Nashville Fashion Alliance seeking funding

Apparently everybody wants to be a fashion capital nowadays. While Nashville might be known for it's rich music history, the Nashville Fashion Alliance (NFA) is seeking to help their fashion scene get the attention their music scene gets. The organization has been an officially chartered organization since January, and has been in the works for almost 2 years.

They will begun a kickstarter campaign on April 16th, 2015 to raise 100,000 dollars for the organization. Currently, over 150 Nashville based brands participate in the initiative, including Billy Reid, Kayce Hughes, and Manuel. Van Tucker, the CEO of Nashville Fashion Alliance, has said that her mission is to see how they can make Music City a place for fashion companies. For her, "Fashion and music go hand in hand."

Global Language Monitor ranked Nashville as the fourth best area for fashion designers, making it the only city ranked in the top five that doesn't have an industry council. The city is home to some of the most prominent retail distribution centers in the world, including Warby Parker, Macy's, Gap, Wal-Mart, and Nike. Tennessee also ranks fifth in apparel manufacturing according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report from June 2012.

Despite Nashville's ability to attract designers and retail distribution centers, virtually all sewing and manufacturing outlets have completely disappeared. The majority of designers, like Elizabeth Suzann and Amanda Valentine, produce in-house, use independent contractors, or source outside of the region. Tucker is committed to bringing brands to the Nashville area and making sewing a popular and profitable industry there again.

NFA's goal will be to train and create jobs in the sewing realm that will make it possible for designers to manufacture in the area instead of going to New York or Los Angeles. This is a move that could potentially do great things for Nasvhille's overall economy, providing new jobs and even affordable housing options through a Sewing Training Academy for under served populations. They will also advocate for shared resources. A cup of social justice to go with your new fashion label anyone?

While a lot of these initiatives will require coordination, funding, and cohesion, NFA is already getting plenty of the attention it needs to start making a difference to their community, and really turn Nashville into a star on the fashion map. While this certainly won't be an overnight process, the ground work is there, and they are off to a running start. It just goes to show how much a passion for fashion and a desire to make a difference to your community can do.