(DE-FI) Global INC
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    • Home
    • About
      • Our Why
      • Mission and Vision
      • Impact & Audience
      • Alumni Success
      • Annual Reports
      • The Story Behind (DE-FI)
      • Meet The Team
      • Testimonials & Reviews
      • Contact Us
    • The House
      • House of (DE-FI)ance
      • Membership
      • Fashion Directory
      • Vetted Industry Resources
    • Programs
      • Farm to Fashion
      • STEM Atelier
      • Workforce Development
      • The Garment District
      • The Fashion Incubator
      • Youth Fashion Incubator
      • Model Incubator
      • Threads Boutiques
      • (DE-FI)ance Magazine
      • Fashion Design School
    • Events
      • Upcoming (DE-FI) Events
      • The Fashion Calendar
      • Fashion Week
      • The Signature Experience
      • Invitation Requests
      • FAQ
    • Press
      • Press Room
      • Newsletter
      • Blog
      • Videos
    • Engage
      • Ways to Get Involved
      • Become A Partner
      • Our Strategic Partners
      • The Art of (DE-FI)ance
      • Style Boss Honors
      • The (DE-FI) Guild Honors
      • (DE-FI) Gives Back
(DE-FI) Global INC
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Why
    • Mission and Vision
    • Impact & Audience
    • Alumni Success
    • Annual Reports
    • The Story Behind (DE-FI)
    • Meet The Team
    • Testimonials & Reviews
    • Contact Us
  • The House
    • House of (DE-FI)ance
    • Membership
    • Fashion Directory
    • Vetted Industry Resources
  • Programs
    • Farm to Fashion
    • STEM Atelier
    • Workforce Development
    • The Garment District
    • The Fashion Incubator
    • Youth Fashion Incubator
    • Model Incubator
    • Threads Boutiques
    • (DE-FI)ance Magazine
    • Fashion Design School
  • Events
    • Upcoming (DE-FI) Events
    • The Fashion Calendar
    • Fashion Week
    • The Signature Experience
    • Invitation Requests
    • FAQ
  • Press
    • Press Room
    • Newsletter
    • Blog
    • Videos
  • Engage
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Become A Partner
    • Our Strategic Partners
    • The Art of (DE-FI)ance
    • Style Boss Honors
    • The (DE-FI) Guild Honors
    • (DE-FI) Gives Back

Farm to Fashion: Growing Ohio’s Textile Future

2025 Fiber Forum

Fiber Forum 2025 | A Behind-the-Scenes Look with Caressa Brown Pt 1

 Go behind the scenes at the 2025 Fiber Forum with (DE-FI) Global INC Owner & Director, Caressa Brown. From greeting guests to connecting with speakers and capturing candid moments, Caressa gives an inside look at the people and conversations that shaped this year’s event.  These behind-the-scenes moments highlight the collaborative spirit, creative energy, and community impact that make the Fiber Forum such a powerful gathering for innovators and changemakers.  The Fiber Forum served as the kickoff event for the 2025 (DE-FI) Fashion Week and a sneak peek into our Farm to Fashion initiative.  #CincinnatiRecycleReuseHub #DEFIFashionWeek #FiberForum #FarmToFashion #SustainableFashion #TextileInnovation  #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FiberInnovation 

Fiber Forum 2025 | A Behind-the-Scenes Look with Caressa Brown Pt 2

Go behind the scenes at the 2025 Fiber Forum with (DE-FI) Global INC Owner & Director, Caressa Brown. From greeting guests to connecting with speakers and capturing candid moments, Caressa gives an inside look at the people and conversations that shaped this year’s event.  These behind-the-scenes moments highlight the collaborative spirit, creative energy, and community impact that make the Fiber Forum such a powerful gathering for innovators and changemakers. The Fiber Forum served as the kickoff event for the 2025 (DE-FI) Fashion Week and a sneak peek into our Farm to Fashion initiative.  #CincinnatiRecycleReuseHub #DEFIFashionWeek #FiberForum #FarmToFashion #SustainableFashion #TextileInnovation  #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FiberInnovation 

Inside the Cincinnati Recycle & Reuse Hub | Jenny Brewer at the 2025 Fiber Forum

At the 2025 Fiber Forum Presented by the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, leaders in sustainable textiles explored the future of fashion through farming and fiber systems. Hear insights from TJ Richardson (Ohio Hemp Company), Amber Ostaszewski (Rustbelt Fibershed), and Ashley Kubley (University of Cincinnati DAAP) as they discuss hemp, regenerative practices, and closing the textile loop for a more sustainable industry. This session highlights the critical intersection of agriculture, innovation, and design.  The Emcee, Sherwood McVeigh, Goodwill Industries.  The Fiber Forum served as the kickoff event for the 2025 (DE-FI) Fashion Week and a sneak peek into our Farm to Fashion initiative.  #CincinnatiRecycleReuseHub #DEFIFashionWeek #FiberForum #FarmToFashion #SustainableFashion #TextileInnovation  #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FiberInnovation 

Grounded Fibers & The Textile Loop | Fiber Forum 2025 Panel Discussion Pt 1

At the 2025 Fiber Forum Presented by the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, leaders in sustainable textiles explored the future of fashion through farming and fiber systems. Hear insights from TJ Richardson (Ohio Hemp Company), Amber Ostaszewski (Rustbelt Fibershed), and Ashley Kubley (University of Cincinnati DAAP) as they discuss hemp, regenerative practices, and closing the textile loop for a more sustainable industry. This session highlights the critical intersection of agriculture, innovation, and design.  The Emcee, Sherwood McVeigh, Goodwill Industries.  The Fiber Forum served as the kickoff event for the 2025 (DE-FI) Fashion Week and a sneak peek into our Farm to Fashion initiative.  #CincinnatiRecycleReuseHub #DEFIFashionWeek #FiberForum #FarmToFashion #SustainableFashion #TextileInnovation  #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FiberInnovation 

Grounded Fibers & The Textile Loop | Fiber Forum 2025 Panel Discussion Pt 2

At the 2025 Fiber Forum Presented by the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, leaders in sustainable textiles explored the future of fashion through farming and fiber systems. Hear insights from TJ Richardson (Ohio Hemp Company), Amber Ostaszewski (Rustbelt Fibershed), and Ashley Kubley (University of Cincinnati DAAP) as they discuss hemp, regenerative practices, and closing the textile loop for a more sustainable industry. This session highlights the critical intersection of agriculture, innovation, and design.  The Emcee, Sherwood McVeigh, Goodwill Industries.  The Fiber Forum served as the kickoff event for the 2025 (DE-FI) Fashion Week and a sneak peek into our Farm to Fashion initiative.  #CincinnatiRecycleReuseHub #DEFIFashionWeek #FiberForum #FarmToFashion #SustainableFashion #TextileInnovation  #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FiberInnovation 

Activating Collaboration | Karley Hasselfeld & Final Strike’s Engaged Audience Exercise

 Karley Hasselfeld, Vice President of Final Strike Collaborative, introduces a hands-on group exercise designed not just for this event but to spark new ideas, partnerships, and action in the fiber and creative space. Karley walks the audience through the exercise, discusses the intentions behind it, and points the way toward how collaborative momentum can carry beyond the forum walls.  Alongside the exercise, she shares her journey, role, and vision for Final Strike Collaborative an organization dedicated to transforming waste practices in the entertainment industry by turning salvaged materials into new possibilities.  Learn how community, creativity, and sustainable thinking converge to build a more equitable and circular creative economy.  The Emcee, Sherwood McVeigh, Goodwill Industries.  The Fiber Forum served as the kickoff event for the 2025 (DE-FI) Fashion Week and a sneak peek into our Farm to Fashion initiative.  #CincinnatiRecycleReuseHub #DEFIFashionWeek #FiberForum #FarmToFashion #SustainableFashion #TextileInnovation #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FiberInnovation #FinalStrikeCollaborative #Sustainability #CreativeReuse #Collaboration #CircularDesign 

2025 Fiber Forum: From Ideas to Impact: Building Local Manufacturing & Maker Economies Pt 1

 April Culbreath (A.D. Culbreath Collection), Alisa Smith (Baraza Impact Design Studio), and Shailah Maynard (Sew Valley) discuss Ideas to Impact: Building Local Manufacturing & Maker Economies. In this session, they share their journeys, challenges, and strategies for nurturing creative industries right in their communities.  April Culbreath brings her hands-on design and production perspective from her work at Ad Culbreath Collection.  Alisa Smith represents Baraza Impact Design Studio, a consultancy focused on strategic innovation, community-centered design, and bridging mission-driven organizations with sustainable growth.  Shailah Maynard leads Sew Valley, a zero-waste garment factory, sample room, and incubator space in Cincinnati, supporting designers and entrepreneurs with space, equipment, and education to bring their work to market.  Together, they explore how to translate ideas into actionable systems, build infrastructure for creative makers, and strengthen local economies rooted in manufacturing, sustainability, and collaboration.  Highlights include:  Models for scaling local production  Overcoming barriers in materials, labor, and market access  The role of collaboration, shared resources, and mission-driven design  Stories of transformation from concept to real, community-rooted impact   Whether you're a maker, designer, community organizer, or entrepreneur, this conversation offers insight into building ecosystems that empower local creativity.  The Emcee, Sherwood McVeigh, Goodwill Industries.  The Fiber Forum served as the kickoff event for the 2025 (DE-FI) Fashion Week and a sneak peek into our Farm to Fashion initiative.  #CincinnatiRecycleReuseHub #DEFIFashionWeek #FiberForum #FarmToFashion #SustainableFashion #TextileInnovation #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FiberInnovation #FinalStrikeCollaborative #CreativeReuse #Collaboration #CircularDesign #MakerEconomies #LocalManufacturing #SewValley #BarazaImpact #AdCulbreath #IdeasToImpact #SustainableDesign 

2025 Fiber Forum: From Ideas to Impact: Building Local Manufacturing & Maker Economies Pt 2

 April Culbreath (A.D. Culbreath Collection), Alisa Smith (Baraza Impact Design Studio), and Shailah Maynard (Sew Valley) discuss Ideas to Impact: Building Local Manufacturing & Maker Economies. In this session, they share their journeys, challenges, and strategies for nurturing creative industries right in their communities.  April Culbreath brings her hands-on design and production perspective from her work at Ad Culbreath Collection.  Alisa Smith represents Baraza Impact Design Studio, a consultancy focused on strategic innovation, community-centered design, and bridging mission-driven organizations with sustainable growth.  Shailah Maynard leads Sew Valley, a zero-waste garment factory, sample room, and incubator space in Cincinnati, supporting designers and entrepreneurs with space, equipment, and education to bring their work to market.  Together, they explore how to translate ideas into actionable systems, build infrastructure for creative makers, and strengthen local economies rooted in manufacturing, sustainability, and collaboration.  Highlights include:  Models for scaling local production  Overcoming barriers in materials, labor, and market access  The role of collaboration, shared resources, and mission-driven design  Stories of transformation from concept to real, community-rooted impact   Whether you're a maker, designer, community organizer, or entrepreneur, this conversation offers insight into building ecosystems that empower local creativity.  The Emcee, Sherwood McVeigh, Goodwill Industries.  The Fiber Forum served as the kickoff event for the 2025 (DE-FI) Fashion Week and a sneak peek into our Farm to Fashion initiative.  #CincinnatiRecycleReuseHub #DEFIFashionWeek #FiberForum #FarmToFashion #SustainableFashion #TextileInnovation #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FiberInnovation #FinalStrikeCollaborative #CreativeReuse #Collaboration #CircularDesign #MakerEconomies #LocalManufacturing #SewValley #BarazaImpact #AdCulbreath #IdeasToImpact #SustainableDesign  

Sustainability on the Runway | Trashion Show at the Fiber Forum

The Trashion Show closed out the 2025 Fiber Forum with creativity, innovation, and purpose. Designers took the challenge of transforming discarded materials into striking wearable art, showcasing how fashion can thrive at the intersection of sustainability and imagination.  Every piece on the runway was crafted from recycled, reused, or repurposed items that would typically be thrown away, proving that waste can become wonder when guided by vision and skill. The show not only celebrated design but also sparked conversations around responsibility, circularity, and the future of fashion.  The Fiber Forum served as a kickoff event for the 2025 D5 Fashion Week and a sneak peek into our Farmer Fashion Initiative.  #TrashionShow #FiberForum #SustainableFashion #CircularDesign #RecycledFashion #DEFIFashionWeek 

2025 OSU Farm to Fashion | The Ohio Hemp Company

(DE-FI) Global INC had the honor of being invited to the Ohio State University Farm to Fashion Initiative, an exclusive, invitation-only event bringing together leaders in fashion, fiber, and sustainability.  Our friends at the Ohio Hemp Company delivered an engaging presentation on the history of hemp in the textile industry and the groundbreaking work they are doing today to build sustainable pathways for the future.  From its roots in traditional fiber production to its potential as a modern, regenerative material, hemp continues to play a vital role in shaping a more sustainable fashion industry.  This video highlights the knowledge shared at Farm to Fashion and underscores why collaborations like these are essential to advancing the conversation on fashion, fiber, and the circular economy.  #FarmToFashion #OhioHempCompany #SustainableFashion #DEFIFashionWeek #FiberInnovation #Textiles 

2025 OSU Farm to Fashion | Bridgeforth Farms-The Legacy of Cotton

 At the Ohio State University Farm to Fashion Initiative, we had the privilege of hearing from the Bridgeforth family, a fifth-generation African-American-owned farm specializing in cotton. Their legacy in cotton farming is not only a story of heritage and resilience, but also of innovation and sustainability in today’s textile industry.  The Bridgeforth family supplies cotton directly to Victoria’s Secret, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, connecting local agriculture to one of the world’s most recognized fashion brands. Their work underscores the vital role of Black farmers in the global supply chain and highlights how deep-rooted farming traditions continue to shape the future of fashion.  This conversation shines a light on the intersection of history, community, and industry impact, reminding us that every garment begins with the growers who cultivate its raw materials.  #FarmToFashion #BridgeforthFamily #CottonFarming #SustainableFashion #AfricanAmericanFarmers #VictoriaSecret 

Grow what you know, wisdom from Mama O!

 At Jefferson Township’s inaugural Career & College Signing Day, we had the honor of welcoming Mama O from Edgemont Solar Gardens, a powerhouse of wisdom, heart, and lived experience.  In this clip, Mama O speaks directly to our kids about resilience, self-sufficiency, and the many unexpected career paths that exist in agriculture and sustainability.  From growing your own food to growing your purpose, Mama O reminded us all that the seeds we plant today shape the future we build tomorrow.  #CareerAndCollegeSigningDay #MamaO #JeffersonStrong #GrowWithUs #FutureInFocus #FarmToFashion 

Farm to Fashion | Dayton & Cincinnati Textile Economy

Fuel the Fashion Experience: Link Up

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