To enhance Austin, Texas’s status as a global fashion city, in July 2015, Tech+Style Global launched a collaborative organization to connect fashion and related professionals. This initiative is in response to a strategic study conducted by the City of Austin to review the impact of the fashion industry in the greater- Austin area. Part of the study centralized on challenges facing the fashion ind
ustry in Austin and identifies initiatives to address those issues. Following the inauguration of the survey, Tech+Style Global launched the following initiatives;
Centralization of industry voice- During conversations surrounding the study and through industry observations, a centralized voice representing the industry was found to be absent. Personal and professional differences and motives appear to have created a divide. In addition, there was identified no central point of community for fashion professionals. Tech+Style Global was established to provide this core for community members to present their voices and gather support for their businesses. Collaboration and networking opportunities- As part of the first initiative, a lack of community locus results in a difficulty in connecting local resources. Because there is no focal point, current and future fashion professionals have no easy ability to source Austin-founded assets to support their business. Tech+Style Global will not create organizations but rather provide connection opportunities for existing operations to work together. Tech+Style Global provides professional connections for personal and professional support through fashion networking opportunities. Establish a fashion-technology district- Austin is a source for technology innovation, amongst other fields. Technologies being developed in Austin have had global implications already. Harnessing this innovative, technological culture, Austin fashion can create its own integrated infrastructure. Tech+Style Global offers accessibility to equipment and industries as part of their networking initiative, allowing members to be empowered and inventive to develop new ideas and bring them to market. Innovations to transform the fashion industry- The economic environment the global business world is operating in has significant changes which have occurred and continue to occur. To adapt to these changes, Austin fashion has the ability to come out on the forefront by enabling future generations to advance fashion and technology collaborations. Tech+Style Global encourages this innovation through the use of a safe environment and resources to bring the concepts to a global eye. Based on the above, Tech+Style Global has identified the following four initiatives;
1. Collaborative Network- Collective resources will be listed online. Any related businesses, organizations, or products (goods/services) that support or could support the fashion industry are involved.
2. Education- Fashion-specific training workshops/courses will be promoted to develop business acumen of members. Courses can include topics such as marketing, branding, finance, design management/thinking and e-commerce.
3. Creative Space- Access to and training on current and emerging equipment in a creative space to allow members to work and expand their innovations will be a necessity. Space will include equipment and supplies to encourage innovation without restriction; however, before community members can operate the equipment, they must be certified by a lab technician. Certification covers the training on current and emerging equipment so the member is aware how to operate the machines.
4. Public Affairs- External events/opportunities to raise awareness of Tech+Style Global and its members will be hosted regularly. Events could include pop-up shops, market trips (members combine goods to be shown at established markets), networking events, and industry showcases.
