The Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund

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The Art of (DE-FI)ance was founded in 2014 by the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator who envisioned an organization that supported new and emerging fashion talent as well as promoting fashion education, workforce development, and outreach across the Midwest and on October 9, 2020, the Art of (DE-FI)ance officially became a tax exempt 501 (C) (3). 

It is the mission of the Art of (DE-FI)ance to provide high quality opportunities, resources and experiences to the designers and other fashion talent from around the country that will help to cultivate their careers, build their teams, and align their accomplishments with other leading fashion talent. Being a part of our designer or fashion incubators is not a requirement to be eligible or a recipient of the grant.  By challenging the status quo across every category within the fashion and design industries, The Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund provides fashion talent with educational opportunities including partnership with established players in the fashion industry as well as workforce development.   

For beneficiaries of the Art of (DE-FI)ance  Fashion Fund who are in (DE-FI)'s Incubators, the common thread is that we support and nurture your brand from the start, through rapid growth, and eventual exit of the incubator. Our Fashion Fund aims to address a lack of capital and management skills required to leverage the power of creative and cultural industries.