The 2012 State of Style Advocacy Day themed ‘Made in USA’ on Capitol Hill is an opportunity for leaders in the fashion and creative community to come together on Capitol Hill to raise awareness and advocate issues that affect the fashion industry.
How to create jobs in the American textile industry.
Last week we had the pleasure of participating in the Greater Washington D.C. Fashion Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 State of Style Advocacy Day on the Hill. The purpose of this annual event is for leaders in the fashion and creative economy community to come together to raise awareness and advocate issues the affect the fashion and apparel industry on Capitol Hill.
In 1973, there were more than 2.4 million textile and apparel workers employed in the United States; by 1996, that figure had dropped by 40% and has intensified in the last decade.
Jennifer Fisher, Director of Advocacy, GWFCC
Our President and Co-Founder of the Seattle Fashion Incubator, Steven Paul Matsumoto, was invited to participate in a panel discussion held at the Rayburn House Office Building. The panel discussed President Obama’s small business agenda, and significant pieces of legislation currently in committee, and the importance of business incubators to the creative economy.
The distinguished panel of industry leaders moderated by Lauren Rothman, Huffington Post Style Contributing Editor also included:
- Janet E. Heinzen, Director Office of Textiles and Apparel, US Department of Commerce
- James V. Hunter, Legislative Aide, Representative David Price (D – NC)
- Jacqueline B. West, Field Operations Specialist, Office of Field Operations, Small Business Administration
- Adriana Pavon, Co-Founder of the Detroit Fashion Collective
The panel urged attendees to voice their support for H.R. 2275 American Textile Technology Innovation and Research for Exportation (ATTIRE) Act, and H.R. 1418/S.509 Small Business Lending Enhancement Act of 2011. In addition to discussing how Fashion Incubators from across the country are assisting small businesses in their markets, and the formation of a National Coalition of Fashion Incubators. There are currently 13 identified incubators which have expressed interest in coalition membership. We’ll forego any historical references to the original colonies.
We would like to personally thank Mr. Alan Lee, and Representative Jim McDermott’s (D – WA) office for taking time to meet with both Mr. Matsumoto, and Mr. Daniel Arthur Done regarding these important jobs creation issues. Please click the links above and let your legislators know that you support the passage of the above bills. With your help we can revitalize the industry, and create ‘Made in the USA’ jobs.
Trend Forecast by Connie Crawford
Our Preview Reception will be a business casual networking event with your peers, our speakers, and exhibitors Monday September 10th, 2012 from 4PM to 8PM featuring a Trend Forecast from Connie Amaden-Crawford.
The American Sewing Guild awarded Connie with the 2009 selection for the Sewing Hall of Fame.
Connie Crawford is a licensed designer for The McCall Pattern Company under the Butterick label and is owner of Fashion Patterns by Coni (www.fashionpatterns.com). She is a nationally recognized lecturer, fashion specialist, educator, and author of sewing and pattern textbooks, including A Guide to Fashion Sewing, The Art of Fashion Draping, and Patternmaking Made Easy. Drawing on her 35 years of experience in apparel manufacturing and 23 years teaching fashion design classes in patternmaking, sewing, and draping at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles.
Your Preview Reception registration also grants you access to the main expo on the 11th and 12th.
Mr. Matsumoto Goes to Washington – D.C. that is
We are very proud to announce that our President, Mr. Steven Paul Matsumoto, has been invited to speak to Congressional leaders in Washington D.C. by the Greater Washington D.C. Fashion Chamber of Commerce (GWFCC). This will be the GWFCC’s third annual State of Style Industry Advocacy Day on the Hill. The event is scheduled to occur the second week of May 2012.
Mr. Matsumoto will be a part of a panel discussing topics such as:
- Preserving jobs in textile/apparel manufacturing
- Restoring opportunities for entrepreneurship in fashion
- American Jobs Act, HR 2275 (American Textile Technology Innovation and Research for Exploration Act)
- HR 1418/S.509 (Small Business Lending Enhancement Act)
Mr. Matsumoto will also be meeting with members of Washington State’s Congressional delegation to discuss jobs creation in the industry for the region. Congratulations Mr. Matsumoto, and we look forward to a full report upon your return.
Seamless in Seattle 2012 Application Information
Now in its fifth year, Seattle magazine spends each spring searching the city for the best up-and-coming designers in the Seattle fashion scene for their Seamless in Seattle design competition. Winning designers will be featured in a fashion spread inside the September issue of Seattle magazine, given prominent coverage on seattlemag.com and will be introduced in grand style at their second annual Seamless in Seattle fashion show, taking place in September.
The application deadline is right around the corner, so get those sketch books out, patterns drawn, marked and graded, and samples draped. Click HERE for more information on how to apply, and get your submission in by the June 1st deadline!
Best of the Northwest Spring 2012
Don’t miss the spring Best of the Northwest art and fine craft show – their last event was listed in the “top 100 art and craft shows” nationally by Art Fair Sourcebook and in the top two shows in Washington State.
This is an opportunity to connect with over 100 established and emerging regional artists and craftspeople reminiscent of an old world marketplace (without the goats and straw)! Come celebrate all things handmade, enjoy live music, tasty food and make purchases of gifts of enduring beauty in the light-filled space of Hangar 30 in Seattle’s Magnuson Park. Join them for the Northwest’s premiere art and craft show.
Friday March 30 from 10am to 6pm, Saturday, March 31 from 10am to 6pm, and Sunday, April 1 from 10am to 5pm at Hangar 30 Magnuson Park – Seattle, WA 98115.
Tickets at the door $7.00 per person or purchase in advance online $5.00 (+ tax) ticket sales http://nwartalliance.com/ticket-buy.php and program details at http://nwartalliance.com/program.pdf – KOMO Day Friday March 30 tickets at the door for only $5.25 – free admission for children 12 and under.
Plenty of free parking!
Check out their commercial below!
Save the Date for S.I.T.E. Fall 2012
We would like to thank all of our exhibitors and attendees for making our Spring 2012 show such a huge success. We had 15 new exhibitors, and our best attendance since 2009! In fact, we had more attendees come through on Sunday of this spring’s show than the entirety of the fall 2011 show under the previous name and ownership. We would especially like to thank our neighbors from British Columbia for making the trip to Seattle to join us for the show.
We have gotten some great feed back from both exhibitors and attendees, and we’ve already begun the planning process for our next event in the fall. In fact we have secured our dates with Seattle Center in the Northwest Rooms through 2013. We’re looking forward to a great, “Homecoming,” show in the fall.
Therefore it is with great pride and pleasure that we officially announce our September 2012 show dates!
See you in the Northwest Rooms September 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2012!
Seattle Magazine’s Forecast Fashion Show Tonite!
March fashion events just keep on roaring in like a lion. If you don’t have plans to attend this great fashion show tonight you may want to rethink that.
Catch our designs on the runway at Seattle magazine’s The Forecast Fashion show! Northwest fashion will brave the elements on March 14 as Seattle magazine marries high style with outerwear to create a unique blend of Seattle style:chic, fashion forward and best of all, weatherproof. Seattle magazine’s The Forecast fashion show is produced by Terri Morgan of TCM Models.
Date: Wednesday, March 14
Location: Benaroya Hall, Seattle
Time: Doors open at 7 pm, Show begins at 8:30pm
Tickets: Tickets and additional information are available at http://seattlemag.com/the-forecast
Extra, Extra, Read All About It!
This just in! We would like to thank everyone that helped us achieve our pre-registration goal of 500 attendees! Our show would not be possible without your support and attendance. Pre-registration is now closed, but you can still register onsite with a current business license and recent purchase order. We look forward to seeing all of you this Sunday and Monday at the Red Lion on Fifth Avenue in beautiful downtown Seattle.
In other news, the positive feedback from our exhibitors keeps coming in. Golden Cutting and Sewing supply called us today to compliment us on our search engine optimization provided by our Gold Sponsor Stigmare Couture Marketing, and to inform us that their landing page on our site has resulted in THREE new customers for them. Thank you David for sharing this information with us. We love to hear that your Silver Sponsorship is providing you with a positive Return on Investment!