LANSING, MI – Michigan's first incubator devoted solely to fashion design will give budding clothing and accessory designers a shot at developing a collection and taking it to production.
The incubator, located in a newly rehabbed former department store, opens Thursday in downtown Lansing.
“When you’re looking at an industry like the fashion and apparel industry, it’s not exactly heard of a lot where people are staying here for opportunities,” said Jeff Henry, operations manager for The Runway located in the historic Knapp’s Centre building.
But with state of the art equipment, mentor support and an economic development initiative, The Runway is looking to change that.
The incubator will be unveiled to the public for a sneak peek and tours on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. A retail space – where the public can purchase fashion made or designed in Michigan – will open soon thereafter in the newly rehabilitated Knapps Center.
It’s a project of the Lansing Economic Development Corporation, the city’s economic development arm. It’s being managed through the Lansing Economic Area Partnership and has found support through Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C., Peckham, Lake Trust Credit Union and others.
One of the incubator's beneficiaries, Lauren Aitch, is a former Michigan State University (MSU) basketball player who is over six feet tall. She founded Aitch Brands and Lady Aitch, a custom clothing line for people of all shapes and sizes who may not be able to find their perfect fit at a department store. She started the idea while playing basketball in Copenhagen, but will be able to expand and scale up production with resources at the Lansing incubator.
Aitch is what the incubator refers to as a “designer in residence,” meaning she has office space and is working out of The Runway.
So is Jenna Jung, who started out designing men’s golf clothing in Korea. She came to Central Michigan University for a master’s and now plans to stay in Michigan designing neckwear for Beauhawk, a brand started by one of her classmates.
“I came here for study. But life, you can’t expect where it’s going, right?” she said.
She went on a fabric scouting trip to New York for the current bow tie collection and plans to scout for next season in Chicago. Still, she never expected to find so much opportunity right here in Michigan, she said.
Kaitlin Slack is a recent Central Michigan University graduate and founder of Bad Latitude, a backpack brand she aims to expand into clothing. She's benefited from the mentorship of Daniel Vosovik, a Lowell native who found success on the TV show Project Runway and is now a successful designer in New York City.
Jim Eisenbeiser of North Promontory has worked with other brands in the past, but said of The Runway, “This gives me a chance to go out on my own.”
Henry said that for its designers in residence, the Runway provides communal equipment that cuts down on start-up costs. An industrial sewing machine can run $1,500, dress forms and a pressing station $500 each. And those are just the basics – The Runway is leasing a software suite that would cost $30,000 to buy and provides a large-scale plotter that prints out patterns. Designers also have the ability to digitize patterns from existing pieces and can access an industrial cutting machine donated by Peckham, a major producer of military clothing based in Lansing.
“You add all those things together and you give them the tools, it’s going to make a huge difference,” Henry said.
Higher education institutions including Michigan State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University and Lansing Community College have fashion programs. But Henry said no single school had access to all of this equipment. Some are working on non-industrial home sewing machines, and others use large printers instead of the plotter for patterns. The software they use also may not be as robust, he said.
The incubator space is intended to help designers produce sample collections. The work they do in the incubator will allow them to create digital patters and have their clothing produced commercially.
Other brands working out of The Runway will include Lawrence Hunt (men’s dress shirts), Alex & Jayde (women’s contemporary), Swim Lively (women’s swim and active wear), Our Own Tees (women’s and men’s performance wear), Freshwater Apparel (men’s and women’s lifestyle brand), Life Evolution & Circles (men’s and women’s street wear) and Tiny Human (baby and toddler clothing).
Those are just the designers in residence. There is room for up to 12 associate designers who can access equipment as well.
“The Runway will drive innovation in the City of Lansing and the Knapp’s building is a perfect home for this unique development,” said Mayor Bernero in a statement. “We are a city of makers and manufacturers. The Runway will highlight the new economy thinking that is redefining our approach to economic development.”
Lansing Economic Area Partnership President and CEO Bob Trezise said its Regional Innovation Network has connections to many different industries, from fashion to food to high tech and the resources for people looking to start new businesses.
Even if the designers Henry is shepherding move out of Michigan, he knows the resources here will have made an impact.
“What I’ve said to everybody is if you do end up needing to take off for an opportunity or what have you just don’t forget your roots, where you came from. Give back, spread the message of what’s happening, and keep those bridges built,” Henry said.
Emily Lawler is a Capital/Lansing business reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.
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