Saint Louis Fashion Fund

Thanks KSDK News for covering our exciting next move! https://www.ksdk.com//63-68dec85d-abf6-4f8c-afe8-c256ae873

We are thrilled to announce we are moving to Grand Center! 3333 Washington Avenue, a historic building, owned and operated by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation in Grand Center Arts District. We are so excited to share this fabulous news! A note from our Board Chair, Madeline Akins: "We had been reassessing the Fund's priorities before the Covid pandemic hit in March and had already started looking for a smaller space as the mission of the Fund has evolved and no longer requires a... large facility. The 3333 building is a perfect fit and only a few blocks away from our original headquarters in the Garment District. We are looking forward to being a part of this walkable, engaging arts and cultural district." The Fashion Fund remains committed to its core mission of revitalizing the downtown Garment District and attracting new businesses to help build out the fashion eco-system in St. Louis. One of the Fund's major accomplishments this year with a heavy assist from Fashion Fund’s Co-Founder Susan Sherman - was attracting Evolution St. Louis, a premier high-tech knitting manufacturer, to Downtown. Our new facility will make us almost next-door neighbors to Evolution, and we look forward to working closely with their leading-edge team in the new year, Sherman said. "We are thrilled to welcome fashion to Grand Center! Our Kranzberg family including my wife, Nancy, and our daughter, Mary Ann, and her husband, Andy Srenco, have supported Saint Louis Fashion Fund since its founding in 2014. We know fashion is an economic driver, but it also is an art form, so Grand Center is the perfect place for them to land and to continue their important work for our City and the region, said Ken Kranzberg, Trustee, Kranzberg Arts Foundation. Currently underway, the Fashion Fund's space is undergoing a complete interior renovation and is scheduled for completion by summer, 2021. For the full article, click here: https://www.bizjournals.com//fashion-fund-picks-new-home.h

Thank you WhatTheyThink for chatting with us and Evolution St. Louis about the exciting future of the business of fashion in St. Louis!

We are thrilled to be featured in Fashionista in their article about the pivoting fashion world and solving some of its long standing pain points. The pandemic really gave us time to look at our bottom line and really assess our mission going forward- how we can have the greatest impact for Saint Louis, said Susan Sherman, our Co-Founder. "Right now, that looks like economic development: Between March and April, nearly 400,000 Missourians had filed for unemployment, and Sh...erman dreams of a world in which SLFF may be able to create a waterfall of jobs by bringing more manufacturing to Missouri. Not only does Saint Louis offer tax credits to those businesses that relocate to the Show-Me State, but it's damn affordable: You can get $3 per square foot, while in Manhattan's Garment District, renters can expect to pay a cool $82 for the same space. "People need jobs and people do want to leave the coasts," says Sherman. "We just feel like it might be our time. I've always tried to make the point that, yes, you have the CFDA, but how can we play a bigger role? We're a part of the conversation. How can we do more? Please call on us. The article also highlights designer Michael Drummond and his ability to swiftly pivot his business to launch an incredible mask initiative where he was able to provide over 14,000 masks for healthcare and frontline workers. Link below to read! https://fashionista.com//fashion-incubators-accelerators-c

Spotted in the July/August issue of @sophisticatedlivingmag In April, #SLFF partnered with @thewomenscreative, @314together @shoplusso, @shop2lu, and @fgi to launch the #314Fashion campaign which supports small fashion businesses in St. Louis! Find the growing list of 100+ local fashion businesses and brands to support now at SaintLouisFashionFund.org/314Fashion... #madeinstl #314together

The future is female!... If you didn't already know, Lux & Nyx is a women empowerment brand. The founder, Lisa Hu, is an ambitious entrepreneur geared to create the most functional and stylish handbags for the woman-on-the-go. The #LNBuildTogether campaign is designed for women to come together to create a product that they both love and are proud of! Head to @luxandnyx to find out more! #Origami5000 #empoweredfemale #womenentrepreneurs

Tune in to the latest episode of Raw and Real NYC featuring #SLFF co-founder Tania Beasley, a creative consultant, former Marketing Director at Saks, and serial entrepreneur The conversation surrounds fashion in the midwest, how experiences inside and outside of fashion can shape your career, mentors, investment pieces, the future of the industry, and more. Raw & Real is a brand new fashion and lifestyle podcast hosted by Meghan Loftus, a St. Louis native working with Marc Jacobs in New York and fellow fashionista Samantha Jenkins. Listen (link in bio), subscribe & leave a comment on your thoughts about the episode!

Who says face masks can’t be fashionable? Check out Dianne Isbell’s of Hats by Di-Anne line of couture masks that complement her custom-made hats and fascinators. With Belmont Stakes behind us, there's still time to find the perfect hats for the Kentucky Derby in September and the Preakness Stakes in October! Read more about Dianne in Bill Beggs’ Talk of the Towns -- https://issuu.com/townandstyle/docs/06.17.20/8 #madeinstl #314fashion

The Bowtie Sculpted Mask by DEMESTIK Sustainable & handmade in the USA, the masks designed by Rueben Reuel (a designer from #STLFF first cohort) are fully filtered, structured, and functional for protection. The first batch sold out fast - order now on Demestik.com... #blackownedbusinesses #blackownedbusiness #blackdesigner See more