independent Designers.
Cost: $20 Tickets go on sale March 8 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.
Taste of (DE-FI)ance, Image by Lamar Pacley, Designer: iii Design by Misti Leigh, Model: Amber
Date: Thursday May 8, 2014
Event: Stylish Mom Runway Show
Location: The Packard Museum
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Event Description: Day 3 of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week will highlight fashions from some of the area’s top boutiques!! But unlike our other fashion shows, we aren’t using models for this event…We’re using some of Dayton’s and the Miami Valley’s most deserving and inspirational Moms to rip our runway!! Paired with two of the Midwest’s most well-known Fashion Stylist Jennifer Link of Dayton and Sheree Alexis of Columbus the moms will be rocking designs and looks from eight of the area’s top boutiques.
The top looks will be featured in the December 2014 Issue of (DE-FI)ance Magazine and of course we will be using the Moms once again as the models along with their children. (DE-FI) is currently accepting submissions from moms who would like to participate in this event, if you’re a mom, mom-to-be, a Glam-Mom aka Grandma and you think that you have what it takes to rip the runway during the Stylish Mom Runway Show, please send your bio 500 words or less along with (2) images of you and your children to info@daytonemergingfashionincubator.com. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 28, 2014. Proceeds for this event will go to the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund which benefits local and independent Designers.
Cost: $30 Tickets go on sale March 8 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.
Date: Friday May 9, 2014
Taste of (DE-FI)ance, Image by Lamar Pacley, Designer: Brenda Marone of B. Marie, Model: Ellie
Event: Fashion In the Mystic Garden
Location: SunWatch Indian Village
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Event Description: Day 4 of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week will take us back to where it all began for us in 2013– SunWatch Indian Village for Fashion In the Mystic Garden 2.0! 
Merging the Culinary Skills of Chef Anthony Head and the creativity of the Taste of (DE-FI)ance which took place on Jan.3, 2014, Fashion In the Mystic Garden will feature Ready to Wear designs and dinner by candle light in the majestic setting of the Village area at SunWatch. For those not familiar with the concept behind the Taste of (DE-FI)ance, Chef Head will work one on one with the designers to develop a menu based on the origin of the fabric used, the theme of the collection, and color schemes to produce a multi-course meal that compliments and resembles the looks on the runway. Proceeds for this event will go to the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund which
Taste of (DE-FI)ance, Chef Head created a menu for B.Marie Designs that accompanied the red backless dress consisted of Orange Duck Tart with Blood Orange Sauce, Roasted Tomato Shooter with Maldon Slated Rim, Black Bean Salsa with Hawaiian Black Sew Salt and Cream Cheese Canape
benefits local and independent Designers.
Cost: TBA Tickets go on sale March 8 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.
Date: Saturday May 10, 2014
Event: First Flight…Now Fashion Vintage Couture Ball
Location: Commander Aero Airport
Time: 8:00pm-12:00am
Event Description: The 5th and final day of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week will culminate with a unique celebration of all things Dayton—from aviation, innovation, and of course FASHION!! We’re taking a step back in time with Roaring 20’s attire social event featuring heavy appetizers, a cash bar, dancing, networking, performances, and a Couture Fashion Runway Experience like no other. Set in an Airplane Hanger the proceeds from the First Flight…Now Fashion Vintage Couture Ball will go to the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund which benefits local and independent Designers.
Cost: $55 Tickets go on sale March 8 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.
Taste if (DE-FI)ance, Image by Lamar Pacley, Designer: Sonya Mills of Kerapa Klothing, Model: Megan
Casting Calls for models will be held on Saturday March 8, 2014 at the St. Clair Lofts, located at 35 S. St. Clair St., Dayton, OH, 45402 from 12p-2p. This Casting Call is open to males and females ages 4 & up, models under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. All models must bring with them (2) images current images a head shot and a full body shot. If you are a business owner interested in becoming a sponsor for (DE-FI)ance Fashion Week or taking out an ad in (DE-FI)ance Magazine, (DE-FI) offers affordable packages to fit all budget sizes. Please send all inquiries to info@daytonemergingfashionincubator.com.
