The Designer Talk Module is the monthly in-person component of both the Cincinnati Fashion Incubator and the Dayton Fashion Week: Designer Incubator, held every second Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
What Sets Us Apart?
Our fashion incubators are proven programs designed to support and nurture aspiring, emerging, and established designers from the start of their journey through to rapid growth and eventual independence. We provide:
What’s Included?
As part of the Designer Talk Module, you’ll have access to a hybrid experience offering:
Cost & Support
Participation is $99/month. Financial concerns shouldn’t deter your dreams—support may be available through the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund. Have a team in place? Contact us for team rates.
This isn’t just an incubator—it’s a pathway to thriving in the fashion industry. Ready to take your brand to the next level? Join us.
*Additional expenses may apply for field trips.
A Generation of (DE-FI)ance is a hands-on opportunity that introduces young creatives to the creative and business sides of the fashion industry through real-world applications. Divided into two peer groups, this incubator is designed to nurture and grow young talent in an engaging, age-appropriate environment.
Peer Groups
Why Two Groups?
When we held our first youth fashion camp, we saw a need to separate younger and older participants to foster creative growth at their respective levels. For instance, while younger kids enjoyed playful moments like sing-alongs, older participants benefited from more focused sessions. This separation ensures every participant thrives in a space tailored to their needs.
What to Expect
Participants in A Generation of (DE-FI)ance will:
1. Creative: For aspiring fashion designers.
2. Business of Fashion: Covering marketing, journalism, law, business management, etc.
3. Production: Exploring set design, photography, event planning, and more.
Why Join?
This incubator is more than a learning experience—it’s a space for your child to explore their passions, build skills, and envision a future in the fashion industry. By the end of the program, participants will leave with a strong foundation, a clearer sense of their interests, and tools to take them to the next level.
Cost & Support
Participation is $99 per month. Financial concerns shouldn’t deter your child from pursuing their dreams. Support may be available through the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund.
Open to students ages 6 to 18.
This is your child’s chance to create, grow, and thrive in a supportive and stimulating environment. Let’s empower the next generation of fashion innovators.
Out of 100+ applicants, 25 were selected for interviews, and 6 aspiring designers were selected to be a part of the newly reformatted Dayton Fashion Week Designer Incubator; 1 aspiring designers remain. Some quit when they realized they weren't going to be insta-famous in 2 weeks, some quit because they learned that being a successful fashion designer is about more than fashion shows, and others were dismissed for no-calls/no-shows.
The journey has not been easy for the remaining designers. From the time that they started this experience in March 2023, Danielle Simpson has put in long hours, full of introspection, doubts, frustration, fashion based travel, learning from and networking with the Who's Who of Fashion,brain storming, learning how to sew, workshops, being critiqued, challenged, interning, and so much more! And she did it all while working full-time jobs, caring for loved ones, and all of those other duties that come along with this thing called life.
Now that a solid foundation has been laid for her to build upon, Danielle is ready to introduce her brand and start building their teams. She is currently interning at Other by IMI getting hands-on experience learning what it takes to run a store front boutique from an independent fashion designer Sandra Bowden, and figuring out everything she'll need, and most importantly, who she needs on her team to reach the next level. She will begin building her team in 2025 as a part of the Brain Dayton Experience and we want to see your face in the place as they start expanding their brand.
Become a (DE-FI) product tester and tell us what you think during our designers product development.
Danielle Simpson, also known as D.O.D.I., is an aspiring fashion designer out of Dayton, Ohio. Known for her keen eye for edgy luxury style. Incorporating her love of music and fashion, helps her create emotion evoking experiences and designs. She lends her expertise to her company Dayton Denim and Design and her line Thrash by D.O.D.I., to contribute and apply valuable content and knowledge learned through the (DE-FI) Global Inc network.
Designing her dreams one stitch at a time.Thrash is an edgy, high-quality, moderately priced, luxury fashion experience. She is showcasing her freshman line Thrash by D.O.D.I. , this year for Dayton Fashion Week. A professional in the fashion world, with over 10 years of industry, and designing experience, she is always looking to push the boundaries of what’s possible in fashion. To definitively align the undeniable connection between Hip Hop and High Fashion, She delved into the minds of creatives.
She’s tasked with understanding how to translate sound into color, and movement into fabric and to create the most inspired collections in the industry. Her strengths are painting ensembles, to reflect familiar sounds, and vibrations. Celebrating the colors, fabrics of boldness, resilience, and the mutability of the Culture. Her fashion superpower is hearing the pulse of the people and translating that. Welcome to her world. Elevate your expression of self. She believes the most luxurious experiences are the ones we curate for ourselves.
Danielle's Passion:
To take the lessons learned through fashion and Hip Hop and seamlessly merging the two elements
Danielle's Goals within the Fashion Industry:
To finally seamlessly merge fashion design with Hip Hop music and culture and expression
Danielle's Support System:
Danielle's Dream Job in Fashion:
Being Hip Hop’s official luxury fashion brand, and designing and advising for industry clients.
Thrash by D.O.D.I.'s Brand Story
“The most luxurious experiences are the ones that we create for ourselves.” ~Thrash by D.O.D.I.
Thrash by D.O.D.I. was founded on the spirit of Hip Hop Culture and its remarkable influence on evolutionary style. The Culture, the most iconic and inspiring being, that is created, curated, and colored all on its own.
In 2003, when we first conceived the idea of Thrash by D.O.D.I., the availability of the most sought-after designs was only available to those with access. So, our mission is to connect individuals with unique personal design and clothing services that bring access to the people and to (DE-FI)nitively align the undeniable connection between Hip Hop and high fashion.
We delved into the minds of creatives and are tasked with understanding how to translate sound into color, and movement into fabric to create the most inspired collections in the industry.
We are dedicated to creating high quality, edgy, trendy, and classic fashion elements, that stay in sync with the vibes of the time for a seamless transition for you to make your mark.
Thrash by D.O.D.I.'s Mission
Dedicated to connecting individuals with uniquely personal experiences and clothing services
Thrash by D.O.D.I.'s Core Values
Thrash by D.O.D.I.'s Brand Culture
What Sets Thrash by D.O.D.I.'s Apart from their Competition?
My brand is dedicated to creating quality fashion forward looks that are in sync with trending fashion, and a classic esthetic.
What Problem is Thrash by D.O.D.I.'s trying to solve?
I am trying to bring the luxury of the Culture closer to the consumer who actually creates it.
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(DE-FI) the Norm. Join the Elite. A Weekend of (DE-FI)ance is your exclusive pass to disrupt the regional fashion scene, March 20-23, 2025. This isn’t for everyone—it’s for the visionaries, the innovators, the rule-breakers. Tickets are limited. Request your invitation now to claim your place in the movement.