Rebecca Clark's
Michigan Fashion Proto (MFP) is breathing life into the Michigan fashion design scene with support services to would-be designers in Lansing and beyond.
"There are a lot of designers here in Michigan," says Clark, 35, of Okemos. "They just don't have the resources that are common in New York and L.A."
Those services include teams of professional sewers who can create samples, patterns and other forms of technical design—in other words, the busywork a budding designer doesn't have time to do when while also promoting and developing a line.
"No designer makes all of their samples," Clark says. "They simply couldn’t do everything themselves. We’re here to offer that to them."
Most Michigan designers did have to do everything themselves until Clark decided to step away from a 12-year fashion career in New York City. During her tenure there she worked with such names as
Vera Wang,
Nicole Miller and Lori Goldstein.
"I knew I always wanted to come back to Michigan," says Clark. "I moved back about a year and half ago, and it wasn't until a few months ago I decided to open this business."
Since her October opening, Clark has not only been busy with New York clients, but has been pleasantly surprised with the number of local designers who are discovering her services.
MFP will be officially introduced to the public with Clark's opening event, billed as a "celebration of Michigan's budding fashion industry."
Including some
Detroit Fashion Week designers, the event will take place on Thursday, February 10th at the MFP studio, 1305 S. Cedar St, Ste 304 in Lansing.
Source: Rebecca Clark, Michigan Fashion Proto
Writer: Natalie Burg, Interim News Editor
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