580 Calumet Ln, Dayton, OH 45417
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580 Calumet Ln, Dayton, OH 45417
Re(DE-FI)ning Fashion in Dayton, Cincinnati & the Midwest
The Garment District:Building Midwest Fashion Infrastructure
Dayton & Cincinnati’s hub for sewing, micro-manufacturing, and textile innovation
The (DE-FI) Garment District is re(DE-FI)ning how fashion is made in the Midwest. Based in Dayton and Cincinnati, this initiative connects designers, textile makers, sewers, and entrepreneurs to build a sustainable garment ecosystem. From micro-manufacturing and industrial sewing training to fiber-to-fashion innovation, the Garment District empowers independent creators while strengthening regional supply chains.
As part of (DE-FI)’s commitment to Dayton, Cincinnati, and the Midwest fashion community, the Garment District provides space, resources, and collaboration opportunities that support both established professionals and emerging talent.
Launched in March 2017, the Dayton Garment & Textile District (DGTD) is a hub and the engine behind a fashion infrastructure designed to anchor Southwest Ohio in the national fashion pipeline. We’re here for the fashion designers, engineers, sewists, scientists, and artisans who believe that fashion isn’t just about clothes but about innovation, integrity, and industry. We’re also here for the rebels who refuse to follow the trends, for the craftsmen and craftswomen who pour their heart into every stitch, and for the communities ready to thrive by embracing local talent.
What Makes DGTD & (DE-FI) Different? We’re building infrastructure, not just markets.
We incubate across disciplines: fashion, STEM, agriculture, textile science, and economic justice, combining virtual directories with physical brick-and-mortar collaboration zones across Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. We aren't just creating clothes; we are creating careers in everything from textile engineering to editorial to merchandising to sustainability. We tie together workforce development, fashion education, manufacturing readiness, and social impact, no one else in the U.S. does all of this under one roof.
Why DGTD? Because Fashion Needs a Rebuild, Not Just a Runway.
- We are a central infrastructure node and one-stop resource connecting designers, sewists, textile makers, engineers, boutiques, and retailers throughout Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, the Midwest, and the Tri-state area.
- We provide tools, space, mentorship, and strategic collaboration to help regional fashion and textile professionals build sustainable careers while contributing to the growth of our local economy.
When you shop or collaborate with the Dayton Garment & Textile District, you’re investing in fashion and advancing supply chains, creating jobs, and building community wealth from the fiber up. When you shop or collaborate with DGTD, you’re not just buying clothes or hiring talent, you’re fueling a revolution in slow fashion, supporting artistry, and saying no to mass production.
What We Offer
1. Micro-Manufacturing Support Services:
- Affordable, high-quality production for soft goods at $12–17.50/hr.
- You design it. We sew it. It’s that simple.
- Helps designers scale production, meet demand, and grow their brands without outsourcing overseas.
2. The Resource Directory:
- Your backstage pass to the region’s top sewists, pattern makers, fabric dyers, embroiderers, and textile wizards.
- Think of it as the ultimate little black book for fashion, sewing, and textile pros.
- Paid gigs only, because artistry deserves compensation.
3. Entrepreneurial Development:
- Studio space, tools, and mentorship for sewists and textile-related businesses to start and thrive.
- Tailored support to help you navigate the tough stuff such as business strategy, scaling production, and client acquisition.
4. Collaboration Opportunities:
- Work directly with regional designers, boutiques, and organizations.
- Build your network while showcasing your skills in a thriving creative community.
Why We're Needed? Why Now?
Fashion can feel like a lonely, uphill battle, but we’re here to make it easier. The DGTD exists to:
- Help you manufacture your designs affordably and ethically.
- Give you the resources and connections to grow your sewn goods or textile business.
- Create opportunities for you to sell your products locally and beyond.
The DGTD is filling a crucial gap. For years, designers have struggled with finding local resources to bring their ideas to life. With waitlists for production stretching beyond 8+ weeks, you are the missing piece. We need skilled sewists, textile makers, and other professionals to step in and meet the growing demand.
Fashion shouldn’t feel isolating or impossible to break into. The DGTD exists to:
- Create fair, ethical, and local manufacturing opportunities
- Connect fashion and textile talent to real business pipelines
- Build long-term infrastructure that empowers creatives, not exploits them
Whether it’s custom garments, naturally dyed fibers, material science innovations, or small-batch production, this is where it starts.
Our Impact
Since 2013, the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) has:
- Helped designers build their brands.
- Created editorial content and runway events that elevated local talent.
- Fostered a culture of collaboration and growth in the Midwest fashion industry.
With DGTD, we’ve taken this mission a step further by:
- Supporting independent designers with high-quality manufacturing support services.
- Providing affordable resources for designers to scale their brands.
- Offering opportunities for you to sell your products through Cincinnati and Dayton Threads.
A Network That’s Both Virtual and Physical
The Dayton Garment & Textile District is not just an online directory, it is a living, breathing infrastructure of fashion professionals and resources operating both virtually and through brick-and-mortar locations across Ohio, the Midwest and beyond. It’s a growing network of brick-and-mortar and virtual fashion professionals and resources. Through our strategic partnerships across these regions, DGTD supports real-world access to workspace, mentorship, and community in multiple cities. The DGTD unites artisans, makers, and manufacturers across the region.
Our partners span material scientists, fiber growers, engineering professionals, and more forming a broad, interdisciplinary pipeline for innovation and production that serves the entire fashion supply chain. From farm-based natural fibers to finished garments, DGTD helps regional professionals move ideas from concept to consumer, right here in Ohio.
We are relaunching in September 2025 as part of (DE-FI) Fashion Week, showcasing a stronger, smarter, and more connected version of the District than ever before.
Rooted in Workforce Development
DGTD is part of a larger effort through (DE-FI)’s Workforce Development Educational Initiatives, which include our:
- Farm to Fashion Initiative – Supporting regional farmers, natural fiber producers, and textile innovators to promote ethical and sustainable garment production.
- STEM Atelier – Bridging science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and fashion to prepare youth and college students for careers in fashion innovation, materials science, and textile engineering.
We are intentionally creating a fashion infrastructure that connects the dots between material scientists, engineers, farmers, and textile makers positioning fashion not only as art but also as an economic engine.
Want to Join Our Directory?
Our handpicked directory isn’t for everyone. It’s for serious talent the designers, sewists, engineers, fiber producers, and textile artisans who want to create impact and be part of something bigger in the Midwest and Tri-state area. Think of it as an exclusive club for fashion rebels and artisans who refuse to settle for mediocrity.
This is not about followers or fame. It’s about substance and quality. If you're ready to collaborate, grow, learn and contribute to the long-term development of the fashion industry, we're ready for you.
This is the Dayton Garment & Textile District, where fashion finds its soul. Register HERE.
Click HERE to Apply to the Dayton Garment & Textile District
The Fiber Forum's Trashion Show Applications Are Live!
Applications are now open for designers interested in showcasing their work in the Trashion Show during (DE-FI) Fashion Week’s Fiber Forum on September 16th in Strategic Partnership with the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub. If you're ready to turn trash into couture, submit your application by August 30.