CINCINNATI - s4story -- Cincinnati, Ohio — Designer invitation requests are now officially open for the 2027 editions of Dayton Fashion Week™ and Fashion Week of Cincinnati™, two regional fashion platforms produced by (DE-FI) Global INC™ that aim to strengthen the fashion industry pipeline across the Midwest.

Both showcases operate as part of a larger ecosystem developed by (DE-FI)®, which focuses on cultivating emerging and established fashion talent, strengthening regional supply chains, and creating greater transparency around the process of building a fashion brand.

Unlike traditional fashion events that reveal collections only on the runway, selected designers participating in the 2027 showcases will be featured throughout the year as they develop their collections. The public will have the opportunity to follow the journey behind the scenes as designers refine concepts, construct garments, and prepare for presentation.

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"This industry is still very misunderstood in our region," said Caressa L. Brown, Owner and Director of (DE-FI) Global INC™. "Many people only see the runway moment and think fashion is just entertainment. In reality, fashion is a two-trillion-dollar global industry that relies on a wide range of professionals, from designers and textile innovators to manufacturers, marketers, and business strategists. By sharing the process behind the scenes, we want people to see the real work that goes into building a collection and understand that there are many ways to participate in this industry."

The two showcases serve distinct roles within the broader (DE-FI) fashion ecosystem.
Dayton Fashion Week™ serves as a foundational platform and capstone experience connected to the Fashion Incubator of Dayton, supporting aspiring and early-stage designers as they develop their first full collections and build professional readiness within the industry.

Fashion Week of Cincinnati™ focuses on amplifying emerging and established brands that are ready to expand their visibility, production capacity, and market reach. Designers selected for Cincinnati are not required to participate in the Cincinnati Fashion Incubator, but they will have access to its programming.

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Both events will also include a sustainability mandate, encouraging designers to incorporate responsible sourcing, ethical production practices, or environmentally conscious materials as part of their design and manufacturing process.

Designer invitation requests are now open, and all requests must be received by June 8, 2026.

Selected designers will participate in a year-long journey leading up to the 2027 showcases, including networking opportunities, industry mixers, collaborative planning sessions, and opportunities to document the development of their collections.

Designers interested in participating can submit a Designer Invitation Request through the (DE-FI) Global INC™ website https://www.defiglobalinc.com.