Austin, Texas…Fashion-Tech Capital Of The World?
Written by: Bri Thomas/Fashion Editor
One year ago, Jennifer E.S. Millspaugh, Ph.D. bought a domain name for an anticipated launch of a new business she eventually named Austin Fashion Initiative (AFI). This new platform now exists to support and promote the fashion industry in Austin through network building, entrepreneurship, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.
On Wednesday night, a fashion-minded crowd gathered at The Refinery, Austin’s newest coworking space and event venue, to hear what she’s been up to over the past 365 days and what plans she has in store for us – the fashion community!
“I found this article by Business of Fashion called “New York vs. London: Which Is The World’s Fashion-Tech Capital?”, and I immediately thought…‘Why not Austin?’” she said during her presentation…
And what a fabulous thought! Austin has live music, amazing architecture, talented actors/actresses, innovative technology, esteemed schools, creative artists, as well as a booming fashion industry, a fact that many seem to forget or not realize at all.
Millspaugh touched on that Fashion X’s Austin Fashion Week is reportedly the fourth-largest fashion week in the United States. Kendra Scott and Outdoor Voices are two of the top 10 venture-backed fashion startups. And the crowd at Wednesday night’s event was full of stylish people who design, who write/blog about fashion, boutique owners, and those who strategize with fashion startups and who want the world to see that Austin is more than a weird city obsessed with tex-mex food, UT football and live music…We ARE a fashion mecca.
To help people see this and to help the community thrive even further, Austin Fashion Initiative focuses on five key components: promotion, economic development, resources, education and connection.
At Fashionably Austin, we are excited to continue promoting the Austin fashion industry. We encourage you to check out the assistance offered through a membership with AFI, as well as to check out The Refinery’s creative (and pink!) space.
Jennifer will be speaking during SXSW Interactive on March 11, 12:30-1:30 at the JW Marriott, Room 210.
AFI Events: https://www.
The Refinery Events: https://www.therefineryatx.
Fashion X Austin 2018: http://austin.fashionx.co/
