Dayton’s Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) is jumping in full swing supporting designers, local businesses and talent for the 2015-2016 year.
DE-FI is an organization centered in Dayton that introduces, mentors, and helps to launch the careers of designers and models in the fashion industry. “We are ever-evolving and growing fashion based organization that provides a platform for area and independent designers, models, photographers to practice their trade and build their clientele closer to home.” Caressa Brown owner and director of DE-FI says. Caressa is an employee at Sinclair and fashion enthusiast who experienced the model industry with dreams of bringing the fashion industry to Dayton.
Over the past few months, Caressa has been working alongside her DE-FI team to create a variety of events most of which are open to the public with the goal of designer awareness and to grow the local fashion industry.
The first event to begin the new season is a casting call on September 12 at SunWatch Indian Village. “We are looking for male and female models ages 4 and up, there are no size or height restrictions.” Caressa says, “Individuals will be cast on the spot. Fittings, a mandatory free Model Bootcamp, and rehearsal will follow until 4 p.m for models and dancers who are cast for the House of DE-FI taking place September 19.”
The model Bootcamp that follows the casting call is an educational experience providing those chosen at the casting call with tips on a variety of model subjects including walking and posing, healthy body image and how to be safe and avoid scams is the industry. Some of the speakers for the event include Leslie Turner—Owner of LModelz, Miracle Mitchell—Founder of My Beauty Is Priceless, Lamar Pacley—Owner of Shutterey Photo and Darissa Hayes-Moore—Heyman Talent. “September 24 DE-FI will be making our annual trip to Chicago to visit some of the top agencies in the world. Individuals who are cast for this event are also eligible to make this trip with us.”
The models cast on the 12th will be invited to the Magazine release party at Third Perk on September 19th. This issue of DE-FI magazine is DE-FI’s 3rd showcasing a variety of fashions, designers and articles about Dayton’s local community. “The next issue will probably be one of the most personal issues to date. You’ll get to know the designers and models up close and personal.” Caressa says about the coming magazine.
She continues, “One thing I’m really excited about is the ‘Remember My Name’ portion of the magazine. In the 2 plus years that we’ve been doing this, we’ve had over 30 of our models signed to agencies around the world. They are starring in movies, they are walking the runways in Paris and New York, and one of our alum models, Aube Linda Jolicoeur appeared on the cover of the first issue of DE-FI and she’s currently featured on this season of Project Runway.” This issue will showcase some of DE-FI’s models paying homage to the supermodel era of the 70’s through early 90’s.
“We are also debuting a youth inspired issue called A Generation of DE-FI; it’s not so much a fashion based magazine verses highlighting some amazing kids in our community.” Caressa adds, “All we hear is the negative and we wanted to feature kids in their element of being kids. There was no glam squad for this magazine and that was kind of refreshing.”
The goal of DE-FI magazine is more than informing readers to the hottest trends and latest fashions. “It is the goal of DE-FI to make Dayton a fashion destination for those who are tired of the status quo,” Caressa says. DE-FI as an organization steps away from the height and weight requirements that the industry strives for. “We want to show that beauty comes in various shapes, sizes, and colors. We want the magazine to reflect the hidden story that most don’t see in other fashion magazines and that’s the struggle, the uncertainty, the hope and the accomplishments that many in the fashion industry face,” Caressa explains.
The release party for this issue of DE-FI magazine is a DE-FI first and will act not only as a first look at the magazine, but a chance for models, designers and photographers to reunite and meet with their audience. Caressa states, “We’ll be revealing the cover of DE-FI[ance] Magazine which by the way, our cover model is Sinclair student Rebecca Khamis, who I literally chased down the hallway at Sinclair one day last year!”
Caressa says she first noticed Rebecca in 2014 while she was working at a local restaurant, but didn’t take the chance to speak with her, “Then one day while I was working in the Testing Center, I saw her walking down the hall and I couldn’t let the opportunity to speak with her pass again. I know that once the world not only sees her but gets to know her beautiful personality, skies the limit for Rebecca!”
The Magazine Release Party is open to the public, DE-FI will be serving light appetizers alongside a cash bar. A specialty drink called the “DE-FI Chai” will also be served. The drink is a frozen chai latte with cinnamon schnapps and a brown sugar and cinnamon rim.
“The House of DE-FI[ance] Fashion Party will feature some mini fashion shows that are inspired by one of the most exciting times in the Fashion Industry, which is the late 80’s and 90’s, back when models had personality!” Caressa says. The House of DE-FI[ance] will take place later that evening after the magazine release party at Therapy Café, “You can expect to see models dancing down the runway and having fun at this event!”
At this fun fashion show, DJ Danny Diaz will be spinning some of the hottest Salsa, Merengue and Reggaeton music. “We are welcoming three new designers to the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator DE-FI LLC, they are coming from Indianapolis, Columbus, and Cincinnati. You will hear from a couple of our established Designers like Misti Leigh of iii Creations (pronounced third eye), and Sonya Mills of Kerapa Klothing.”
The theme for this year’s event is “MTV’s House of Style from the 90’s” and “South Beach Florida.” An event geared not only at introducing new talent but to introduce DE-FI to those who are interested in an informal setting.
“The House of DE-FI[ance] Fashion Party is not going to be overly structured like our previous events, yet it will be choreographed; we’re just going to go with the flow and let the music be our guide and let our runway be wherever the models roam. It’s going to be a good time!”
“It’s really important to me as a small business owner to support other small businesses and organizations,” Caressa says. DE-FI is about more than just fashion, Caressa expects her models to show the same initiative. “Throughout the year, we participate, sponsor and support a number of community outreach initiatives; it’s also required for our models to do at least 40 hours in their respected communities.”
This year, DE-FI has worked alongside Circle of Vision Keepers Re-Entry and Recovery Program, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s PAL, Third Perk Coffee House and Wine Bar, and Weekend Ribs. “We helped to plant the ‘Community Peace Garden’ on a plot of land donated by Sheriff Phil Plummer, we collected school supplies and non-perishable food items for area families, and then we participated in a Pay Forward initiative paying for random customer’s coffee at Third Perk.”
“Our ultimate goal is to bring an accredited Fashion Design program to the Dayton area,” Caressa says about her upcoming goals and recent partnerships in the Dayton area. “In the past year, we have lost 2 of our designers who have had to relocate to other cities where degrees in Fashion Design are being offered because colleges in Dayton do not offer a single fashion based curriculum.” The closest city to provide a fashion degree is Cincinnati, an hour drive from the Dayton area.
“We have a number of exciting partnerships in the work, but the two that have already been made public are our partnerships with Dayton Regional STEM Schools and the Dayton Early College Academy DECA!” DE-FI is currently working on a Fashion Fusion show that will combine fashion and technology with the students from STEM. “DE-FI designers and team members worked one-on-one with the student to help prepare them for what goes into putting on a fashion event as well as assisting them with their design process,” says Caressa.
Due to the lack of an education for fashion perspectives, 15 students from DECA will be interning with DE-FI during the 2015-2016 year. “When these students graduate next summer, they will have to leave Dayton for Cincinnati, Columbus, Athens, or Kent where fashion design programs exist. Fifteen students who want a career in Fashion is hard to ignore and keep in mind this is just one school so come on, Sinclair, let’s make this happen!”
Soon after the magazine release and House of DE-FI[ance] fashion party, DE-FI will begin showcasing individual designers. These shows promise to be far more intimate than previous shows DE-FI has worked on by allowing the audience a chance to get to know each designer in their own show rather than a conglomerate of many designers in a single setting. “I think with our past events, there has been a disconnect between the audience and designer. We’ve had 300-400 people in at our shows with 11-12 designers showcasing,” Caressa says, “but we also, like other fashion events, have had to rush the designers and models off the runway to get ready for the next designer’s show and opportunities are missed.”
“Individual designer shows will give the designers and audience members alike that up close and personal opportunity to see, feel and ask questions about the garments up close. A lot of people do not realize that everything that comes down the runway is for sale and if it’s not in your size at the show, DE-FI designers can make you a customized design,” Caressa added. The first designer show will feature Erika Beartie of Designs by Beartie and will take place at Third Perk on November 6, 2015. This specialized designer show will not solely be fashion based, but will also include wine and art and a chance to aid a designer in fashion inspiration.
DE-FI’s casting all will take place Saturday September 12, 2015 at SunWatch Indian Village 2301 W. River Rd. from 9am to 11am.
The Magazine Release Party is scheduled for September 19 at Third Perk Coffeehouse and Wine Bar located at 46 W. 5th St., Dayton, OH 45402 from 5p-6:30p. The House of DE-FI[ance] fashion party will be just after at 7:00pm at Therapy Café 452 E. Third St., Dayton, Ohio.
James Duty
Reporter