“Fashion and the Creative Economy in Portland,” the second installment of the Talking Fashion series took place at noon yesterday.

The day’s panel included designer Adam Arnold, Seaplane owner and designer, Holly Stalder, Jesse Beason, Senior Policy Director for the Office of City Commissioner Sam Adams, Sue Bonde, director of the Apparel Program at Art Institute of Portland, Heather Larimer of the Portland Tribune, talent agent and designer, Jonny Shultz and Elizabeth Dye, designer and owner of The English Dept.

As Marjorie predicted, the day’s topic did prove to be a feisty discussion. Topics ranged from Portland’s assets to manufacturing to creating a fashion industry association. One of the day’s more energetic subjects was the concept of banding the fashion industry of Portland together as a force (similar to the Creative Capacity Strategy) to aid in getting funding for the arts, bringing manufacturers to Portland, and putting Portland on the map for leading sustainability, not just by using bamboo fabrics, but also by bringing larger production local. The idea of a local manufacturing co-op was brought to the table. Sue Bonde from the Art Institute of Portland mentioned that she will spearhead this idea if there are people interested in helping with the project. The co-op would provide designers access to local pattern makers and sewers, all possibly housed under one roof. In my opinion this is a remarkable concept that could bring many talented people to Portland and provide manufacturing options to designers that would now either avoid it or go overseas. If you are interested in helping Sue with this endeavor, please e-mail her at sbonde@aii.edu.

Portland is a unique city, and instead of copying Fashion Weeks and Incubators of other cities, we need to come up with our own way of doing things. It is what we do best. The manufacturing co-op is just one of these innovative ideas that can bring Portland to the next level. Now all we need is the support of the designers and shoppers of the city to get this moving!

Please feel free to add comments or e-mail me at amy@crazycoconut.net with ideas on how to create this fashion force in Portland.