Fashion incubator opening soon in Tempe
Sep 13, 2016, 6:12 AM
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona’s fashion designers will have a new resource in Tempe soon.
The city, along with LabelHorde (LH), Arizona Fashion Source (AFS) and Arizona Apparel Foundation (AAF), is helping set up a fashion incubator. New and established designers – as well as students – will have access to classes, manufacturing, scholarships and even design services.
“There’s a lot of brands here – a lot of designers, a lot of start-ups – that struggle because of the fact that there aren’t resources here,” Angela Johnson with LabelHorde said.
The incubator will be housed in the Tempe Performing Arts Center at 132 E. Sixth St. in downtown Tempe. City spokeswoman Kris Baxter-Ging said this is a great way for Tempe to continue supporting small businesses.
“This space is very important to us because small business is very important to us,” Baxter-Ging said. “Forty-two percent of Tempe’s business space is a small business.”
Johnson added, “The Valley is home to incredible designers and fashion-centric businesses. 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 of new designs, the space will have opportunities for networking and business growth through events and fashion shows.
