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Fashion is not a word synonymous with Indianapolis. Racing, maybe, but fashion is an industry that is almost entirely overlooked in the Circle City.
A new group has set out to change that.
The Indianapolis Fashion Collective, or IFC, is a not-for-profit organization created to "unite, empower, showcase, and grow the Indianapolis-area fashion industry," according to the group's mission statement.
Owner of Sweet Revenge and IFC advisory board member Catherine Fritsch (shown here, middle) says the collective is already getting interest and support from different groups, including city developers.
"There is a lot of energy in the Indy-area fashion scene, and IFC is excited to tap into that energy. We want to foster what's already happening and help it to become legitimate, professional, real business," Fritsch said.
This week, the IFC is announcing its open membership enrollment to the public (information available at www.Indianapolisfashion.org). A standard rate is $50, while students can join for $25. Current board members include designers, photographers and boutique owners; high-profile names include Jill Ditmire of the Mass Ave Wine Shoppe, Pauline Moffat of IndyFringe, Helen Wells of Helen Wells Agency, Susan Branco of Develop Indy and Nikki Sutton of Nikki Sutton Style.
The IFC is not the first or the only group to address an unfilled niche of fashion awareness in Indy, but it has a strong collaboration between students and professionals.
"We can benefit from the creativity and energy of the students and temper that with the knowledge and experience of people who have been in business for years," Fritsch said. Students can get mentoring, scholarships, internships, workshops, portfolio reviews and networking. Professionals will get those benefits, plus support via business promotions and events, help with sourcing materials, access to media and inclusion in the online member directory.
The IFC faces a challenge, but consider this: When Carl Fisher proposed building a racetrack in the middle of a cornfield, people scoffed. Ladies and gentlemen, I'd say it's time to start your sewing machines.
