{"id":49536,"date":"2019-05-01T10:44:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-01T15:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=49536"},"modified":"2024-12-17T12:20:54","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T17:20:54","slug":"acc-unveils-fashion-incubator-to-meet-growing-fashion-industry-demands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/2019\/05\/01\/acc-unveils-fashion-incubator-to-meet-growing-fashion-industry-demands\/","title":{"rendered":"ACC unveils Fashion Incubator to meet growing fashion industry demands"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Austin Community College (ACC) unveiled the new state-of-the-art ACC Fashion Incubator<\/a> Tuesday, April 30. The 7,500-square-foot facility offers real-world learning opportunities, commercial design and manufacturing contract services, business incubation, and career-technical training to grow the local industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is how we build stronger futures for our local businesses and our regional economy. It takes innovation and strong collaboration,\u201d says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president\/CEO. \u201cThrough the incubator, start-up designers and students work side-by-side.\u201d<\/p>\n

A study commissioned by the City of Austin in 2014<\/a>, found the Austin fashion industry held more than 1,300 jobs and contributed $86 million to the city, but faced challenges due to a lack of regional resources and business development training. The study suggested the development of a regional incubator to fuel continued growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a transformative moment for our region,\u201d says Mayor Steve Adler, City of Austin. \u201cThe ACC Fashion Incubator will feed industry growth and build a pipeline of highly-skilled designers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Funded in partnership with the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the ACC Fashion Incubator offers small business and emerging entrepreneurs access to cutting-edge resources to help turn their fashion ideas into profitable products.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis incubator has been beneficial because we have a distinct lack of technical training in Austin for this type of skill set,\u201d says Kristopher Stevens of Stitch Texas. \u201cDesign is important, Austin is full of creativity, but we have no technicians to bring that to life. Taking part in the incubator makes designers more well-rounded and more desirable to employers and consumers alike.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simultaneously, the Fashion Incubator will support ACC\u2019s certificate and credit programs in Fashion Design, Technical Design, and Fashion Entrepreneurship. Launching fall 2019, the Associate of Applied Science in Fashion Design<\/a> provides students the technical skills required to become designers, pattern makers, and fashion design entrepreneurs. The new Associate of Applied Science in Fashion Marketing, <\/a>also launching fall 2019, prepares students for a career in buying and selling, display, and sales promotion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an incredible environment for our students to learn,\u201d says Nina Means, ACC Fashion Incubator director. \u201cThey\u2019re working with some of the most advanced equipment and software available in the fashion industry, and they\u2019re working in tandem with Austin\u2019s top fashion design startups.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students and designers have access to the full digital end-to-end solution from Gerber Technology including both software with AccuMark\u00ae 2D\/3D CAD, YuniquePLM\u00ae and manufacturing equipment with a spreader and the GERBERcutter\u00ae Z1 with ContourVision\u2122. Valued at $13.1 million, the innovative technology brings every part of the supply chain in-house, eliminating the need to outsource. Designers have access to a complete microfactory that can quickly and seamlessly take them from design through production, including 3D, collection management, production planning, physical sample production, and production of the final garment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are incredibly excited to take part in this project,\u201d says Elizabeth King Gerber\u2019s vice president of Digital Solutions Community and Ecosystem. \u201cGerber is extremely proud to be able to train the next generation of great innovators by offering them a state-of-the-art fully integrated workflow to take their skills to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with access to Gerber’s technologies, designers-in-residence also receive:<\/p>\n