Workforce Development in Dayton, Cincinnati & the Midwest
Building and empowering the next generation of Midwest fashion talent through Workforce Development
(DE-FI) Global INC is building the Midwest’s fashion workforce from the ground up. Based in Dayton with reach into Cincinnati and across the Midwest, we provide hands-on training, apprenticeships, and real-world experience that connect creativity to career. Fashion is competitive, and our programs prepare talent to meet that challenge with skill, strategy, and confidence.
At (DE-FI) Global INC, workforce development is more than job training. It is a movement. We are redefining what it means to build a fashion career by connecting creativity, education, and industry in a way that no one else in the Midwest is doing.
What We Do
We bridge the gap between fashion education and real-world employment.
From the classroom to the production floor, we help students, professionals, and entrepreneurs gain hands-on experience through:
- Apprenticeships and internships with local brands and manufacturers
- Career training in sewing, patternmaking, CAD, material science, and design technology
- Industry certifications that align fashion with engineering, sustainability, and STEM
- Entrepreneurial support for independent designers and small businesses
Whether you are a student, a skilled maker, or a professional looking to pivot into fashion, (DE-FI) provides the access and structure to make it happen.
From the Ground Up
Through initiatives like Farm to Fashion and the STEM Atelier, we are creating an ecosystem that starts with the soil and ends with the runway.
By linking agriculture, textile manufacturing, and fashion technology, we are positioning the Midwest as a center for sustainable innovation and workforce opportunity.
The Reality of the Industry
Fashion is competitive. Success takes discipline, focus, and grit. Collaboration is part of that process because strong networks create strong competition. At (DE-FI), we combine both. We build partnerships that strengthen the ecosystem while preparing our members to stand out and excel in an industry where excellence is the standard, not the exception.
We are volunteer-led and partnership-driven, working alongside schools, nonprofits, manufacturers, and community organizations to train a workforce ready for the next generation of fashion production right here in Dayton and Cincinnati.
We never turn anyone away because of financial limitations. If you bring passion and commitment, we will help you find a way to grow.
How You Can Get Involved
Educators: Host workshops or integrate (DE-FI) programs into your curriculum
Employers: Partner with us to recruit or train talent
Students and Creatives: Apply for internships, apprenticeships, or incubator programs
Supporters: Invest in workforce development that fuels the creative economy
Contact us or become a partner to power the fashion pipeline of tomorrow.
We are not just training fashion professionals. We are cultivating the future of the Midwest 's creative economy.
Click HERE to Apply to Serve as a Workforce Development Educator!
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.