Redding Fashion Alliance Incorporated

COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CITIZENS BY MOBILIZING SELF SUFFICIENCY AND PROVIDING AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO FASHION, SEWING, AND BUSINESS EDUCATION WHILE ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY IN ORDER TO FOSTER A HEALTH, CULTURALLY RICH COMMUNITY.

RETAIL SALES OF DEADSTOCK FABRICS: THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR RETAIL AREA FOR DEADSTOCK FABRICS, NOTIONS AND DONATED SEWING SUPPLIES. AS MORE PEOPLE IN THE AREA HAVE LEARNED THAT WE ACCEPT DONATIONS OF UNUSED FABRICS FOR RESALE, OUR SUPPLY OF HIGH QUALITY APPAREL FABRIC HAS EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY. STAFF IS ABLE TO SORT, PRICE AND STOCK FABRICS DURING THEIR NORMAL SHIFTS SO THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST FOR OPERATIONS. HOWEVER, SALES OF FABRICS AND SEWING SUPPLIES HAS INCREASED AND IN MOST MONTHS, THE LARGEST CATEGORY OF SALES OF ALL RETAIL ITEMS, BRINGING IN OVER $5000 IN INCOME. A PORTION OF THIS INCOME WAS TRANSFERRED INTO OUR SEWING SCHOLARSHIP FUND. IN 2021, RFA AWARDED OVER $2,700 IN 30 SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS TAKING CLASSES TO LEARN SEWING, FASHION DESIGN AND PATTERN DRAFTING. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A NEW OUTLET FOR FASHION FABRICS IN THE COMMUNITY, RFA IS ASSISTING TO SUSTAIN GOODS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD END UP IN A LANDFILL.

FOSTERING INDIVIDUAL SELF SUFFICIENCY: SOME INDIVIDUALS COME TO REDDING FASHION ALLIANCE THROUGH THESMART BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM. ONE SUCH YOUNG WOMAN NAMED ALEXTOLD ME SHE WAS LOOKING TO FIND HER PASSION AND CREATIVITY AGAIN AFTER EXPERIENCING A NUMBER OFCHALLENGES IN HER LIFE. WE SOON LEARNED THAT SHE WAS UP FOR ANY TASK, ORGANIZED, AND LOVED WORKING WITHCHILDREN. ALTHOUGH SHE HAD NEVER SEWN BEFORE, SHE QUICKLY PICKED UP THE BASICS AND THEN TOOK OFF!WHEN HER WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM ENDED AFTER 8 WEEKS, WE HIRED HER PART TIME TO BE A TEACHINGASSISTANT IN YOUTH CLASSES, AND TO WORK A COUPLE OF RETAIL SHIFTS EACH WEEK. BY THE END OF THE SUMMERSHE WAS MAKING DRESSES TO SELL IN THE SHOP. IN THE FALL OF 2021 SHE SUCCESSFULLY TAUGHT BEGINNINGSEWING CLASSES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS. WE HAVE WATCHED HER GROW AND CONTINUE TO LEARN NEW SKILLS. MOST RECENTLY SHE COMPLETED RFAS GARMENT CONSTRUCTION CLASS TO LEARN INDUSTRIAL SEWING AND IS PICKING UP ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES IN ALTERATIONS AND CLOTHING CONSTRUCTION. ALEX IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT RFA IS ALL ABOUT: GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY ABNDN THE SKILLS TO FOLLOW THEIR PASSION AND BECOME GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. SHE HASBECOME A VALUABLE MEMBER OF THE RFA TEAM AND BRINGS A FRESH PERSPECTIVE AND EXCITEMENT INTO THE JOB EACH DAY. WE CANT WAIT TO SEE ALL SHE WILL ACCOMPLISH IN THE FUTURE.

BUILDING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY: AS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS, WE AIM TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS TO MEET THEIR GOALSAS DESIGNERS RUNNING REDDING FASHION WEEK GIVES OUR EMERGING DESIGNER PROGRAM FUNDING TO MENTOR AND HELP NEW DESIGNERS BUILD THEIR BRAND. WE ALSO UTILIZE DONATIONS ACQUIRED THROUGH NORTHSTATE GIVING TUESDAY TO AWARD $1000 TO EACH DESIGNER SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR THE YEAR. KEVIN G. IS ONE SUCH DESIGNER. HE DECIDED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT HE WANTED TO DESIGN THE PERFECT JACKET OUT OF ULTRA HEAVY-DUTY DENIM. INSPIRED BY HIS GRANDFATHERS LOVE OF THERAILROAD, HE NAMED HIS COMPANY CENTRAL PACIFIC APPAREL, COMPLETE WITH A GOLD RAILROAD SPIKE FOR HIS LOGO. HE CAME TO RFA FOR PATTERN DESIGN AND WE HELPED HIM DEVELOP AND PRODUCE THAT FIRST PRODUCTION LINE OF JACKETS IN NAVY AND BLACK. PREMERING IN THE REDDING FASHION WEEK, FASHION SHOW. WITH THAT SUCCESS UNDER HIS BELT, HE APPLIED AND WAS ACCEPTED AS AN EMERGING DESIGNER FOR 2021, COMPLETING A NEW LINE OF MENS RUGGED OUTERWEAR THAT WILL BE FEATURED IN THE GALA FILM PREMIERE TO BE SHOWN IN 2022. MOST RECENTLY HE IS DESIGNING THE PERFECT PATTERN FOR JEANS. IT HAS BEEN A JOY TO WATCH HIM LAUNCH THIS COMPANY AND GROW IN HIS SKILLS AS A DESIGNER AND BUSINESS PERSON.