I wrote about the Portland Apparel Lab launch in print this week, a smidge earlier than I would have normally. Since the paper comes out on Wednesdays, it always seems like things happening on that day might not reach peak awareness in time. So the "launch," which I've been thinking about more in terms of a market test/forum, is actually next Wednesday, the 10th, at 6:30 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Craft (it's free, but you're supposed to register).

I did that in hopes of maximizing the number of people who hear about it. I've been covering locally manufactured apparel long enough to have seen a number of efforts come and go that have been aimed at supporting the city's fashion scene. It's an interesting, complicated challenge, but it's also a good time for new solutions and business models, and frankly I've never seen as much interest in growing the industry from outsiders as I have lately. Part of why I'm hopeful that PAL will go somewhere is that it addresses many of the same issues, and points to similar possible solutions, as have been brought up in parallel conversations, both regarding local manufacturing and funding in general, and specific to the apparel/fashion world.

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I think it's doubtful that PAL is the perfect solution as is, but it seems to represent more tangible progress on the effort than anyone else has had the time to produce. I have my doubts—about the realities of funding the annual operating cost of an operation like this, about the fact that it is officially only made up of two people currently—but I think it's a good time to bring those doubts and questions to the attention of the community and found out if this thing is viable. I'd bet if all the people talking about these issues in the same language could get in the same room and pool their connections, wisdom, and resources, some actual progress might get made.

So I'm gonna be all "get out the vote" about this. Even if it ends up that PAL isn't something sustainable here, picking it apart is something that can get us closer to a working model.