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#SFFashionLab is SFFAMA’s fashion incubator project for talented emerging designers. Leveraging the heritage, creativity and entrepreneurial spark of the San Francisco Bay Area as a “living innovation laboratory,” participants will experience San Francisco’s unique fashion industry DNA, evolving fashion personality, and the impact of technology and innovation on future strategic directions, as a primer to explore and inform their own individual design process and direction. SF Fashion Lab’s program includes Advisory Board business and strategy mentorship, a design and online retail project, events, and a behind-the-scenes look at new business with innovative Bay Area brands, designers, developers, manufacturers, retailers, and startups.

Fashion Pitch Competion judges include: Geetika Gupta, Academic Art Director, School of Fashion, The Art Institute of California, Gwendolyn WrightThe Wright ConsultantsMikel Rosen, London Fashion Week Founder & Professor, The Art Institute of California and Sarah JamesBetabrand Think Tank Director, Betabrand

About San Francisco’s Fashion Industry

Despite a general decline in overall US apparel and manufacturing sectors, San Francisco’s fashion industry, with 120 years of history and innovation, still ranks 3rd in the US and is currently undergoing a major renaissance as the leading strategic development hub for fashion and technology startups, wearable technologies, and retail and brand technology R&D and innovation eco-systems. According to the Americans for the Arts 2012 industry report, San Francisco’s Arts and Culture activities have the highest per capita economic impact in the United States and enjoy broad-based community and industry support and recognition.