How Membership Works at The House of (DE-FI)ance
Membership — Invitation to The House of (DE-FI)ance
Membership to The House of (DE-FI)ance is by invitation only. As a member, you’ll gain access to creative resources, networking, incubator labs, and community in Dayton, Cincinnati, and across the Midwest. Request your invitation, membership launches January 2026.
The House of (DE-FI)ance isn’t open enrollment; it’s intentional alignment. Every potential member begins by requesting an invitation. This helps us learn who’s in the room, your goals, skills, creative lane, and how we can connect you to others within the (DE-FI) ecosystem.
Our invitation process ensures that every voice adds value and that our space reflects the diverse disciplines, professionalism, and innovation the fashion industry demands.
Once your invitation is reviewed and accepted, you’ll receive an official membership offer outlining your tier, benefits, and access details. From there, you'll be welcomed into our digital and physical community connecting you directly to opportunities, workshops, collaborations, and growth pathways that match your goals.
We do this to stay efficient, effective, and impactful making sure every program, partnership, and event meets the real needs of our members and builds the strongest possible foundation for the future of fashion.
Exclusive Fashion Membership in Dayton: House of (DE-FI)ance
The Exclusive Network for Fashion Disruptors: The House of (DE-FI)ance: A Fashion & Design Co-working Experience's Membership Tiers and Benefits
Unlock access to Dayton’s only fashion incubator. Our membership connects designers, models, and creatives with industry resources, coworking space, and professional networking. Welcome to the House of (DE-FI)ance: A Fashion & Design Co-working Experience. Our memberships are designed to be inclusive, accessible, and deeply rooted in our mission to cultivate, connect, and elevate fashion talent in Southwest Ohio and beyond. We've simplified our membership tiers to ensure clarity, sustainability, and equity.
Membership Tiers Overview
Community Access
Cost: Free – $120/year (Sliding Scale) or $15/month
Who It’s For: Middle & high school students, senior citizens (Golden Era), and verified press/media.
How It Works:
We believe opportunities should be accessible to all. That’s why Community Access is available on a sliding scale; you can contribute up to $120/year or $15/month, depending on your circumstances. If you’re able to pay, we encourage it, your support helps us to sustain programming. If you are facing a financial hardship, just let us know, we offer a confidential fee waiver application and never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay.
Benefits:
- 1 bookings/month
- Networking & mentorship
- Automatic approval of invitation requests
- Educational workshops
- Exclusive access to (DE-FI) produced events
- Community support
- Talent showcase opportunities
- Directory listing
- Name listed in (DE-FI)ance Magazine
- Discounted access to (DE-FI) produced experiences
- Invitation to members-only experiences
- Classifieds posting access
- Profile includes: member page, URL, email, cover image, images, basic summary, and access to member directory
Creator Access
Cost: Free – $175/year (Sliding Scale) or $20/month
Who It’s For: Independent creatives, hobbyists, or those exploring fashion for the first time.
How It Works:
This tier gets you started with community, networking, and creative confidence, a low-cost entry point for those exploring their talents. We believe opportunities should be accessible to all. That’s why Community Access is available on a sliding scale; you can contribute up to $175/year or $20/month, depending on your circumstances. If you’re able to pay, we encourage it, your support helps us to sustain programming. If you are facing a financial hardship, just let us know, we offer a confidential fee waiver application and never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay.
Benefits:
All Community Access, plus:
- 3 studio booking/month
- Networking & mentorship
- Invitation request approvals
- Directory listing
- Name listed in (DE-FI)ance Magazine
- Discounted access to (DE-FI) experiences
- Classifieds posting access
- Profile includes: member page, URL, email, cover image, images, basic summary, access to member directory
Builder Access
Cost: Free – $250/year (Sliding Scale) or $25/month)
Who It’s For: College students, working models, emerging beauty professionals, and serious creatives.
How It Works:
Pay annually for savings or monthly for flexibility. This tier includes added career support and talent-building resources. We believe opportunities should be accessible to all. That’s why Community Access is available on a sliding scale; you can contribute up to $250/year or $25/month, depending on your circumstances. If you’re able to pay, we encourage it, your support helps us to sustain programming. If you are facing a financial hardship, just let us know, we offer a confidential fee waiver application and never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay.
Benefits:
All Creator Access benefits, plus:
- 6 studio bookings/month
- Career development
- Media exposure opportunities (features, campaigns, interviews)
- Promotional exposure in DE-FI content and events
- Ability to showcase services and products in exclusive opportunities
- Premium profile tools:
- Uploads: PDFs, GIFs, PNGs, logos
- Long-form bio and 250-character summary
Pro Access
Cost: Free – $350/year (Sliding Scale) or $30/month)
Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, fashion and beauty professionals, and established creatives ready to scale.
How It Works:
Pay annually for savings or monthly for flexibility. This tier includes added career support and talent-building resources. We believe opportunities should be accessible to all. That’s why Community Access is available on a sliding scale; you can contribute up to $250/year or $25/month, depending on your circumstances. If you’re able to pay, we encourage it, your support helps us to sustain programming. If you are facing a financial hardship, just let us know, we offer a confidential fee waiver application and never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay.
Benefits:
All Builder Access benefits, plus:
- 10 studio bookings/month
- Strategic collaborations and partnership matchmaking
- Strategic business support and consultations
- Premium access to services and magazine features
- Priority show placement and investor matchmaking
Review our Community Guidelines.
Fashion Week of Cincinnati...You're on Deck!
The inaugural Fashion Week of Cincinnati is here and we’re doing things differently. This isn’t a traditional runway-heavy fashion week. This is the foundational year that's taking a bold, unorthodox step toward amplifying Cincinnati’s incredible fashion talent and laying the groundwork for what’s to come.
We’re building bridges, elevating voices, and weaving together the fabric of the industry one designer, collaboration, and one moment at a time.
Invitation requests are now open. Space is limited, and this is where it all begins.
Be part of the foundation.