2019 Scholarship Winner Jay McPhaul learning about garment specs and technical flat sketching.
Photographed by Shane Baker.
DESIGNER IN RESIDENCE FINALISTS
13 Local Fashion Brands Selected as Finalists in the 2020 AZ Apparel Foundation Designer in Residence Accelerator Program
The AZ Apparel Foundation announces the 13 brands chosen as finalists for its prestigious Designer in Residence Accelerator program.
Out of nearly 50 applicants, 13 finalists were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges comprised of professionals from related industries including fashion, finance, marketing, business, beauty, film, and more. Finalists will be interviewed by the AAF Board of Directors on January 8, 2020. Six winners will be selected from this finalist talent pool for 2020, which is double the number of recipients awarded in 2019. The winners of the AZ Apparel Foundation Designer in Residence Accelerator Scholarship will be announced on January 13, 2020.
This scholarship provides a six-month training program and resources to accelerate the brands of six Arizona-based, fashion-design entrepreneurs. The finalists were chosen for their potential to build a scalable niche brand in Arizona. A 501(c)3 nonprofit, the AZ Apparel Foundation raises funds to provide these emerging businesses, all of the tools necessary for success as well as guidance from industry experts and professionals – at no cost to the winners. Each award is valued at over $18,500. The AZ Apparel Foundation has already successfully supported ten scholarship winners, including a brand offering women’s under-garments in all skin tones, a Native American graphic art brand that brings light to indigineous issues, and a modest evening wear collection to name a few.
The 13 finalists of 2020 are:
Ali Miller – Ali Miller Designs | Wedding Dresses (Mesa, AZ) Bonnie Wiscombe – Novalie | Misses ready-to-wear (Mesa, AZ) Dale James Hinerman – Dale James the Brand | Men’s/women’s special occasion (Paradise Valley, AZ) Hillary Lenfesty – Freestyle Collective | Women’s post surgery fashions (Phoenix, AZ) Jacob Firestone – Winters Clothing | Future inspired men’s wear (Tempe, AZ) Jennifer Walter – Serving Glamour | Transgendered women’s fashion (Peoria, AZ) Kinari Patel – Kinari Sari | Refashioned Saris (Chandler, AZ) Lindsay Johnson & Nikki Lewis – Sequoia Clothing Co. | Tall women’s activewear (Phoenix, AZ) Loren Aragon – ACONAV | Native American Couture (Maricopa, AZ) Nick Wetta – West Major | Men’s vintage inspired western shirts (Phoenix, AZ) Rico Worl – Trickster Company | Indigineous Athleisure (Tempe, AZ) Roxane Kyte – Couture Aprons | Luxury aprons (Scottsdale, AZ) Scott Warren – Heights Apparel | Tall men’s directional apparel (Tempe, AZ)
“We are very excited about this year’s group of applicants. It was challenging to narrow down the finalists from the nearly 50 applications we received because there were so many promising entrepreneurs creating unique niche brands applying for this year’s scholarship,” said Angela Johnson, Co-Founder of AZ Apparel Foundation and FABRIC. “Congratulations to the finalists! We can’t wait to meet you in person to learn even more about your vision.”
The AZ Apparel Foundation invites the public to a celebration of the achievements of these 13 finalists on January 30, 2020, at FABRIC. The event is in conjunction with the “Behind The Seams” series showcasing Arizona’s fashion industry experts. Appropriately enough, the January program features 2017 winner Jared Yazzie of the brand OXDX who will share his story and experience with the community.
WHAT: Celebration of the Designer In Residence 2020 Finalists at “Behind The Seams”
Click to watch the Designer in Residence scholar interviews
The 2019 Cultivate Fashion Show wrap up
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
What does success look like in the Designer in Residence program?
NAKED REBELLION
While Jessica and Jay won their Designer in Residence scholarship for their tuxedo brand Heywood and Ringo, they launched a second brand called Naked Rebellion during their scholarship term. Jessica, having been a costume designer in LA for shows like House of Cards and Dancing With The Stars, noticed a void in the market. She had struggled to find undergarments to match the shade of every woman's skin tone. In the six months of their scholarship residency term, Jay and Jessica created their second brand Naked Rebellion to fill that void. They branded it, designed it, sourced it all, made it through the rigors of tech pack and sample making, and started manufactuing! Naked Rebellion is now in full force and it took a fraction of the time and expense it woudl have traditionally taken without the benefits of the AZ Apparel Foundation's scholarship. We are SEW proud of these motivated entrepreneurs and are thrilled they have decided to become a tenant at FABRIC to continue to run their business! They really used what they were given in the program to the max and continue to do so. You can show your support for this local brand by pre-ordering at http://www.shopnakedrebellion.com.
OXDX
While Jared Yazzie created OxDx to preserve culture by passing on stories through art, fashion, and creative content. while being socially conscious, and connected to his community, he was limited by his workspace. In 2017 Jared won the first AAF Designer in Residence scholarship. He used the opportunity to expand his team, his knowledge of manufacturing, his equipment and his collection. By the time his six month scholarship term had ended, Jared had hired more employees and was selling more product. Since that time, Jared has outgrown and expanded his business into bigger studio/offices so many times at FABRIC, we've almost lost count! His team frequently travels the country sharing their important cultural message and selling their beautiful pieces. We are SEW honored Jared has chosen to stay at FABRIC all of these years and couldn't be more proud of his accomplishments. Show your support for this local brand at www.OxDxClothing.com.
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