Fashion. When we think of The Fashion World we think of L.A., Milan, Paris, New York City. Phoenix is not the city that comes to mind. Why is this? It is not due to a lack of Creative minds or talents but rather a lack of resources necessary to produce Fashion Lines. A Fashion Designer needs more than their own creative ideas and talents to build their clothing line. A whole team of people with various skills and financial resources are necessary. Seamstresses, Pattern Makers, Pattern Cutters to name a few. Fabric and notions must be purchased by the 1,000’s and clothing manufacturing has minimums. All of these things require a large amount of financial resources, resources that few have.
Let me introduce F.A.B.R.I.C. (Fashion And Business Resource Innovation Center) https://www.fabrictempe.com and it’s founders Angela Johnson (CEO LabelHorde; Co-Founder of Az Apparel Foundation) and Sherry Berry (President of Az Fashion Source; Co-Founder of Az Apparel Foundation). Angela and Sherry have been working hard to bring together The Phoenix Fashion world (LabelHorde) and find or provide the resources for designers to grow and keep their design business here – from design idea to manufacturing (Az Fashion Source) all the way through clothing line (Az Apparel Foundation). Angela Johnson moved back to Phoenix from L.A. with an established clothing line. (Angela Johnson Designs) She then realized there was no infrastructure available to support a Fashion Designer here in Phoenix. Phoenix was losing all their creative fashion designers to other cities. In an industry that is very difficult to succeed in, moving to a city where it is hard to survive, brings most designers to failure.
Angela and Sherry have teamed up and created a non profit to help designers in all aspects of their field so they may succeed and thrive here in Phoenix. From education to manufacturing to mentoring-F.A.B.R.I.C. houses it all.
Three supporting organizations exist within the original idea all with their own purpose.
LabelHorde. https://www.labelhorde.com LabelHorde was Angela Johnson’s first effort to unite the local Phoenix fashion world. LabelHorde is a directory (a yellow pages if you will) of all business people related to/that have ties to the fashion world locally. Names, business type and contact information can be listed or found here.
Az Fashion Source https://www.azfashionsource.com Az Fashion Source is a No Minimum Manufacturing organization. They have everything from sample and production sewing to Pattern Making to Production. There is an event space (Fashion Shows, even weddings) as well as co-working office space. 
If a designer needs pictures to get their clothing line out there, they have a photography and video studio as well.
Arizona Apparel Foundation https://www.azapparelfoundation.org Arizona Apparel Foundation is a Fashion training mecca. 
Arizona Apparel Foundation’s mission is “to provide Arizona’s emerging designers and brands with innovative small batch manufacturing and strategic business resources, so they can build sustainable fashion businesses locally.” They offer a 6 month scholarship to 3 Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs. 
The scholarship recipients receive 6 months of development for their fashion line including: office space, mentorship in branding, marketing and help in development – all ending in a well publicized Fashion Show of The Scholarship Designer’s finished clothing line. (see photos Annie Mystique’s Designs below, current scholarship holder)
The people at F.A.B.R.I.C. are doing so much for the local fashion community specifically, as well as the Phoenix Community in general. When we have Creative Fashion Designers stay in our community we have better access to fashion and design. This in turn means better access to a variety of styles, making it easier to find a unique style. A Style That is You.
I am excited to volunteer at F.A.B.R.I.C. but I also am excited to be able to offer my clients one of a kind designs that better fit them in their unique Personality Style and Physical Features.
