The Philadelphia Fashion Incubator

THE PURPOSE OF THE INCUABTOR IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION AND SUPPORT AND PROMOTE EMERGING FASHION DESIGNERS AND THE FASHION COMMUNITY IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA.

THE PHILADELPHIA FASHION INCUBATOR IS A TWELVE-MONTH RESIDENCY PROGRAM FEATURING SIX ANNUALLY SELECTED DESIGNERS-IN-RESIDENCE (DIR). THE DIR HAVE ACCESS TO OFFICE AND DESIGN/WORK SPACE, BUSINESS CURRICULUM, MENTORING, AND OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES ALL WITHIN MACY'S CENTER CITY, IN AN EFFORT TO HELP THEM LAUNCH AND FURTHER GROW THEIR COMPANIES IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. THE 2018 PROGRAM BEGAN WITH A WEEK-LONG BUSINESS BOOT CAMP, A SERIES OF 16 BUSINESS WORKSHOPS. THE BUSINESS BOOT CAMP JUMP STARTS THE RESIDENCY AND PROVIDES THE DIR WITH ESSENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION, ALLOWING THEM TO ACCELERATE THEIR BUSINESSES AND EXECUTE STRATEGIES EARLY ON IN THE PROGRAM. THE DIR ALSO PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHICH FOCUSED ON VARIOUS BUSINESS TOPICS. WORKSHOPS PROVIDED IN DEPTH KNOWLEDGE ON EACH TOPIC AND SERVED AS A WORKING CLASSROOM WHERE DIR PREPARED INFORMATION IN ADVANCE WAS REVIEWED BY EACH INSTRUCTOR. IN ADDITION, THE WORKSHOPS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY FOR DIR TO TAP INTO INDUSTRY EXPERTS. EACH DIR IS ALSO PAIRED WITH AN INDUSTRY LEADER MENTOR WHOM THEY MEET WITH THROUGHOUT THE RESIDENCY. THE MENTORS ASSIST THE DIR IN DEVELOPING THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS SKILLS ALONG WITH GAINING FEEDBACK ON THEIR BUSINESS MODELS AND COLLECTIONS. TRIPS TO NEW YORK CITY ARE ALSO HELD EACH MONTH. THE TRIPS INCLUDE MEETINGS WITH FASHION ENTREPRENEURS, TOURS OF PRODUCTION AND SOURCING RESOURCES, INDUSTRY SHOWS AND EVENTS. DIRS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS TRADE SHOWS AND EVENTS.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED CREATE A HUB FOR THE PHILADELPHIA FASHION COMMUNITY, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATTENDEES AND PROMOTION OF THE FASHION INCUBATOR.