Taking the Initiative ...
Austin, Texas is home to a growing collection of designers, brands, and direct-to-consumer companies. As a creative industries hub featuring exquisite film, music, tech, performing & contemporary arts, architecture, design, fitness, and communication industries, Austin, Texas understands the importance of lifestyle, and is in a unique position to establish and amplify a signature Austin Aesthetic. It’s time Austin took its place in the global fashion economy.
As an event series and membership platform that ran from 2017 through 2019, the Austin Fashion Initiative (AFI) brought together over 1000 industry professionals and stakeholders to develop an engaged network, highlight innovators, and address entrepreneurial challenges.
From its founding through 2019, the meetup events brought together professionals across specializations and industries interested in leveraging opportunities for fashion in Austin. AFI’s events gathered together designers, PR and sales agents, retailers and buyers, mentors and consultants, production and sourcing experts, manufacturers, venture capitalists, software developers, entrepreneurs and other professionals interested in discovering and creating new opportunities for growth throughout the fashion supply chain. AFI’s public meetups provided opportunities for networking, panel discussions and formal presentations by top professionals and innovators operating in the fashion economy globally.
From 2020 thru 2022, AFI served as a connection point for individuals seeking other likeminded professionals in the industry through one-on-one networking. In 2022, the concept of AFI as a formal program was retired.
During it's tenure, the Austin Fashion Initiative inspired, sparked and fostered a series of formal partnerships, collaborations and new businesses across our network. Plus we made countless great new friendships along the way.
