The (DE-FI) Fashion Directory: Connecting Midwest Fashion

The (DE-FI) Global INC Fashion Directory is where Midwest fashion talent meets career advancement. Based in Dayton and Cincinnati, this directory connects independent designers, models, boutiques, fashion professionals, and more with the resources, collaborators, and visibility they need to grow. Whether you’re searching for textile makers, sewists, tailors, a local boutique, scouting models, or exploring designers reshaping the industry, our directory highlights the authentic, independent spirit of Midwest fashion. 

Breaking into the fashion industry  has long felt like navigating a maze without a map,especially outside  traditional fashion capitals like New York. The landscape is fragmented,  unregulated, and often dominated by gatekeeping, exploitation, and  performative inclusion. For talent across the Midwest and beyond, access  to reliable support, transparent education, and equitable opportunity  has too often been out of reach. We’re here to change that.

At (DE-FI) Global INC, we’re not interested in recycling broken models or mimicking outdated institutions. We are building a fashion infrastructure, a living system of support that centers ethics, education, innovation, and economic development. Powered by Mighty Networks, our digital platform is more than a directory, it’s a dynamic,  purpose-driven community that connects designers, textile artists,  engineers, farmers, sewists, stylists, students, material scientists, and fashionpreneurs across the supply chain. 

Beginning July 13th, 2025 memberships to the House of (DE-FI)ance will open, granting members exclusive access to their professional profiles on our new Mighty Networks platform. This dynamic, member-powered directory will fully launch in September during (DE-FI) Fashion Week, alongside  the official rollout of the Dayton Garment & Textile  District, bridging digital access with real-world fashion infrastructure. Active membership is an invitation into a new fashion infrastructure built both digitally and physically with brick-and-mortar presence in Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and beyond. Activated through local partnerships, studio spaces, and workforce development hubs, we’re creating real access with real outcomes. 

Whether you’re sourcing natural fibers through our Farm to Fashion Initiative, exploring material science in our STEM Atelier, launching your brand in one of our fashion incubators, or gaining hands-on experience through our Workforce Development Program, (DE-FI) is your industry launchpad from soil to runway.

Fashion isn’t for the faint of heart. But with the right network, tools, and guidance, you won’t just survive...you’ll lead, design, and thrive. 

How the (DE-FI) Mighty Network Empowers Our Digital Directory, Virtual Village, and Professional Launchpad.

The (DE-FI) Network on Mighty Networks is more than a digital space, it’s the connective fiber of our  fashion infrastructure, designed to foster collaboration, visibility, and economic mobility across fashion’s full lifecycle. 

Member Profile Pages
Each member receives a customizable, professional profile that serves as a living résumé and digital portfolio, including:

• Name & Business Name
• Industry Role/Specialty (e.g., Designer, Pattern Maker, Fiber Farmer, STEM Educator)
• Location (City/State)
• Professional Bio or Mission Statement
• Website & Portfolio Links
• Image Gallery (e.g., lookbooks, product shots, process images)
• Past Clients or Collaborations
• Availability for Paid Work or Projects
• Preferred Contact Info
• Membership Type (Student, Model, Press, Professional, etc.)
  

Profiles are searchable and filterable, enabling members to find collaborators or service providers based on expertise, discipline, or geography. 

Networked Directory Integration
This isn’t a static list, it’s a responsive, member-powered network where you can:

•  Search by role, region, or specialty
• View full professional profiles
• Post or respond to collaboration opportunities
• Recommend or endorse trusted partners
• Communicate directly via secure private chat
  

Collaboration & Community Spaces
Our platform offers meaningful spaces to grow your network, strengthen your skills, and stay inspired:

• Topic-Based Rooms (e.g., STEM Atelier, Farm to Fashion, Design & Merchandising)
• Project Groups for runway shows, sourcing trips, community builds, and campaigns
• Virtual coworking meetups and curated networking lounges
• Member-led workshops and panel opportunities
• Live Q&As with industry leaders and special guests
• Exclusive job postings and vendor calls via (DE-FI) and partners
  

These forums mirror real-life industry infrastructure, connecting talent across creative and technical disciplines.

Events & Workforce Development
Our network also hosts:

• Event registration portals for (DE-FI) runways, open houses, and info sessions
• Access to Workforce Development Tracks, including: 
• Farm to Fashion (natural fibers, agri-fiber education, fiber farming)
• STEM Atelier (material science, engineering, technology, sustainability)
• Sewist certification testing and industry-standard training
• Paid mentorships and micro-internships
• College-to-career guidance for fashion-based pathways
  

Access Levels & Membership Tiers
Membership access reflects your role in the industry and ensures safe, relevant engagement for all:

• Student spaces safeguard youth engagement and learning
• Professional hubs offer career-level networking and resourcing
• Press/media & community tiers have tailored access for engagement, visibility, and reporting
  

Every member receives access to a verified core library of industry resources, including vetted contacts, grants, contracts, templates, and strategic tools.

Real-Time Intelligence & Growth
Our Mighty Network empowers (DE-FI) to:

• Monitor demand shifts (e.g., need for dyers, STEM pros, sewists)
• Identify potential collaborations and partnerships
• Highlight underrepresented talent for features and advancement
• Offer direct support to incubator cohorts and program participants
  

This is your invitation.
To a digital infrastructure built for real-world results into a fashion industry with integrity for a community committed to building, not gatekeeping.

Join the (DE-FI) Mighty Network.
Because the future of fashion is already under construction and you're invited to help build it.